WEEK 2 FINALS FOOTBALL REVIEW | Gisborne’s fighting spirit overwhelms Bloods in first semi

GISBORNE’S fighting spirit overwhelmed South Bendigo in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy first semi-final on Sunday.

Despite the heavy ground and wet conditions the Bulldogs and Bloods played out a great match at Queen Elizabeth Oval as they fought to stay in the premiership race.

South Bendigo went into the contest having won both clashes with the Bulldogs in the home-and-away series.

The Bloods did plenty of attacking in the first quarter, but shots on goal were askew.

As South Bendigo scored six behinds, Gisborne goaled through Thomas Werner, Jacob Floreani and Harry Luxmoore to lead 18-6 by quarter-time.

The Bulldogs were first to goal in the second as Campbell Johns was on target.

First goal for the Bloods was slotted by Anthony Zimmerman nearing the four-minute mark of the term.

The Bulldogs answered through Zac Denahy.

Goals by Brock Harvey and talented teen Zaydyn Lockwood drew South Bendigo within seven points at 12 minutes to go in the half.

It was the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne which turned up the pressure.

Goals by Luxmoore, Matt Merrett, gun on-baller James Gray and Merrett again meant the Bulldogs had skipped away to a 55-27 lead by half-time.

When premiership-winning stars of ’22 in Pat McKenna and Brad Bernacki goaled the Bulldogs led 68-27.

South Bendigo struck back with four of the next five goals.

A Luke Meletis goal gave Gisborne a 32-point buffer, but the Bloods were within 25 points at a quarter to go.

It was a tough slog in the final term.

A superb finish by Gray at 8 ½ minutes to play put the result beyond doubt.

The hard-working Brody Haddow capped another fine match with a goal, but it was Gray who put the exclamation mark on the contest with his third goal as Gisborne celebrated a 93-61 victory.

It was on-ballers Brad Bernacki and James Gray who led the way for Gisborne as Dylan Johnstone, Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Jed Denahy also starred for the red, white and blue.

Best for South Bendigo were ruckman Callum Crisp, Josh Nitschke, Zac Sims, Ollie Turnbull, Tom Brereton and Zac Hare.

Although disappointed its run has ended the Troy Coates and Jack Fallon-coached South Bendigo can take plenty of positives from an 11-5 record in the home-and-away series and a finals victory.

Gisborne will now prepare to take on Eaglehawk in next Saturday’s preliminary final.

The Hawks worked hard across the opening half to limit the reigning premier to just four goals.

By half-time Sandhurst led 28-11.

The final hour and the last quarter in particular was dominated by the Dragons.

After winning the third term, 21-10, Sandhurst slammed on seven goals in the last and kept the Two Blues to just two majors.

By the final siren Sandhurst was up 95-34 and through to its third senior grand final in a row.

The Dragons’ attack was led by Cobi Maxted and co-captain Fergus Greene on five and four goals.

Other goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Tom Campbell, James Coghlan, Seb Collins, co-captain Cooper Smith and Dayten Uerata.

The Hawks were held to a tally of four goals in which Jack Donat, Nick Hoare, co-coach Clayton Holmes and Jack O’Shannessy were on target.

Best for Sandhurst were Cooper Smith, Liam Ireland, Jack Keating, co-coach Lachlan Tardrew, Cobi Maxted and Dayten Uerata.

The Dragons also have multiple premiership winner Bryce Curnow as playing co-coach.

Best for Eaglehawk were Jonty Neaves, Charlie Langford, Dylan Hanley, Nick Hoare, Thomas Bennett and Jack Donat.

A Borough team which has Travis Matheson as non-playing co-coach kicked off the finals by winning the qualifying final against Gisborne by nine points.

The Hawks must beat the Bulldogs again to earn a chance to play Sandhurst for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.

In the Drummond Golf reserves competition, Sandhurst progressed to the grand final after a nine-point win against Golden Square in Saturday’s second semi-final.

The Dragons led 13-9 at quarter-time before both teams scored 3.1 in the second term.

Golden Square won the third term, 13-12, and was up 41-40 going into the final quarter.

In the last it was the experienced Joel Wharton who kicked two goals for Sandhurst to cap a 53-44 victory.

Joel Wharton finished with a match-high four goals as another experienced player in Jarrod Bateson slotted two goals and Wilson Butler and Henry Edwards added one each.

The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Tanner Rayner  and Jordan Salathiel on two goals each as Darcy Connell and Zac Tickell kicked a major.

Best for Sandhurst were Henry Edwards, Charlie Robinson, Jack English, Wil Pinniger, Louis Banfield and Connor Sexton.

Golden Square’s best were Jordan Salathiel, Darcy Connell, Nic Ross, Jesse Gill, Thomas Dillon and Sheldon Burke.

On Sunday it was South Bendigo and Castlemaine which fought out a thrilling reserves first semi-final.

The Bloods led 12-5 at quarter-time and 20-18 by the long break.

Both teams scored two goals in the third as South Bendigo led 32-31 going into the final term.

The Bloods were first to goal in the last quarter, but a Curtis McLennan goal made it 38-all.

Castlemaine hit the front when Bodhi Robinson goaled.

A behind for the Bloods was then followed by a goal at 3 ½ minutes to play.

There was no addition to the score as South Bendigo led 45-44 at the siren.

Braydan Torpey led the Bloods’ attack on two goals as Will Allen, Regan Harvey, Zavier Holmes, Fraser McKinstry and Will Purcell kicked one each.

Castlemaine’s goalkickers were Brodie Browne-Kerr, Brad Keogh, Curtis McLennan, Riley Pedretti, Archie Rixon and Bodhi Robinson.

Best for the Bloods were Will Allen, Fraser McKinstry, Luke Darling, Harvey Beale, Darcy Backway and Braydan Torpey.

The Magpies’ best were Declan Slingo, Archie Rixon, Campbell McLennan, Riley Pedretti, Jack Nuttall and Will Marks.

Sandhurst took another step toward back-to-back premierships in the SportsPower under-18s competition as it won the second semi-final against Golden Square by 46 points.

The Dragons charged to a 20-2 lead as Oscar Cail, Lachlan Borchard and Oscar Cail again were on target.

Golden Square goaled on the siren to make it 20-8 by the first break.

The Dragons scored four goals in the second and kept the blue and gold to a solitary goal.

By half-time Sandhurst led 44-14.

Quarter three went the way of the Dragons, 14-8 as Carter Reid kicked both goals.

Sandhurst then won the final term, 13-3, on the way to a 71-25 victory.

Oscar Cail and Carter Reid led the Dragons’ attack on four and three goals as Noah Willits added two.

Other goalkickers for Sandhurst were Lachlan Borchard and  Zane Connick.

The Bulldogs goals were kicked by Zach Barker, Seth Cooke-Kingston and Archie Eaton.

Best for Sandhurst were Noah Willits, Charles Duke, Oscar Cail, Kobi Macdonald, Thomas Davie and Thomas Smith.

Golden Square’s best were Josh Kelly, Melvic Pambai, James Peter, Llogan Mayman, Byron Ritchie and Archer Weeks.

The Bulldogs will now face South Bendigo in the preliminary final.

The Bloods led 15-8 at quarter-time of Sunday’s first semi against Strathfieldsaye after Logan Howell and Bailey Quinlan-Fawcett were on target.

Sole reply for Storm was through Nathan Jones-Stibbe.

In the second it was Strathfieldsaye which gained a 20-15 lead after two goals by Mack Elkington.

Storm was up 20-18 by the main break.

A goal by the classy Tyce Griffin gave Strathfieldsaye a seven-point buffer at just under 15 minutes to go in the third term.

A Campbell Wood goal cut the margin.

Consecutive points by the Bloods were matched by Storm as Strathfieldsaye led 28-27 at three quarter-time.

Anthony Gray put the Bloods in front, before Phoenix Gordon was on target for Storm.

Back-to-back points by Strathfieldsaye were followed by a Logan Howell goal as South Bendigo led 40-36 at less than four minutes to play.

Storm scored another point, but it was the Bloods who goaled again through Howell to seal a 46-37 victory.

Best for South Bendigo were Campbell Wood, Toby Hardingham, Luke Feuerherdt, Ethan McMahon, Adam Triplett and Logan Howell.

Strathfieldsaye’s best were Alex Wingrave, Jack Molloy, Mack Elkington, Archie Stevens, Lachlan Hargreaves and Hugh Behrens.

Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval, View Street, Bendigo:

SportsPower under-18s at 10.45am: Golden Square v South Bendigo.

Drummond Golf reserves at 12.45pm: Golden Square v South Bendigo.

Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.50pm: Eaglehawk v Gisborne.