Holiday Inn Match Preview: Royals return to action for final home game of the season against Boroondara-Carey Eagles
Essendon Royals’ senior men’s side return to action this Friday night for their final home game of the 2024 VPL2 season, when they play host to Boroondara-Carey Eagles at Cross Keys Reserve.
Our weekly previews are brought to you by the Geelong Holiday Inn, as we look ahead to the upcoming rounds of action.
Before last weekend’s catch-up round, Royals continued to play king maker in VPL2, by demolishing Altona City 4-1 at Kim Reserve, thus ending their promotion hopes and sealing FC Melbourne Serbija and North Sunshine Eagles’ places in the top two of the competition.
Essendon were down a goal at half-time, but battled back brilliantly in the second-half to come away with the three points, courtesy of goals from Ethan Georgopoulos, Brad Norton, Vince Lia and Dean Clarke.
Watch the highlights from our 4-1 win over Altona City.
Michael Ferrante’s side sit in fifth spot on the ladder heading into the final fortnight of the campaign, and can still finish as high as third-place, sitting only goal difference behind fourth-placed Pascoe Vale and two points off third-placed Altona.
Their next test comes against Boroondara-Carey this weekend, who are in seventh spot on the ladder, four points behind Essendon.
The Eagles have won only once in their last five games (6-2 win over Beaumaris), but pushed North Sunshine all the way in a 4-3 defeat at home in their most recent fixture, which sealed promotion for the former.
Boroondara-Carey won the reverse fixture earlier this season at Wilcox Field 3-2, coming from behind to seal the win thanks to goals from Lachlan Nichols, Yudai Kumasaka and John Stadnicki.
Watch the highlights from our 3-2 loss to Boroondara-Carey Eagles earlier this season.
Kick-off is at 8:30 PM on Friday night, with the Under 23s in action just beforehand at 6:15 PM.
The Royals Under 23s are currently in second-last after a 3-3 draw with Altona City, while Boroondara-Carey are in second – only goal difference behind league leaders Goulburn Valley Suns – after a dramatic 6-5 win over North Sunshine.
Despite the results over the last few weeks, the Under-23s have adopted a much more youthful approach in the back half of the season, with coach Mick Giacomi providing big minutes for a number of Under-15, 16 and 18 JBNPL players.