BFNL Semi-Final Football Review | Golden Square outpoints Sandhurst in second semi
GOLDEN Square’s winning run has hit 16 after an 88-74 result against Sandhurst in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy second semi-final on Saturday.
The Bulldogs were the only team to beat Sandhurst in the home-and-away series and are now first through to the grand final for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
In Saturday’s clash it was Sandhurst which had a lot of the play and capitalised to lead by three goals.
Consecutive goals by Golden Square late in the first half meant the Dragons led 40-34 at half-time.
In the third quarter it was the Bulldogs’ run, strong defensive acts and ability to keep putting the ball inside the 50m arc which overwhelmed the maroon and blue.
As Golden Square scored 3.6 it kept the Dragons to a tally of two behinds.
Sandhurst fought back strongly to score 5.2 in the last, but the Christian Carter-coached Golden Square was able kick five straight.
At the final siren the Bulldogs led 13.10 (88) to 11.8 (74).
Joel Brett, Tom Strauch and Braydon Vaz all kicked two goals for the blue and gold.
Other goalkickers for Golden Square were Liam Barrett, Ricky Monti, Hamish Morcom, Zavier Murley, Jack Stewart, Jack Threlfall and Tom Toma.
Cobi Maxted kicked a match-high four goals for Sandhurst as Andy Collins and Sam Conforti chipped in with two.
Other goalkickers for the Dragons were co-coach Bryce Curnow, Alex Wharton and Matt Wilkinson.
Best for Golden Square were Jon Coe, Jayden Burke, Ricky Monti, Ryan Hartley, Tom Toma and Jack Hickman.
Hamish Hosking, Zack Pallpratt, Isaac Ruff, Noah Walsh, Sam Conforti and Alex Wharton were Sandhurst’s best.
The Dragons’ team which has Ash Connick as non-playing coach will now fight to stay in the premiership race when it faces Strathfieldsaye in the preliminary final.
Although it had been beaten convincingly by Eaglehawk in both home-and-away games, Strathfieldsaye was a different team in Sunday’s first semi.
Stung by a 26-point loss to Golden Square in the qualifying final, Strathfieldsaye turned a seven-point deficit at quarter-time of the clash with Eaglehawk into a 26-point lead by the long break.
A tally of 6.5 to 1.2 in the second term meant Storm surged to a 49-23 lead.
The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk hit back to win the third term, 32-19.
Although it was within 13 points going into the final term, Eaglehawk could not halt Strathfieldsaye adding 3.6.
Just as importantly, Storm kept the Hawks to a score of two behinds.
At the final siren the Darryl Wilson-coached Strathfieldsaye led 13.14 (92) to 8.9 (57).
Storm’s attack was led by Matt Harvey and James Schischka on four and three goals as Baxter Slater added two.
Other goalkickers were Jed Brereton, Cooper Jones, co-captain Jake Moorhead, and Riley Wilson.
Co-captain Lachlan Sharp was goalless which has the multiple Ron Best medallist on a season tally of 95 at one, or maybe two matches to play.
The Hawks’ attack was led by Charlie Hillier on two as Lewin Davis, Jack O’Shannessy, Darcy Richards, Noah Wheeler, and co-captains Billy Evans and Cameron McGlashan added one.
Last season’s Michelsen medallist and gun on-baller Jake Moorhead was best afield for Storm.
Others to star for Strathfieldsaye were Malik Gordon, Callum McCarty, Bode Stevens, Caleb Ernst and Jed Brereton.
Eaglehawk’s best were Kallen Geary, Clayton Holmes, Charlie Hillier, Billy Evans, Thomas Bennett and Oscar Madden.
An 18th victory for the season has earned Eaglehawk a place in the grand final of the Harmac Homes-backed reserves competition.
The Hawks took on Sandhurst in Saturday’s second semi-final.
A 17-game winning streak by the Two Blues was broken in the 18th round when Sandhurst marked a 20-point victory on the QEO.
The Hawks were back on the iconic turf on Saturday and dominated most of the second half.
Eaglehawk led 16-10 at half-time and then scored 3.1 to 1.6 in the third term.
It was a Borough onslaught in the last quarter as the Two Blues slammed on 6.3 and kept the Dragons scoreless.
At the final siren Eaglehawk led 11.8 (74) to 2.10 (22).
Goalkickers for Eaglehawk were Andrew Bennett, Sam O’Shannessy, Mitchell Ronchieri and Jack Storey, two; Zack Bulger, Jack Daley and Tyler Eliades.
The Dragons’ goals were kicked by Hayden Gillingham and Lachlan Zimmer.
Eaglehawk’s best were Zack Bulger, Aydan Hanley, Jack Daley, Blake McGregor, Sam Dean and Mark Storey.
Jack Keating, Harrison Free, Brodie Montague, Harrison Monk, Martin Leyden and Isaac Carracher worked hard for Sandhurst.
The Dragons will now face Strathfieldsaye in the preliminary final.
Storm surged to an eight-goal win against Golden Square in the first semi.
Strathfieldsaye led 8-7 at quarter-time and then seized control as it added 4.2 to 1.2 in the second term.
Defences controlled a lot of the play in a third term which went Storm’s way, 9-3.
Led by the play of Harry Teasdale, Joseph Mayes and Darcy Mulquiny, Strathfieldsaye kicked away to record a 67-19 victory.
Ethan Featherby kicked two goals for Storm as Lachlan Bonney, Jai Featherby, Rowan Fox, Darcy Mulquiny, Abe Sheahan, Harry Teasdale and Jordan Wilson added one.
The Bulldogs’ goalkickers were Macey Eaton and Jack Vinnicombe.
Best for Strathfieldsaye included Lachlan Bonney, Shannon Murphy and Ryan Duncan.
Tanner Rayner, Bailey Rackstraw, Lachlan Humphrey, Dale Lowry, Macey Eaton and Jack Vinnicombe were Golden Square’s best.
A three-goal victory in the SportsPower under-18s second semi-final has put Golden Square into the September 23 grand final.
Defences were on top for a lot of this contest.
Golden Square led 12-1 at quarter-time before both teams added 1.1 in the second.
The Gisborne line-up was within five points going into the last quarter.
Led by the play of Bailey Cain, Darcy Lawler and Jack McMahon, Golden Square added 2.1 and kept Gisborne scoreless in the last term to complete a 34-16 victory.
Goalkickers for Golden Square were Jack McMahon, two; Will Stewart, Tommi Turner and Zac Wescott.
Jarrod Ainsworth and James Gray were on target for Gisborne.
Best for the blue and gold included Xavier Carter, Zac Wescott and Billy Meade.
Gisborne’s best were Kane Minns, Frankie Ellis, Lachlan Evans, Jack Long, James Gentles and Lachie Bianco.
Sandhurst kept its season alive in a 49-point win against Maryborough in the first semi.
After a confident start, Maryborough’s line-up led 19-13 at quarter-time.
The Dragons fired up in the second to score 5.1 and kept the Pies scoreless.
Quarter three went Sandhurst’s way, 21-11.
The Dragons added 2.3 to a point in the last to complete an 80-31 victory.
Sandhurst’s attack was led by Joseph Artavilla, captain Alex Carr and Isaac Tzouroutis on two goals.
Other goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Jacob Austin, Wilson Butler, Callum Craig, Declan Delaney, Henry Edwards and Logan Kilcullen.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Taj Bond on two goals as Kaian Constable and Liam Freeman added one.
Best for Sandhurst were Logan Kilcullen, Henry Edwards, Wil Pinniger, Daniel Noden, Davis McNair and Jack English.
Joe Lovel, Damon Nitschke, Jake Gavriliadis, Tom Myers, Lucas Hurse and Tyson Hoban played well for Maryborough.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
Seniors at 2.50pm: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.
Reserves at 12.45pm: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.
Under-18s at 10.45am: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
