BFNL Round 14 Football Preview | Huge clash for Hawks, Storm in Borough
IT’S a huge clash for Eaglehawk’s and Strathfieldsaye’s senior footy teams in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Eaglehawk has home-ground advantage at Canterbury Park for the showdown between third and fifth.
The Hawks and Storm are separated by just two points in the premiership race.
Victory for the Two Blues will keep them in third place.
A win for Storm would put it in third place, provided South Bendigo is beaten by Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
When the Hawks and Storm met in round five at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye it was the visitors who romped to a 13-goal victory.
Eaglehawk warmed up for this crucial clash by scoring a 100-point win at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve last round.
A multi-pronged attack includes Lewin Davis, Sam Harper, Charlie Hillier and Jack O’Shannessy will stretch Storm’s defence.
The Hawks’ on-ball division of ruckman Connor Dalgleish, Billy Evans and Noah Wheeler takes on Tim Hosking, Riley Wilson and Daniel Clohesy.
Other players to watch for the Borough include Dylan Hanley and Oscar Madden in defence, Joel Mullen and Jack Thompson.
The Hawks also have Kallen Geary up against a club he won three premierships with.
Held goalless for one of the few times in a brilliant 200-game career, Storm captain Lachlan Sharp will be fired up for a big match.
Strathfieldsaye’s attack in last week’s loss to Sandhurst was led by James Schischka on three goals.
Limiting the amount of turnovers will be crucial to the play of Darryl Wilson-coached Storm.
A tally of 92 proved costly in the clash with Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Key players for Storm include Mitch Hallinah, Lachlan Ratcliffe and Luke Webb in defence, Lachlan Gill, Baxter Slater and Malik Gordon.
Storm also welcomes back Michelsen medallist and gun on-baller Jake Moorhead.
It’s a “Back To” on several fronts as Sandhurst tackles South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Sandhurst Dragons will welcome back those who have links to the club as players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and supporters throughout their long and illustrious history.
South Bendigo also marks a return to the QEO for the first time this season.
The Bloods’ new base is at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
A Dragons’ line-up coached by Ash Connick, non-playing, and Bryce Curnow, playing, has a great record of 11 wins, one loss and a draw to be on top of the ladder.
The round five clash between the Dragons and Bloods for the Graeme Wright Memorial Trophy went Sandhurst’s way by 53 points.
After an outstanding game in defence last week, James Coghlan is likely to return to a midfield or on-ball role for the maroon and blue.
An attack that includes Andy Collins, Cobi Maxted, Matt Thornton and Lachlan Wright will test the Bloods all match.
Highlight of this match will be the duel between Sandhurst ruckman Hamish Hosking and Bloods’ gun recruit Mac Cameron.
In-form players for the Dragons include Sam Conforti, Zach Pallpratt and Noah Walsh.
The Bloods will again rely greatly on the goalkicking power of Brock Harvey and Steven Stroobants.
Coach Nathan Horbury was named in the team after missing last round because of a calf injury.
Brody Haddow has had a superb season in the centre for the red and white.
A stronger start will be a key focus for South Bendigo after it was down 2-46 at quarter-time of last Saturday’s clash with Golden Square at Harry Trott Oval.
The Bloods worked hard from there, but the Dogs ran out 67 point winners.
Key players for South Bendigo include Sam Langley, Isaiah Miller, Tait Poyser, Riley Walsh and Oscar White.
Kyneton tackles a resurgent Gisborne at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Victory is a must for both to have any chance of qualifying for the finals.
The Tigers and Bulldogs were victorious last round.
Just days after he took charge because Paul Chapman stepped down because of increased work commitments, Kyneton’s interim coach Darren Chambers marked a 102-44 win at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
The Tigers won their previous clash at Gisborne by two points, but know they are up against a vastly improved team.
The attack for the yellow and black at Maryborough was led by Ethan Foreman and Thomas Quinn on three goals as Cameron Manuel added two.
Kyneton has key defenders Harrison Huntley and Mason Crozier capable of winning many contests.
Huge test for Kyneton on-ballers Jayden Eales, Hamish Yunghanns and Jordna Iudica up against Gisborne’s premiership-winnnig trio of Braidon Blake, Brad Bernacki and Flynn Lakey.
A tally of 47 hit-outs, 28 disposals, 14 clearances, five tackles and 220 ranking points by Blake in the win against Kangaroo Flat earned the Barry Plant Bendigo Player of the Round award.
The Brad Fox-coached Gisborne has won four of its past five matches.
Latest hit-out for the Bulldogs ended in a 43-point win against Kangaroo Flat at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Players to watch for the Bulldogs include Zac Denahy, captain Jack Reaper and Jake Normington in attack,Matt Weber and Zac Vescovi.
Kangaroo Flat is back home at Dower Park to take on Castlemaine.
Now being coached by Jeremy Hayes, Kangaroo Flat has sights on a fifth win.
The Roos won the round five clash at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve by eight goals.
Targets in Flat’s attack include Luke Foreman and Harry Whitty.
Best at Gisborne last round include Liam and Mitch Collins, Ethan Roberts and Zac Rouse.
The Brendan Shepherd-coached Castlemaine had Matt Filo and John Watson rack up 45 and 43 possessions against Eaglehawk.
They will again play pivotal roles for the Magpies, along with Brodie Byrne, Bailey Henderson, Callum McConachy and Liam Wilkinson.
Golden Square is back at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street to take on Maryborough.
In recent seasons the Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs have shown no mercy for the Magpies.
It may be a big afternoon for Golden Square forwards Joel Brett, Braydon Vaz and Tom Strauch.
The Bulldogs named Tanner Rayner in the ruck to team up with in-form on-ballers Tom Toma and Ricky Monti and centreman Ryan Hartley.
Just as important in the Dogs’ run have been a defence led by Jon Coe, Jack Hickman and Harry Burke.
Likely to be another tough afternoon for a young Maryborough line-up which plays with plenty of spirit, but battles for height and strength in key positions.
Magpies’ coach Coby Perry had 31 possessions in a midfield role against Kyneton last round.
The ability of Maryborough midfielders Joel Swatton, Luke Bucknall, along with on-ballers Mitch McClure and Chris Freeman to win the ball, and also to apply pressure will be crucial.
Other players to watch for the Magpies include Kya Lanfranchi and Jake Postle in defence, captain Ty Stewart and Darcy Bond.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 211 per cent, 46 points; Golden Square 219, 44; Eaglehawk 206, 34; South Bendigo 138, 32; Strathfieldsaye 136, 32; Gisborne 128, 24; Kyneton 81, 24; Kangaroo Flat 60, 16; Castlemaine 39, 8; Maryborough 21, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
57 - (2) - Joel Brett - Golden Square
55 - (0) - Lachlan Sharp - Strathfieldsaye
41 - (4) - Steven Stroobants - South Bendigo
41 - (3) - Brock Harvey - South Bendigo
33 - (1) - Lachlan Wright - Sandhurst
30 - (1) - William Keck - South Bendigo
29 - (2) - Cameron Manuel - Kyneton
26 - (3) - Lewin Davis - Eaglehawk
24 - (3) - James Schischka - Strathfieldsaye
24 - (4) - Braydon Vaz - Golden Square
21 - (4) - Andrew Collins - Sandhurst
20 - (0) - Matt Thornton - Sandhurst
19 - (1) - Harry Whitty - Kangaroo Flat
18 - (1) - Ryan Hartley - Golden Square
18 - (3) - Thomas Quinn - Kyneton
18 - (2) - Darcy Richards - Eaglehawk
18 - (2) - Hamish Morcom - Golden Square
17 - (1) - Cameron McGlashan - Eaglehawk
15 - (0) - Nicholas Stagg - Sandhurst
15 - (2) - Noah Wheeler - Eaglehawk
15 - (3) - Matthew Merrett - Gisborne
14 - (3) - Thomas Toma - Golden Square
14 - (0) - Callum McCarty - Strathfieldsaye
13 - (0) - Dylan Hird - Eaglehawk
13 - (0) - Liam Marciano - Eaglehawk
13 - (4) - Zac Denahy - Gisborne
13 - (1) - Jack Stewart - Golden Square
13 - (3) - Jack O’shannessy - Eaglehawk
12 - (2) - Jack Hickman - Golden Square
12 - (3) - Ethan Foreman - Kyneton
12 - (2) - Sam Barnes - Kangaroo Flat
12 - (0) - Jed Brereton - Strathfieldsaye
12 - (0) - Liam Collins - Kangaroo Flat
