Match of the Day Preview: Round Seventeen
By Evan Tudor
Altona and Point Cook Centrals will have a chance to shine on the WFNL Match of the Day stage on Saturday, with the Vikings and Sharks set to clash at J.K. Grant Reserve.
With just two rounds remaining in the season, both outfits will be hoping to give it their all in this contest.
Altona will enter as favourites having previously defeated the Sharks by 80 points back in Round 7, but the Vikings will need to return to form and break a four-game losing streak.
It was a comfortable win for the Vikings when they last faced the Sharks, with spearheads William Crittenden and Jake Roper both hauling bags of five goals.
Shark Brady Crews led his sideā€™s scoring with three majors.
Altonaā€™s Connor Bulley had a season-best afternoon of 36 disposals, while it was the Henderson duo in Dean and Luke that combined for 61 touches at the opposing end.
In what has been a difficult season for Point Cook Centrals, the Sharks have two final weeks to make the most of their tenure in the TIV Division One tournament.
Yet to sing the song in 2026, determination and commitment remain high within the Sharksā€™ camp, highlighted by a commendable performance last weekend against Sunshine.
Brady Crews and Cooper Langan put on a league-best effort for the weekend against the Kangaroos, picking up 42 and 41 disposals respectively.
Grayson Lafaialli and Teague Wiggins also have been some recent standouts, surpassing the impressive 135 ranking-point mark last weekend.
Altona will look to bounce back after a heavy 78-point defeat to Parkside last weekend, and a win on Saturday would help the Vikings move a comfortable distance away from the relegation zone.
Point Cook Centrals, with nothing to lose, will hope for another impactful performance.