Round 6 Football Review | Kangaroo Flat bounds to glory against Eaglehawk

KANGAROO Flat celebrated one of its biggest senior footy wins on Saturday when it broke Eaglehawk’s unbeaten run.

The Nathan Johns-coached Roos went into the round six match on their ground at Dower Park desperate to beat a team in the top five.

It was a massive test for Flat against an Eaglehawk line-up which had sights on a sixth consecutive win.

The Hawks led 21-13 at quarter-time, but the Roos took a four-point lead into the main break after it scored 3.2 to 1.2 in the second term.

The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk had gained a two-goal break as teams headed out for the final term.

Inspired by the play of Ryan O’Keefe, Jordan Rouse and Liam Collins it was the Roos who set up and capped off plenty of attacking moves in the last quarter.

Kangaroo Flat scored 5.1 and held the Hawks to a score of 2.4 to clinch a dramatic 74-71 victory.

Harry Whitty led Kangaroo Flat’s attack on four goals as Sam Barnes and Ryan Savy added two each.

The Roos’ defence worked incredibly hard to limit the Hawks to 10 goals.

Only multiple goalkickers for the Two Blues were Dylan Hird and Darcy Richards on two.

Best for the Flat included Nic Keogh, Ethan Roberts and Harry Whitty.

Eaglehawk’s best were Cam McGlashan, Ben Thompson, Clayton Holmes, Dylan Hanley, Charlie Laangford and Billy Evans.

The return of several key players had a significant impact as Strathfieldsaye took on South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

Storm’s accuracy was outstanding across the first hour as it led 9.1 (55) to 5.3 (33) at half-time.

The Bloods fought back to win the third term, albeit 21-18.

Storm captain Lachlan Sharp and classy small forward Baxter Slater went on to kick a team-high three goals apiece in a hard-fought 92-81 victory.

The Bloods’ attack was led by Will Keck, four; and Steven Stroobants, three.

Best for the Darryl Wilson-coached Strathfieldsaye were Riley Wilson, Daniel Clohesy, Shannon Geary, Tim Hosking, Lachlan Ratcliffe and Mitch Hallinan.

The Bloods’ best were Oscar White, Zac Hare, Andrew van Heumen, Brody Haddow, Will Keck and Brock Harvey.

A first-quarter blitz set up Golden Square’s victory against Gisborne at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.

The Christian Carter-coached Golden Square slammed on 8.1 to 1.1 in the opening term of the all-Bulldogs showdown.

The Brad Fox-coached Gisborne worked hard to be outscored by just eight points across the next three quarters.

A list of 11 goalkickers for Square included Joel Brett, Hugh Freckleton, Ryan Hartley, Tom Strauch and Braydon Vaz on two each.

Only multiple goalkicker for Gisborne was Luke Ellings on two.

Best for Golden Square were on-baller Ryan Hartley, Jon Coe in defence, Ricky Monti, Tom Strauch, Liam Barrett and Hugh Freckleton.

Captain Jack Reaper, Luke Ellings, Zac Vescovi, Flynn Lakey, Adam Brancatisano and Jed Denahy were Gisborne’s best.

Sandhurst was in top form against Maryborough at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Dragons scored 9.5 to a point in the first term and the pressure and run did not let up.

Jointly coached by Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst scored eight goals in the second term, eight in the third, and six in the last.

There were 10 goalkickers as the Dragons won 31.23 (209) to 0.4 (4).

Lachlan Wright led the attack on seven goals as Andy Collins, Nick Stagg and Matt Thornton, four; Joel Wharton and Noah Walsh, three; Isaac Carracher and Matt Wilkinson, two; were the other multiple goalkickers.

Sandhurst’s best were Noah Walsh, Lachie Hood, Lachlan Wright, Nic Stagg, Matt Wilkinson and Hamish Hosking.

Kya Lanfranchi, James Macer, Joel Swatton, Chris Freeman, Jake Postle and Josh Britten were best for the Coby Perry-coached Maryborough.

There was no play in the Kyneton and Castlemaine match at Kyneton Showgrounds due to the tragic and sudden passing of 17-year-old Dallas Keogh-Frankling.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Sandhurst 261 per cent, 24 points; Eaglehawk 288, 20; Golden Square 190, 16; South Bendigo 107, 12; Strathfieldsaye 101, 12; Kangaroo Flat 88, 12; Gisborne 103, 8; Kyneton 95, 8; Castlemaine 32, 4; Maryborough 15, 0.

Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:

23 Joel Brett, Golden Square.

20 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.

18 Will Keck, South Bendigo.

15 Lachlan Sharp, Strathfieldsaye.

15 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.

15 Braydon Vaz, Golden Square.

13 Matt Thornton, Sandhurst.

12 Ryan Hartley, Golden Square.

12 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.

11 Cam McGlashan, Eaglehawk.

11 Thomas Quinn, Kyneton.

11 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.

10 Lewin Davis, Eaglehawk.

10 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.

10 Cameron Manuel, Kyneton.

The league marks Indigenous Round next Saturday.

Feature match will be at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where the Hawks take on Kyneton from 2.20pm.

Gisborne will be aiming to break this season’s winless run on home turf at Gardiner Reserve when it plays a red-hot Sandhurst.

Maryborough is back at Princes Park to host South Bendigo.

Castlemaine and Golden Square meet in the Magpies’ nest at Camp Reserve.

Strathfieldsaye Storm will take on a Kangaroo Flat riding high after its big win against the Borough at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.