BFNL ROUND 13 FOOTBALL REVIEW
Castlemaine marks best victory in many years
CASTLEMAINE’S hard-fought victory against Eaglehawk in Saturday’s 13th round is being hailed the Magpies’ best in many Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL seasons.
Conditions were incredibly difficult as rain teemed down at times at Camp Reserve as Road Safety Round was played across central and northern Victoria.
The Magpies beat the Hawks for the first time since 2016 and in the process kept hope of featuring in the finals action alive.
It’s a daunting run home for Castlemaine which faces Strathfieldsaye, away, has a bye, and then hosts Kangaroo Flat at Camp Reserve.
Final two hit-outs of the regular season for the Magpies will be at Gisborne and then Sandhurst at Camp Reserve.
Irrespective of where it finishes the ’24 campaign, Castlemaine has shown vast improvement in Michael Hartley’s first year as coach.
The Magpies were determined to bounce back from a 71-point loss at Golden Square the previous round.
Constant rain and a heavy ground would test the resolve of all players.
Goalless in the first half, Castlemaine faced a 14-point deficit at half-time.
The Magpies lifted their way to win the third term, 16-6.
Castlemaine captain Bailey Henderson capped a dramatic fightback by kicking the final goal of the game to clinch a 31-33 victory.
Other goalkickers for the Pies were Jack Chester and Harrison Sheahan.
The Hawks’ attack was led by co-captain Joel Mullen on two as Jonty Neaves and Ben Thompson were also on target.
Midfielder Zavier Murley earned best afield honours for Castlemaine as Harrison Sheahan, Bailey Henderson, Declan Slingo, Michael Hartley and Callum McConachy also starred in the team’s fifth win of the season.
Best for the Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk were Joel Mullen, Clayton Holmes, Marcus Angove, Ben Thompson, Billy Evans and Thomas Bennett.
Kangaroo Flat’s hoodoo against Golden Square has now hit 47 matches.
The Roos were without several key players for their clash with the in-form Bulldogs at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
Five goals to one in the first term put the Bulldogs in control of the match.
The Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square then slammed on 6.5 in the second term as it kept Flat scoreless.
Kangaroo Flat hit back to win the third term, 20-16, but it was the blue and gold which finished with plenty of run as it scored eight goals in the last.
At the final siren Golden Square led 143 to 33.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by co-captain Jayden Burke and Jordan Rosengren on four goals as Ricky Monti, Jack Sampson, Jack Stewart and Tom Toma added two each.
Goalkickers for the Roos were Jake Hywood, Jack Lefroy, Luke Stagg, Tucker Thach and Harry Whitty.
Bulldogs’ co-captain Tom Toma who has played VFL with Essendon this season marked his first senior game with Square in ’24 by being best afield.
Golden Square also had Ricky Monti, Jordan Rosengren, Harrison Kelly, Jack Threlfall and Zac Wescott win plenty of the footy.
Best for the Michael Ellings-coached Roos were Jack Lefroy, Luke Ellings, Angus Grant, Kyle Symons, Daniel Stagg and Campbell Smith.
A tally of 61 scoring shots was a sign of Sandhurst’s dominance against Maryborough at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
With its future in the Bendigo FNL beyond this season under a cloud it may have been the last time Maryborough played on the iconic oval.
Although the final margin was 193 points it was a dramatic improvement on the league record of 333 set by Sandhurst at Maryborough’s Princes Park in round four.
In Saturday’s match the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Dragons led 51-1 at quarter-time and 125-2 by the long break.
The Magpies worked hard to limit the maroon and blue to a score of 3.7 in the third.
As Sandhurst added six goals in the last, Lachlan Bursill broke the deadlock for Maryborough.
Fergus Greene kicked six goals as Jake McLean booted four in the 201-8 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the league leaders were Cobi Maxted, Lachlan Tardrew, Lachlan Wright on three; Caleb Connick, Oliver Morris, Oscar Perez and Joel Wharton with two.
Best for Sandhurst were Lachlan Tardrew, Isaac Ruff, Fergus Greene, Caleb Connick, Jake McLean and Alex Wharton.
Kaian Constable, Seb Collins, Aidan Medlyn, Kya Lanfranchi, co-coach Coby Perry and Joel Swatton were best for a Maryborough team which also has Matt Johnston as co-coach.
Gisborne put in another ruthless performance on its turf at Gardiner Reserve against South Bendigo.
A hard-fought opening term went Gisborne’s way, 21-18.
From there the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs dominated play.
The Bulldogs scored eight goals in the second term, seven in the third, and five in the last to complet a 153-26 victory.
Harry Luxmoore’s hot form continued as he kicked seven goals and Ryan Bourke and Dylan Johnstone added four each.
The Bulldogs also had Zac Denahy and Pat McKenna boot two majors.
South Bendigo’s attack was led by Brock Harvey on three goals.
Best for Gisborne were ruckman Braidon Blake, Jack Reaper, Flynn Lakey, Frank Schipano, Harry Luxmoore and Macklan Lord.
Tait Poyser, Riley Walsh, Zavier Holmes, co-coach Isaiah Miller, Thomas Starr and Brody Haddow were best for a Bloods’ line-up which also has Steven Stroobants as co-coach.
Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 329 per cent, 40 points; Gisborne 243, 40; Strathfieldsaye 155, 32; Golden Square 141, 28; Eaglehawk 145, 24; Castlemaine 103, 20; South Bendigo 65, 12; Kangaroo Flat 61, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 14th round will be Golden Square’s clash with Gisborne at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
The Graeme Wright Memorial Cup will be up for grabs as South Bendigo takes on Sandhurst at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Eaglehawk will be on home turf at Canterbury Park to play Kangaroo Flat.
Strathfieldsaye faces Castlemaine in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Maryborough has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
62 - (6) - Fergus Greene - Sandhurst Seniors
47 - (0) - James Schischka - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
44 - (7) - Harry Luxmoore - Gisborne Seniors
38 - (3) - Brock Harvey - South Bendigo Seniors
36 - (2) - Pat McKenna - Gisborne Seniors
35 - (0) - Michael Hartley - Castlemaine Seniors
34 - (1) - Steven Stroobants - South Bendigo Seniors
33 - (2) - Jack Stewart - Golden Square Seniors
27 - (4) - Jayden Burke - Golden Square Seniors
24 - (1) - Jonty Neaves - Eaglehawk Seniors
23 - (3) - Cobi Maxted - Sandhurst Seniors
22 - (2) - Bailey Henderson - Castlemaine Seniors
22 - (1) - Harry Whitty - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
21 - (3) - Lachlan Wright - Sandhurst Seniors
21 - (0) - Bradley Bernacki - Gisborne Seniors
19 - (2) - Zac Denahy - Gisborne Seniors
18 - (0) - Malik Gordon - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
16 - (0) - Abe Sheahan - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
15 - (3) - Lachlan Tardrew - Sandhurst Seniors
14 - (1) - Matthew Merrett - Gisborne Seniors
14 - (0) - Bryce Curnow - Sandhurst Seniors
13 - (0) - Zachary Greeves - Castlemaine Seniors
13 - (4) - Jordan Rosengren - Golden Square Seniors
13 - (0) - Lachlan Gill - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
13 - (0) - Darcy Richards - Eaglehawk Seniors
12 - (1) - Tom Strauch - Golden Square Seniors
12 - (4) - Dylan Johnstone - Gisborne Seniors
12 - (2) - Joel Mullen - Eaglehawk Seniors
12 - (2) - Ricky Monti - Golden Square Seniors
12 - (1) - Jack Lefroy - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
11 - (0) - Luke Ellings - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
11 - (0) - Bailey Ilsley - Eaglehawk Seniors
11 - (0) - Nicholas Stagg - Sandhurst Seniors
11 - (0) - Zach Charles - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
11 - (0) - Matthew Johnston - Maryborough Seniors
11 - (0) - Noah Walsh - Sandhurst Seniors
10 - (4) - Jake Mclean - Sandhurst Seniors
10 - (0) - Riley Wilson - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
10 - (0) - Mitchell Ronchieri - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (1) - Ben Thompson - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (2) - Joel Wharton - Sandhurst Seniors
10 - (0) - Jack O’shannessy - Eaglehawk Seniors
