BFNL Round 9 Football Review | Another thriller played at Hawks’ Canterbury Park
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ANOTHER thriller was played out at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park in Saturday’s ninth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
After a string of defeats by margins of three, one and three points, Eaglehawk was fired up to end Sandhurst’s unbeaten run as two of the league’s fiercest rivals vied for the premiership points.
The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk made a brilliant start to score 5.4 to 3.1 in the opening quarter.
The Dragons fired up to add 3.1 and keep the Two Blues scoreless in the second.
Although the Hawks were down 34-40 at the long break they did lift in the third to score 3.4 to just four behinds.
Eaglehawk had a two-goal buffer going into the last, but final terms had not been a strong point for the Borough in recent rounds.
It became so again as the Sandhurst line-up scored 3.2 to 1.2 in a dramatic final term.
Both teams were locked on 9.10 (64) when the siren sounded to end a brilliant contest.
Jack O’Shannessy led the Hawks’ attack on three as former St Kilda captain and AFL 200 Club member Jarryn Geary kicked two goals.
The Dragons had captain Lee Coghlan, Sam Conforti and Matt Thornton kick two majors.
Best for the Hawks were ruckman Connor Dalgleish, Clayton Holmes, Noah Wheeler, Billy Evans, Jack O’Shannessy and Charlie Langford.
Back with the Dragons from a stint with Essendon in the VFL, Sam Conforti was Sandhurst’s best along with James Coghlan, Zach Pallpratt, Lachlan Tardrew, Cooper Smith and Liam Ireland.
Strathfieldsaye dominated its showdown with Kyneton in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
The Darryl Wilson-coached Strathfieldsaye was wary of a team which had won four in a row and was desperate to mark its first win at the ground.
It was not to be for the yellow and black as Storm scored 8.3 to 3.0 in the first term and then won the second quarter, 21-8.
Storm’s pressure and run did not ease up as the midfield and on-ballers set up plenty of chances.
Strathfieldsaye captain Lachlan Sharp went on to kick a match-high 11 goals as Storm scored 23.22 (160) to 10.4 (64).
Other multiple goalkickers for Storm were Callum McCarty, three; Jordan Wilson, two.
The classy Cameron Manuel led Kyneton’s attack on five goals as Harrison Sheahan added two.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Lachlan Sharp, Callum McCarty, Tim Hosking, Riley Wilson, Bode Stevens and Baxter Slater.
In a disappointing result for the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton it was Cameron Manuel, Mitch Comben, Mason Crozier, Bailey McGee, Jake Summers and Harrison Sheahan who were best.
Gisborne marked a return to the winners’ circle as it dominated its home game against Maryborough at Gardiner Reserve.
The Bulldogs had 57 scoring shots and most importantly kicked 32 goals.
Gisborne led 7.4 to 0.2 at quarter-time and then added seven, six and 12 goals across the next three terms to run out 32.25 (217) to 1.7 (13) winners.
Brad Bernacki marked his return to Gisborne from playing VFL with Essendon by kicking a match-high five goals in a best afield performance.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Brad Fox-coached Gisborne were Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett, four; Seb Bell-Bartels and Darcy Young, three; Matt Cassidy and Luke Ellings, two.
Tom Myers goaled for Maryborough in the third term.
Gisborne’s best were Brad Bernacki, Flynn Lakey, Harry Luxmoore, Matt Merrett, Luke Ellings and Liam Spear.
Best for the Coby Perry-coached Maryborough were Joel Swatton, Chris Freeman, Tom Myers, Kya Lanfranchi, Ty Stewart and Cobie Read.
A 12-goal blitz in the second term put South Bendigo well in control of its match at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Brendan Shepherd-coached Castlemaine started well to win the first term, 15-11.
In the second the Bloods slammed on 12.5 to nil.
The second half was more evenly fought as South Bendigo scored 3.3 to 2.1 in the third, and 4.4 to 2.1 in the last.
At the final siren the Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods led 137 to 41.
Brock Harvey marked a superb match with nine goals as Daniel Johnstone, Will Keck and Sam Langley kicked two each.
Castlemaine’s attack was led by John Watson with three goals.
Best for the Bloods were Brock Harvey, Brody Haddow, Sam Griffiths, Tait Poyser, Andrew van Heumen and Zaydyn Lockwood.
Jack Sutherland, John Watson, David Wilson, Tyson Hickey, Ben Moran and Daniel Lawson were best for the Magpies.
A winning streak of more than 40 matches for Golden Square against Kangaroo Flat kept on rolling in Saturday’s match on the Roos’ ground at Dower Park.
Golden Square led 47-13 at quarter-time and then slammed on 9.3 to just two behinds in the second to lead 104-15 at half-time.
The Nathan Johns-coached Kangaroos bounced back to dominate most of the third term.
Kangaroo Flat scored 6.4 to 4.1 in the third, but it was the Dogs who finished superbly.
The blue and gold marked a 10-goal final term to nil to complete a 198-55 victory.
The athletic Hamish Morcom marked one of his best matches by kicking eight goals as Joel Brett booted six.
Other multiple goalkickers for the blue and gold were Tom Toma, five; Jack Hickman, three; Hugh Freckleton, Ryan Hartley, Zavier Murley and Tom Strauch, two.
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by Ethan Roberts and Harry Whitty with two each.
Best for the Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs were Tom Toma, Hamish Morcom, Jack Hickman, Joel Brett, Ricky Monti and Tom Strauch.
Zac Rouse, Toby Roberts, Jordan Rouse, Ryan O’Keefe, Ethan Roberts and Mitch Trewhella played well for the Kangaroos.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 227 per cent, 34 points; Golden Square 213, 28; South Bendigo 156, 24; Strathfieldsaye 156, 24; Eaglehawk 201, 22; Kyneton 88, 18; Gisborne 120, 12; Kangaroo Flat 60, 12; Castlemaine 29, 6; Maryborough 15, 0.
The second half of the homd-and-away series kicks off next Saturday.
A big match in the 10th round will be Eaglehawk on home turf at Canterbury Park against South Bendigo.
It’s the rematch of the 2022 grand finalists as Strathfieldsaye faces Gisborne at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Kyneton takes on Golden Square at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Kangaroo Flat is on its ground at Dower Park to play Sandhurst.
It’s another all-Magpies clash as Castlemaine is in its nest at Camp Reserve to play Maryborough.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
41 - (6) - Joel Brett - Golden Square Seniors
41 - (11) - Lachlan Sharp - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
31 - (9) - Brock Harvey - South Bendigo Seniors
26 - (2) - William Keck - South Bendigo Seniors
25 - (1) - Lachlan Wright - Sandhurst Seniors
25 - (5) - Cameron Manuel - Kyneton Seniors
25 - (1) - Steven Stroobants - South Bendigo Seniors
18 - (0) - Braydon Vaz - Golden Square Seniors
18 - (2) - Matt Thornton - Sandhurst Seniors
17 - (1) - James Schischka - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
16 - (0) - Andrew Collins - Sandhurst Seniors
15 - (2) - Ryan Hartley - Golden Square Seniors
14 - (0) - Lewin Davis - Eaglehawk Seniors
13 - (1) - Darcy Richards - Eaglehawk Seniors
13 - (2) - Harry Whitty - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
13 - (0) - Cameron McGlashan - Eaglehawk Seniors
13 - (0) - Thomas Quinn - Kyneton Seniors
13 - (3) - Callum McCarty - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
12 - (4) - Matthew Merrett - Gisborne Seniors
12 - (8) - Hamish Morcom - Golden Square Seniors
11 - (1) - Nicholas Stagg - Sandhurst Seniors
11 - (1) - Noah Wheeler - Eaglehawk Seniors
11 - (2) - Hugh Freckleton - Golden Square Seniors
10 - (0) - Dylan Hird - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (1) - Jake Summers - Kyneton Seniors
10 - (0) - Billy Evans - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (0) - Jed Brereton - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
10 - (4) - Harry Luxmoore - Gisborne Seniors
10 - (0) - Liam Marciano - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (3) - Jack O’shannessy - Eaglehawk Seniors
