🏆 THE RUN HOME: BFNL Football | Race for Premiership wide open
THE race for the Bendigo Advertiser Premiership Cup in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season is wide open.
As the second half of the home-and-away series kicks off this Saturday, Sandhurst is perched on top of the ladder on a win-loss tally of 8-0, and a draw.
Jointly coached by Ash Connick, non-playing, and Bryce Curnow, playing, Sandhurst holds the tag as premiership favourites.
To claim another premiership would cap a dramatic rise from being beaten in last year’s elimination final.
A Nalder medallist as best on ground for Strathfieldsaye in its 2019 grand final win, Bryce Curnow is among several high-profile recruits at Sandhurst.
Among those to return to the den based at Queen Elizabeth Oval included Andy Collins and Nick Stagg.
A Michelsen medallist as league fairest and best in 2009, Lee Coghlan is an inspirational on-baller and captain.
Most recent grand final appearance for Sandhurst was in 2016 when it beat Golden Square.
Stung by preliminary final defeat last September, Golden Square is again a serious contender.
The Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs have a 7-2 record.
A powerful attack based around last year’s Ron Best medallist in Joel Brett who has kicked an equal league-high of 41 this season is tough to stop.
Captain Jack Geary is a multiple premiership winner, a Michelsen medallist and dual Nalder medal winner.
His pursuit for more medals shows no sign of slowing down.
The return of Tom Toma from Cohuna Kangas has bolstered a talented on-ball group that includes Ryan Hartley, Ricky Monti, and long-time ruckman Matt Compston.
After achieving a long-awaited finals victory last year, South Bendigo has kept on improving.
High for the Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods was a one-point win on Golden Square’s turf.
Now at their new home of Harry Trott Oval in Kennington, South Bendigo has had centreman Brody Haddow, ruckman Mac Cameron, and a forward line led by assistant coach Steven Stroobants, Brock Harvey and Will Keck in top form.
Injury and illness tested Strathfieldsaye’s depth in the early rounds of the season.
Won the grand final rematch on Gisborne’s turf by two goals in round one, but was 2-3 after losses to Golden Square, Sandhurst and Eaglehawk.
The Darryl Wilson-coached Storm has struck back to win its past four matches.
A strong squad is led by captain and gun forward Lachlan Sharp, and includes the likes of Callum McCarty, Daniel Clohesy, Shannon Geary, James Schischka, and Michelsen medallist Jake Moorhead.
After a five-nil start to the season, Eaglehawk was flying high.
The past four rounds have been losses by three, one and three points, but also a draw with Sandhurst.
Huge test for the Travis Matheson-coached Hawks in the return matches against the likes of Kangaroo Flat, Kyneton, Golden Square and Sandhurst in the run to September.
Co-captains Billy Evans and Cam McGlashan are superb leaders, while the club’s plans to lure Kallen Geary from Strathfieldsaye back to the Borough have paid off.
Sixth in ’22, Kyneton is in the same position at the halfway mark of another campaign.
The Paul Chapman-coached Tigers clawed their way from a 0-3 start to be 4-3.
Kyneton’s home match against Castlemaine in round six was abandoned following the sudden passing of Castlemaine teenager Dallas Ashton-Frankling who had ruptured his spleen in the under-18s match.
Dallas’ passing at the age of 17 has affected so many, especially in the tight-knit communities of Castlemaine and Kyneton.
For the Tigers there are some big matches in the next three rounds as they take on Golden Square, Sandhurst and South Bendigo.
It’s been a tough run for reigning premier Gisborne which is 3-6 and in seventh place.
The Brad Fox-coached Bulldogs will not have given up hope on reaching the finals.
Need plenty to go right, starting with an upset win at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park this Saturday.
Have two of the league’s best on-ballers in ruckman Braidon Blake and Flynn Lakey, and also Jack Reaper as captain and the general in defence.
A young Kangaroo Flat line-up has a 3-6 record which includes a stunning 74-71 win against Eaglehawk on the Roos’ ground at Dower Park.
In his first year as coach of the club, Nathan Johns is well aware there will be ups and downs in form.
Being able to lure former Greater Western Sydney Giants and Hawthorn key forward Jonathon Patton to the club is a massive coup by the Roos.
After starting with a win on Maryborough’s turf in round one, Castlemaine has endured a run of seven defeats.
The Brendan Shepherd-coached Magpies have put some terrific quarters together, but the lighter-framed players in key positions have had to fight tremendous odds when up against the league’s top five teams.
Matt Filo has marked an impressive return to Camp Reserve by regularly featuring among the best, along with Brodie Byrne and John Watson.
Been an incredibly difficult run for Maryborough which was winless in ’22 and is 0-9.
The Coby Perry-coached Maryborough makes the trek to Camp Reserve this Saturday.
Margin in round one was just 11 points.
Recruited from South Bendigo, Joel Swatton has had a great season for the Borough as well as taking on assistant coaching/fitness adviser role.
Key defender Kya Lanfranchi performs well against the odds in every match, as does Chris Freeman.
Sandhurst, 8 won, 0 lost, 1 draw, 227 per cent, 34 points, 1st:
So far – d Kangaroo Flat 49-41, d Kyneton 104-40, d Golden Square 94-59, d Strathfieldsaye 79-49, d South Bendigo 105-52, d Maryborough 209-4, d Gisborne 63-46, d Castlemaine 119-34, dr Eaglehawk 64-64.
Run home –v Kangaroo Flat, away; v Kyneton, h; v Golden Square, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v South Bendigo, h; v Maryborough, a; v Gisborne, h; v Castlemaine, a; v Eaglehawk, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
James Coghlan, Hamish Hosking, Cooper Smith, Noah Walsh, Zach Pallpratt, Nick Stagg.
Leading goalkickers:
25 Lachlan Wright, 18 Matt Thornton, 16 Andy Collins, 11 Nick Stagg, 9 James Coghlan.
Golden Square, 7-2, 213%, 28 points, 2nd:
So far – d Kyneton 89-25, d Strathfieldsaye 101-94, lt Sandhurst 59-94, lt South Bendigo 75-76, d Maryborough 253-14, d Gisborne 104-54, d Castlemaine 130-27, d Eaglehawk 70-67, d Kangaroo Flat 198-55.
Run home –v Kyneton, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Sandhurst, h; v South Bendigo, a; v Maryborough, h; v Gisborne, a; v Castlemaine, h; v Eaglehawk, a; v Kangaroo Flat, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Ricky Monti, Ryan Hartley, Joel Brett, Jon Coe, Tom Toma.
Leading goalkickers:
41 Joel Brett, 18 Braydon Vaz, 15 Ryan Hartley, 12 Hamish Morcom, 11 Hugh Freckleton, 9 Zavier Murley, 8 Tom Toma.
South Bendigo, 6-3, 157%, 24 points, 3rd:
So far – lt Eaglehawk 48-58, d Kangaroo Flat 116-56, d Kyneton 92-46, d Golden Square 76-75, lt Sandhurst 52-105, lt Strathfieldsaye 81-92, d Maryborough 177-43, d Gisborne 131-63, d Castlemaine 137-41.
Run home – v Eaglehawk, a; v Kangaroo Flat, h; v Kyneton, a; v Golden Square, h; v Sandhurst, a; v Strathfieldsaye, a; v Maryborough, h; v Gisborne, a; v Castlemaine, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Brody Haddow, Oscar White, Mac Cameron, Brock Harvey, Riley Walsh.
Leading goalkickers:
31 Brock Harvey, 26 Will Keck, 25 Steven Stroobants, 8 Sam Griffiths.
Strathfieldsaye, 6-3, 156%, 24 points, 4th:
So far – d Gisborne 79-67, lt Golden Square 94-101, d Castlemaine 126-29, lt Sandhurst 49-79, lt Eaglehawk 21-99, d South Bendigo 92-81, d Kangaroo Flat 150-46, d Maryborough 170-36, d Kyneton 160-64.
Run home– v Gisborne, h; v Golden Square, a; v Castlemaine, h; v Sandhurst, a; v Eaglehawk, a; v South Bendigo, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Maryborough, h; v Kyneton, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Callum McCarty, Daniel Clohesy, Jake Moorhead, Lachlan Sharp, Riley Wilson.
Leading goalkickers:
41 Lachlan Sharp, 17 James Schischka, 14 Callum McCarty, 10 Jed Brereton, 9 Jordan Wilson.
Eaglehawk, 5-3-1, 201%, 22 points, 5th:
So far – d South Bendigo 58-48, d Maryborough 179-10, d Gisborne 112-63, d Castlemaine 199-33, d Strathfieldsaye 99-21, lt Kangaroo Flat 71-74, lt Kyneton 76-77, lt Golden Square 67-70, dr Sandhurst 64-64.
Run home –v South Bendigo, h; v Maryborough, a; v Gisborne, h; v Castlemaine, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Kangaroo Flat, h; v Kyneton, a; v Golden Square, h; v Sandhurst, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Billy Evans, Connor Dalgleish, Charlie Langford, Kallen Geary, Lewin Davis, Clayton Holmes.
14 Lewin Davis, 13 Cam McGlashan, Darcy Richards, 11 Noah Wheeler, 10 Billy Evans, Dylan Hird, Liam Marciano, Jack O’Shannessy, 9 Kallen Geary, 8 Jarryn Geary.
Kyneton, 4-4-1, 88%, 18 points, 6th:
So far – lt Golden Square 25-89, lt Sandhurst 40-104, lt South Bendigo 46-92, d Maryborough 186-30, d Gisborne 75-73, v Castlemaine (abandoned), d Eaglehawk 77-76, d Kangaroo Flat 75-37, lt Strathfieldsaye 64-160.
Run home – v Golden Square, h; v Sandhurst, a; v South Bendigo, h; v Maryborough, a; v Gisborne, h; v Castlemaine, a; v Eaglehawk, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Cameron Manuel, Jake Summers, Harrison Huntley, Mitch Comben, Mason Crozier, Jordan Iudica.
Leading goalkickers:
23 Cameron Manuel, 13 Thomas Quinn, 9 Jake Summers, 8 Ethan Foreman.
Gisborne, 3-6, 120%, 12 points, 7th:
So far – lt Strathfieldsaye 67-79, d Castlemaine 109-32, lt Eaglehawk 63-112, d Kangaroo Flat 94-42, lt Kyneton 73-75, lt Golden Square 54-104, lt Sandhurst 46-63, lt South Bendigo 63-131, d Maryborough 217-13.
Run home– v Strathfieldsaye, a; v Castlemaine, h; v Eaglehawk, a; v Kangaroo Flat, h; v Kyneton, a; v Golden Square, h; v Sandhurst, a; v South Bendigo, h; v Maryborough, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Flynn Lakey, Matt Merrett, Liam Spear, Jack Reaper, Braidon Blake, Jed Denahy.
Leading goalkickers:
12 Matt Merrett, 10 Harry Luxmoore, 9 Braidon Blake, 7 Zac Denahy.
Kangaroo Flat, 3-6, 60%, 12 points, 8th:
So far –lt Sandhurst 41-49, lt South Bendigo 56-116, d Maryborough 78-61, lt Gisborne 42-94, d Castlemaine 95-47, d Eaglehawk 74-71, lt Strathfieldsaye 46-150, lt Kyneton 37-75, lt Golden Square 55-198.
Run home –v Sandhurst, h; v South Bendigo, a; v Maryborough, h; v Gisborne, a; v Castlemaine, h; v Eaglehawk, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Kyneton, h; v Golden Square, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Ryan O’Keefe, Jordan Rouse, Mitch Trewhella, Liam Collins, Zac Rouse.
Leading goalkickers:
13 Harry Whitty, 8 Sam Barnes, Liam Collins.
Castlemaine, 1-7-1, 29%, 6 points, 9th:
So far – d Maryborough 37-26, lt Gisborne 32-109, lt Strathfieldsaye 29-126, lt Eaglehawk 33-199, lt Kangaroo Flat 47-95, v Kyneton (abandoned), lt Golden Square 27-130, lt Sandhurst 34-119, lt South Bendigo 41-137.
Run home – v Maryborough, h; v Gisborne, a; v Strathfieldsaye, a; v Eaglehawk, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Kyneton, h; v Golden Square, a; v Sandhurst, h; v South Bendigo, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Matt Filo, Brodie Byrne, John Watson, Callum McConachy, Liam Wilkinson.
Leading goalkickers:
7 Callum McConachy, 5 Brad Keogh, 4 John Watson.
Maryborough, 0-9, 15%, 0 points, 10th:
So far – lt Castlemaine 26-37, lt Eaglehawk 10-179, lt Kangaroo Flat 61-78, lt Kyneton 30-186, lt Golden Square 14-253, lt Sandhurst 4-209, lt South Bendigo 43-177, lt Strathfieldsaye 36-170, lt Gisborne 13-217.
Run home –v Castlemaine, a; v Eaglehawk, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Kyneton, h; v Golden Square, a; v Sandhurst, h; v South Bendigo, a; v Strathfieldsaye, a; v Gisborne, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Joel Swatton, Kya Lanfranchi, Chris Freeman, Jake Postle, Jai Howell.
Leading goalkickers:
5 Chris Freeman, 4 Jai Howell, Matt Johnston.
