South Bendigo

SOUTH Bendigo will fight to keep the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup out of Sandhurst’s hands in Saturday’s fifth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The match to honour one of the Bloods’ great defenders and clubmen will be at South Bendigo’s new home at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street from 2.20pm.

Last season’s Cup battle between the-then QEO co-tenants ended in an eight-point win for the red and white.

The Bloods will up the pressure rating against the unbeaten Dragons.

South Bendigo gained plenty of confidence from a one-point win at Golden Square last round.

Among the many key duels in Saturday’s contest will be in the ruck where Bloods’ gun recruit Mac Cameron is up against Hamish Hosking.

Both are superb at centre clearances and boundary throw-ins, but also provide plenty of run and marking power around the ground.

Bloods’ small forwards Brock Harvey, Will Keck and Steven Stroobants will test the Dragons in every quarter.

The quality and quantity of supply will be crucial to South Bendigo’s chances.

Brody Haddow, Cooper Leon, Oscar White and coach Nathan Horbury play crucial on-ball or midfield roles for the Bloods.

The dash and flair of Zac Hare and Braydan Torpey  from defence is a key for the Bloods, as is the run from Wil McCaig and Sam Maher.

Sandhurst made it four wins on the trot when it kicked clear in the final quarter to beat Strathfieldsaye by 30 points.

James Coghlan, Andy Collins, Isaac Ruff and Cooper Smith were the Dragons’ best.

The marking power of Sandhurst forwards Matt Thornton, Cobi Maxted and Lachlan Wright is a huge plus and will test Daniel Johnstone and Andy Van Heumen.

A Dragons’ team coached by Ash Connick, non-playing, and Bryce Curnow, playing, was superb in the clinches as it beat Golden Square to retain the Ron Best Memorial Shield two weeks ago.

Players to watch for the Dragons include Nick Stagg, Will Moran, Alex Wharton and youngsters Archer Day-Wicks, Lachie Hood and Darcy Mills.

Another big match will be at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane where Storm hosts the ladder-leading Eaglehawk.

Illness and injury have hit Storm which has a two-two record and in a tough fight to hold fourth place.

Among the changes for the Darryl Wilson-coached Storm was captain Lachlan Sharp out because of a hamstring injury.

With the Michelsen medallist and dual Ron Best medallist on the sidelines there’s more pressure on James Schischka, Baxter Slater and Malik Gordon in Storm’s forward line.

On-ball duels will be a highlight.

Storm has ruckman Jed Brereton to take on Connor Dalgleish, while Michelsen medallist Jake Moorhead and Daniel Clohesy are damaging players from centre breaks and stoppages.

In defence it will be Mitch Hallinan, Luke Webb and Lachlan Ratcliffe who play crucial roles for Storm.

It’s been a long time since the Hawks have won in Storm territory.

A key player in Storm’s long-time dominance against the Hawks was Kallen Geary.

This time the triple premiership winner with Strathfieldsaye returns to Triple M Park, but to play off a half-back flank for the Hawks.

On the other flank will be Kallen’s older brother, Jarryn who has returned to the Borough after a 207-game AFL career with St Kilda.

A talented Eaglehawk line-up includes Marcus Angove, Billy Evans in the centre, Lewin Davis, Clayton Holmes, Cameron McGlashan, Joel Mullen and Noah Wheeler.

Gisborne is back on home turf at Gardiner Reserve to take on Kyneton.

The Bulldogs surged clear in the second half to win last Saturday’s match at Kangaroo Flat by 52 points.

The Brad Fox-coached Bulldogs will be wary of a Kyneton line-up which hit back from a hat-trick of defeats to score a big win against Maryborough at Tigerland.

Premiership-winning captain and gun forward Pat McKenna marks a timely return for Gisborne.

A Dogs’ attack that includes Matt Merrett, Harry Luxmoore and Adam Brancatisano will test the Paul Chapman-coached team in yellow and black.

Gisborne ruckman Braidon Blake, rover Flynn Lakey and key defender and captain Jack Reaper have been in top form all season.

After racking up 45 disposals and three goals in Kyneton’s win to earn the Barry Plant Player of the Round award, Cameron Manuel was not named in the Tigers’ team to tackle the Dogs.

With Cameron out there will be a greater onus on the likes of Hamish Yunghanns, Bailey McGee, James Orr, Brady Muir and Lucas Iudica to set up attacks.

Harrison Huntley is one of the league’s best key defenders.

A premiership winner with Gisborne last season, classy forward Ethan Foreman returns, but back in the Tigers colours.

A tough run for Maryborough rolls on as the Magpies face a Golden Square team fired up after consecutive defeats.

The Coby Perry-coached Magpies will be on home turf at Princes Park.

Best for the Borough in last week’s match at Kyneton were Chris Freeman, Lucas Hurse, Jake Postle and Jai Howell.

Maryborough’s line-up includes the experienced Matt Johnston and Joel Swatton, captain Ty Stewart, Darcy Bond and Kya Lanfranchi.

The Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs have Ron Best medallist Joel Brett as a key target in attack, along with Braydon Vaz, and possibly Tom Strauch.

A forward in most matches for Square, Jayden Burke was best playing at centre half-back last week.

The Dogs have the running power and skill of captain Jack Geary, Ricky Monti, Jake Thrum and Terence Reeves.

Strong form by Jack Threlfall in the reserves has earned a call-up for his first senior game with the Bulldogs since last season’s round 17 clash with Gisborne on Square’s turf.

Castlemaine and Kangaroo Flat will fight to mark their second win of the season.

The Brendan Shepherd-coached Castlemaine has home-ground advantage at Camp Reserve.

The Pies could not stop Eaglehawk’s run to a big win at Canterbury Park last round.

Best for the ‘Maine in that contest were Brodie Byrne, Matt Filo, Callum McConachy and Liam Wilkinson.

Although the Kangaroos have an identical 1-3 record, they have been competitive for much longer, especially against Sandhurst and Gisborne.

Best for the Nathan Johns-coached Roos last round were Connor Evans, Noah Furlong, Liam Collins and Toby Roberts.

Players to watch for the Flat include Mitch Trewhella, Mitch Collins, Jordan and Zachary Rouse, and Gach Chuol.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Eaglehawk 355 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 172, 16; South Bendigo 141, 12; Strathfieldsaye 126, 8; Gisborne 125, 8; Golden Square 112, 8; Kyneton 94, 4; Kangaroo Flat 67, 4; Castlemaine 28, 4; Maryborough 26, 0.

Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:

12 Will Keck, South Bendigo.

12 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.

12 Lachlan Sharp, Strathfieldsaye.

11 Joel Brett, Golden Square.

10 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.

10 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.

9 Lewin Davis, Eaglehawk.

9 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.

9 Thomas Quinn, Kyneton.

8 Kallen Geary, Eaglehawk.

8 Matt Thornton, Sandhurst.

7 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.

7 Ryan Hartley, Golden Square.

7 Noah Wheeler, Eaglehawk.

THE unbeaten Sandhurst faces the Bloods from South Bendigo in this Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

What’s been a long-time showdown at Queen Elizabeth Oval for many years has a change of venue as the Bloods new home is now Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.

It’s a big day for South Bendigo on Graeme Wright Memorial Cup day.

In pursuit of a fifth consecutive premiership, Sandhurst has answered all challenges.

The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst beat Kangaroo Flat by 10 goals in the rematch of the ’22 grand finalists to tip-off the season at the QEO.

Other wins for the maroon and blue have been at Kyneton by 11 goals; at home against Golden Square by 78; and at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park by 30.

The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo played brilliant netball at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street last round to win by 53 goals.

The Bloods’ attack capitalised on the mid-court dominance to pour in 81 goals against the blue and gold.

Another crucial match will be at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve where the Magpies take on Kangaroo Flat.

The Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Castlemaine felt the heat at Eaglehawk last round as it led by just two goals going into the final term.

It was 18-7 in Castlemaine’s favour in the last to clinch a 50-37 victory.

The Magpies are up against a much stronger opponent this round.

Kangaroo Flat showed plenty of fight last Saturday to score a 44-42 win against Gisborne on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.

The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos were down 19-22 at half-time, but lifted to win the third, 14-10, and the fourth, 11-10.

Maryborough is back on its court at Princes Park to take on Golden Square.

The Jordan Macilwain-coached Maryborough will be determined to hit back after a 21-goal loss at Kyneton.

The Magpies are likely to have too much attacking power for the Benita Swatton-coached Golden Square to hold across four quarters.

Gisborne is at home at Gardiner Reserve to take on Kyneton.

It’s the clash of the Calder rivals.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne will start favourite on a court where it has beaten Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk by margins of 25 and 23 goals.

Kyneton played exceptional netball last Saturday.

The Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Tigers led 17-9 at quarter-time and went on to win the next three terms by five, three and five in a 64-43 result.

Kyneton has experience and height in attack to trouble Gisborne, but the Bulldogs’ slick ball movement through the court will be difficult to stop.

Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk meet in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.

The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye will be wary of an opponent which pushed Castlemaine at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park last round.

It’s consecutive hit-outs at home for Storm.

Both teams have endured a tough start to the season.

Storm has faced three of last season’s finalists in Gisborne, Castlemaine and Sandhurst.

It’s been the same for the Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks who have taken on South Bendigo, Gisborne and Castlemaine across the first month.

Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:

Sandhurst 205 per cent, 16 points; South Bendigo 156, 12; Gisborne 141, 12; Kangaroo Flat 136, 12; Castlemaine 121, 12; Kyneton 122, 8; Strathfieldsaye 87, 4; Maryborough 73, 4; Eaglehawk 59, 0; Golden Square 32, 0.

SCORES were locked on 53-all when the siren sounded to end the A-grade netball match between South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye in Saturday’s sixth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

As the Bloods fell behind Kangaroo Flat in pursuit of a top-three finish, Strathfieldsaye moved within a win of the fifth-placed South Bendigo.

The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo raced to an eight-goal lead in the first term, but Storm fought back brilliantly.

For the Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye it was the team’s best performance of the season and one from which it gained a lot of confidence.

The league’s top three teams were all in top form.

Sandhurst’s unbeaten run kept rolling as it took on Maryborough at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won 87-27.

Gisborne dominated play on Golden Square’s court at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.

Second in the premiership race, Gisborne powered to its fifth win of the season.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne won 90-19 in the lead-up to next Saturday’s home game against Sandhurst at Gardiner Reserve.

The third-placed Kangaroo Flat passed the 80-goal mark against Eaglehawk.

The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos were on the rebound from a loss on Castlemaine’s court and dominated from the first pass at Dower Park.

By the final siren, Kangaroo Flat led 82-32 against the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk.

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

Standings in the Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball competition:

Sandhurst 233 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 187, 20; Kangaroo Flat 137, 16; Castlemaine 125, 16; South Bendigo 115, 14; Strathfieldsaye 95, 10; Kyneton 104, 8; Maryborough 72, 8; Eaglehawk 57, 0; Golden Square 36, 0.

The league marks Indigenous Round next Saturday.

Match of the round will be at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the second-placed Bulldogs face the ladder-leading and unbeaten Sandhurst.

Feature match of the day will be at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where the Hawks play Kyneton.

Maryborough will on its court at Princes Park to play South Bendigo.

Castlemaine hosts Golden Square at Camp Reserve.

Strathfieldsaye Storm is up against Kangaroo Flat at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.

Round six scoreboard:

A-reserve:

South Bendigo 41 lt Strathfieldsaye 46, Kangaroo Flat 63 d Eaglehawk 35, Kyneton 32 lt Castlemaine 52, Golden Square 21 lt Gisborne 74, Sandhurst bye.

B-grade:

South Bendigo 42 dr Strathfieldsaye 42, Kangaroo Flat 51 d Eaglehawk 38, Kyneton v Castlemaine no play, Golden Square 38 lt Gisborne 69, Sandhurst 81 d Maryborough 20.

B-reserve:

South Bendigo 36 lt Strathfieldsaye 42, Kangaroo Flat 52 d Eaglehawk 36, Kyneton v Castlemaine no play, Golden Square 19 lt Gisborne 47, Sandhurst 89 d Maryborough 15.

17-and-under:

South Bendigo 24 lt Strathfieldsaye 43, Kangaroo Flat 48 d Eaglehawk 37, Kyneton 14 lt Castlemaine 46, Golden Square 47 lt Gisborne 58, Sandhurst 63 d Maryborough 42.

Ladders after six rounds:

A-reserve:

Gisborne 254 per cent, 24 points; Sandhurst 198, 24; South Bendigo 111, 16; Kangaroo Flat 96, 12; Strathfieldsaye 83, 12; Castlemaine 86, 8; Eaglehawk 63, 8; Kyneton 57, 8; Golden Square 55, 4.

B-grade:

Sandhurst 208 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 167, 20; Kangaroo Flat 138, 20; Strathfieldsaye 101, 14; South Bendigo 100, 14; Golden Square 86, 8; Eaglehawk 77, 8; Kyneton 74, 4; Castlemaine 63, 2; Maryborough 49, 2.

B-reserve:

Sandhurst 261 per cent, 24 points; Kangaroo Flat 177, 20; Gisborne 162, 20; Eaglehawk 108, 16; Strathfieldsaye 130, 12; South Bendigo 98, 8; Golden Square 65, 8; Castlemaine 52, 4; Kyneton 41, 4; Maryborough 40, 0.

17-and-under:

Gisborne 202 per cent, 24 points; Sandhurst 194, 24; Golden Square 159, 16; Maryborough 122, 16; Strathfieldsaye 93, 12; Kangaroo Flat 104, 10; Castlemaine 98, 10; Eaglehawk 73, 4; South Bendigo 51, 4; Kyneton 20, 0.

Big match on Golden Square’s court

GOLDEN Square and South Bendigo will eye a great chance to mark victory number two when they meet in Saturday’s eighth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

A Golden Square team now being coached by Teigan Redwood will have home-court advantage at Wade Street’s Fur Life Oval against the Bloods.

The blue and gold lead the red and white by two percentage points.

Both teams had a rest last Saturday.

Golden Square’s lower grade teams played at Maryborough’s Princes Park, but the Magpies are not fielding an A-grade team.

It was a bye for South Bendigo which endured a daunting three match stretch against top teams Kangaroo Flat, Gisborne and Sandhurst.

Although it has just the one victory, 40-36 at Castlemaine in round three, Golden Square’s been a lot more competitive this season.

Increased work commitments meant Chris O’Sullivan stepped down as A-grade coach leading into the Ron Best Memorial Shield match against Sandhurst in the split sixth round.

The blue and gold worked hard against a slick Sandhurst team which claimed a 72-26 victory.

A multiple premiership winner in her time at Kangaroo Flat, Alicia McGlashan’s coaching debut with South Bendigo began with a 36-34 victory on Strathfieldsaye Storm’s Triple M Park court.

Since then the Bloods have been beaten by Castlemaine, 41-27 at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval, and went down to the Roos, Bulldogs and Dragons by margins of 33, 27 and 50 goals.

The Bloods’ goalers are likely to have more scoring opportunities against Golden Square.

Strathfieldsaye is back home at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane to take on Sandhurst.

The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm had a tough hit-out on Gisborne’s court at Gardiner Reserve last Saturday.

Defences were on top for a lot of the contest which went 40-29 in favour of Gisborne.

A three-three record has Storm in fourth place in the premiership race.

After a two-goal loss to South Bendigo in round one, Storm hit back to win its next three games against Golden Square, Eaglehawk and Castlemaine.

A tough run for Strathfieldsaye nearing the halfway mark of the season has involved facing Kangaroo Flat, 31-59 loss at home, away to Gisborne, and now Sandhurst.

The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won last Saturday’s clash with Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval by 39 goals.

A win-loss tally of 4-1 has the Dragons in third place.

Sandhurst started the season by winning on Kangaroo Flat’s court by seven goals.

A 38-42 loss to Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval in round two was then followed by a two-week break.

The maroon and blue have won their past three matches by margins of 50, 46 and 39 goals.

It’s a challenging task for Castlemaine on its court at Camp Reserve against Gisborne.

These clubs met in last September’s preliminary final.

It was the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne which won 46-39 and a week later captured the premiership cup.

This Saturday it will be the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine determined to keep the heat on the Bulldogs line-up for as long as possible.

Last Saturday the Magpies played at Kangaroo Flat in the feature match of Indigenous Round.

The Roos won 86-33.

Gisborne is unbeaten in its quest for back-to-back premierships.

It’s a break for Eaglehawk in A-grade, but the Hawks will be on their courts at Canterbury Park to play Maryborough in the lower grades.

The ladder-leading Kangaroo Flat, which is coached by Jayden Cowling, has the bye.

Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:

Kangaroo Flat 219 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 158, 20; Sandhurst 187, 16; Strathfieldsaye 105, 12; Eaglehawk 66, 8; Castlemaine 66, 4; Golden Square 56, 4; South Bendigo 54, 4.

Golden Square unleashes final term blitz

A FINAL quarter blitz of 15 goals as it kept the opposition to a tally of eight helped Golden Square clinch victory against South Bendigo in Saturday’s eighth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

In her second match in charge, Teigan Redwood was rapt with Golden Square’s fighting spirit on its court at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.

The blue and gold was down 5-9 at quarter-time and 13-19 by the long break of the clash with the Alicia McGlashan-coached South Bendigo.

Although the home team won the third term, 10-9, it was the Bloods who led 28-23 going into the last quarter.

Determined to mark its first victory since the round three triumph on Castlemaine’s court, Golden Square unleashed a brilliant final term.

The Bulldogs won the quarter, 15-8, and the match, 38-36.

Strathfieldsaye was outplayed by the skilful Sandhurst on the Triple M court in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.

An 18-3 opening term put the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst well in control.

By half-time the maroon and blue led 34-13.

The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm kept working hard, but the Dragons’ slick passes in all thirds of the court were superb.

Sandhurst won the third term, 18-7, and the last, 16-5.

At the final siren Sandhurst led 68-25.

Reigning premier Gisborne moved to the top of the ladder following a hard-fought 67-53 victory on Castlemaine’s court at Gardiner Reserve.

Although beaten it was a much-improved effort by the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne has won all six matches.

It was a rest for Eaglehawk in A-grade, but the Hawks faced Maryborough in the lower grades at Canterbury Park.

Kangaroo Flat had the bye.

Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:

Gisborne 150 per cent, 24 points; Kangaroo Flat 219, 20; Sandhurst 199, 20; Strathfieldsaye 90, 12; Eaglehawk 66, 8; Golden Square 60, 8; Castlemaine 68, 4; South Bendigo 59, 4.

Highlight of next Saturday’s ninth round will be Gisborne on its court at Gardiner Reserve against Kangaroo Flat.

South Bendigo takes on Eaglehawk at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.

Sandhurst faces Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

It’s a rest for Strathfieldsaye in A-grade, but Storm’s other teams will trek to Maryborough’s Princes Park to play the Magpies.

Golden Square has the bye.

Round eight scoreboard:

A-reserve:

Golden Square 38 lt South Bendigo 42, Strathfieldsaye 35 lt Sandhurst 38, Castlemaine 17 lt Gisborne 79, Eaglehawk 25 lt Maryborough 44, Kangaroo Flat bye.

B-grade:

Golden Square 41 lt South Bendigo 42, Strathfieldsaye 38 lt Sandhurst 52, Castlemaine 29 lt Gisborne 53, Eaglehawk 48 d Maryborough 36, Kangaroo Flat bye.

B-reserve:

Golden Square 34 lt South Bendigo 39, Strathfieldsaye 34 lt Sandhurst 56, Castlemaine 19 lt Gisborne 75, Eaglehawk 65 d Maryborough 22, Kangaroo Flat bye.

17-and-under:

Golden Square 60 d South Bendigo 33, Strathfieldsaye 26 lt Sandhurst 75, Castlemaine 62 d Gisborne 51, Eaglehawk 25 lt Maryborough 44, Kangaroo Flat bye.

League ladders:

A-reserve:

Gisborne 223 per cent, 28 points; Maryborough 111, 22; Strathfieldsaye 130, 20; Sandhurst 127, 20; Kangaroo Flat 119, 18; South Bendigo 75, 8; Castlemaine 67, 8; Eaglehawk 65, 4; Golden Square 63, 0.

B-grade:

Gisborne 202 per cent, 28 points; Sandhurst 168, 24; Kangaroo Flat 149, 24; Strathfieldsaye 108, 16; South Bendigo 89, 12; Eaglehawk 81, 12; Castlemaine 68, 8; Golden Square 69, 4; Maryborough 47, 0.

B-reserve:

Sandhurst 219 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 205, 24; Strathfieldsaye 114, 20; Kangaroo Flat 134, 16; South Bendigo 114, 16; Eaglehawk 111, 12; Golden Square 68, 8; Castlemaine 54, 4; Maryborough 34, 0.

17-and-under:

Sandhurst 251 per cent, 28 points; Golden Square 159, 28; Maryborough 106, 20; Castlemaine 111, 16; Strathfieldsaye 100, 12; Gisborne 95, 12; South Bendigo 85, 8; Eaglehawk 44, 4; Kangaroo Flat 41, 0.

Must-win for Bloods against Eaglehawk

IT’S a must-win situation for South Bendigo against Eaglehawk in Saturday’s ninth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

Knocked out by Eaglehawk in last year’s elimination final, South Bendigo’s hopes of a top-five finish could be dashed by the halfway mark of this season.

The Steven Stroobants and Isaiah Miller-coached Bloods go into Saturday’s clash at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington on a win-loss tally of two-five and in seventh place.

The Bloods are two wins and significant percentage behind the fourth and fifth-placed Eaglehawk and Golden Square.

Both of South Bendigo’s wins have been at Kennington, but Eaglehawk is a strong opponent.

Pressure from the Bloods will have to be high to halt the Hawks’ run.

It’s a markedly different team South Bendigo has to take on Eaglehawk than last year’s elimination final.

The Bloods still have ruck-rover Brody Haddow, captain Zac Hare, gun forward Brock Harvey, Tait Poyser and Will McCaig.

Huge challenge for a South Bendigo defence led by Hare, Miller, Matt McNaughton and Blake Poyser against the likes of Jonty Neaves, Jack O’Shannessy, Cam McGlashan and Mitchell Ronchieri.

A highlight of this contest will be the duel between Haddow and Hawks’ co-captain Billy Evans.

At centre ball-ups the Bloods will pit Riley Walsh against Bailey Ilsley.

A South Bendigo forward line that includes Brock Harvey, Stroobants, Will Marks and Aidan Avery will have to work hard against Sam Thompson, Oscar Madden, Charlie Langford and Aydan Hanley.

Sandhurst is likely to be unbeaten at the halfway mark of the season.

A Dragons’ team jointly coached by Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow returns to Queen Elizabeth Oval to take on Castlemaine.

The ladder leaders will be primed for a tough hit-out against the Michael Hartley-coached Magpies.

Gun forward Fergus Greene leads the race for the Ron Best Medal as leading goalkicker on 40 goals.

Greene is a key in a talented attack that includes Oscar Perez, Cobi Maxted and Tanner Nally.

Now a full-time player at Sandhurst after a long and successful stint with Collingwood in the VFL, Lachlan Tardrew is in superb form.

The on-baller/mid racked up more than 30 disposals in the win on Strathfieldsaye’s turf at Triple M Park.

Sandhurst also has the running power and skill of Lachie Hood, Jake McLean, Cooper Smith and Nick Stagg.

There’s plenty of competition for spots in the Dragons’ best 22.

The Magpies played well to be within two goals of Gisborne at three quarter-time of last Saturday’s match at Castlemaine.

The play of Ryan Eyre in the centre, Michael Hartley, Matt Filo and Zach Greeves in attack, Kalan Huntly, Liam Wilkinson, John Watson and Will Moran will be important as the Magpies strive to break Sandhurst’s streak.

Castlemaine captain Bailey Henderson was named as 23^rd player.

Gisborne is back at Gardiner Reserve to take on Kangaroo Flat.

The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs are likely to have too much scoring power for the Roos to hold or match across four quarters.

Major strength in the Gisborne line-up is the on-ball division of ruckman Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Jackson Cardillo and Flynn Lakey.

In attack the red, white and blue has Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy and Jack Scanlon.

Captain Jack Reaper leads a strong defence that includes Jake Normington and Zach Vescovi.

For the Kangaroos, Luke Ellings returns to play against a club he represented last season.

It’s the father-son combination of Michael and Luke Ellings who are coach and player at Kangaroo Flat in ’24.

The Roos are bolstered by the return of centreman Jack Lefroy who has played five VFL matches with Carlton this season.

Other key players for Kangaroo Flat include Kyle Symons, Xav Dingfelder-Hope, Ethan and Toby, Roberts, Jake Hywood and Harry Whitty.

Maryborough is back home at Princes Park to take on Strathfieldsaye.

A consolation for the Magpies is not having to deal with Lachlan Sharp who kicked plenty of goals against them across his brilliant career with Strathfieldsaye.

A Maryborough defence that includes Kya Lanfranchi, Alex Brown and Aidan Medlyn is up against James Schischka, Malik Gordon, Caleb Ernst and Abe Sheahan.

Magpies’ co-coach Coby Perry was outstanding against Eaglehawk last round as Premier Data stats calculated 46 disposals, 13 clearances and 219 ranking points.

Ash Humphrey racked up 37 disposals and will again play a key role, along with Fraser Russell, Kirk Loody and Sam Johnston.

Talented teenager Robert Castiglia has made his way back into the senior team.

Although beaten the past two rounds by Gisborne and Sandhurst there is a lot to like about the way the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye is playing.

Storm on-ballers Riley Wilson, Lachlan Gill and Cooper Jones are likely to win plenty of the ball in this match.

Ruckman Tim Hosking marks his first senior game of the season.

The Storm big man’s comeback was in the reserves against Sandhurst.

Strathfieldsaye’s line-up to take on the Magpies includes youngsters Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Zach Grieve and Declan Lowther.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Sandhurst 339 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 238, 24; Strathfieldsaye 124, 20; Eaglehawk 142, 16; Golden Square 123, 16; Castlemaine 91, 8;. South Bendigo 80, 8; Kangaroo Flat 59, 8; Maryborough 14, 0.

Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:

40 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.

32 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.

28 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.

27 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.

24 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.

22 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.

21 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.

20 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.

18 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.

18 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.

17 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.

15 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.

15 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.

11 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.

11 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.

9 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.

8 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.

8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.

8 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.

8 Harry Thomas, Gisborne.

7 Kai Daniels, Golden Square.

7 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.

7 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.

7 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.

7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.

Hawks too strong for South Bendigo on Bloods’ turf

EAGLEHAWK was too strong for South Bendigo as the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy competition hit the halfway mark on Saturday.

The Hawks have made South Bendigo’s quest to play finals extremely difficult following a 106-50 victory on the Bloods’ turf at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.

The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk did plenty of attacking in the first quarter, but South Bendigo’s accuracy kept it in the contest.

At the first break the Hawks led 4.10 (34) to 3.0 (18).

Eaglehawk sharpened its goalkicking in the second as it added 3.1.

By the main break the Two Blues led 53-32.

In the third the Hawks broke the game open to slam on 5.4 as the Bloods added a point.

Key forwards Cameron McGlashan and Jonty Neaves went on to kick three goals each as the Borough won 106-50.

Mitchell Ronchieri also booted two goals for the Hawks as seven team-mates chipped in with a goal.

The Bloods’ attack was led by co-coach Steven Stroobants on four.

Eaglehawk’s best were Bailey Ilsley, Joel Mullen, captain Billy Evans, Clayton Holmes, Marcus Angove and Oscar Madden.

Co-coach Isaiah Miller was South Bendigo’s best along with Brody Haddow, captain Zac Hare, Alex Smith, Jasper Langley and Tait Poyser.

Sandhurst has hit the halfway mark of the season on top of the ladder and unbeaten.

The Dragons did not have it all their own way in Saturday’s clash with Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Sandhurst raced to a 32-7 lead by quarter-time, but it was the Michael Hartley-coached Magpies who had plenty of the play in the second.

Castlemaine scored 4.3 and kept the maroon and blue to a tally of 1.4 to be within eight points at half-time.

In the second half the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst generated a lot more attacking play and capitalised to score 9.4 as the Pies were held to a score of 2.3.

At the final siren Sandhurst led 100-49.

The in-form Fergus Green kicked seven goals for Sandhurst as Nick Stagg added three and Cobi Maxted and Matt Wilkinson chipped in with two.

Castlemaine’s only multiple goalkicker was captain Bailey Henderson with two.

Best for Sandhurst were Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted, Isaac Ruff, Lachlan Tardrew, Cooper Smith and Jake McLean.

Ryan Eyre, Matt Filo, Zavier Murley, Bailey Henderson, Michael Hartley and Liam Wilkinson worked hard for the Magpies.

Gisborne won a hard-fought contest with Kangaroo Flat at Gardiner Reserve by eight goals.

The Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroos worked hard to keep the pressure on their highly-rated opponents and to have plenty of numbers supporting the defence.

Gisborne led 30-13 at quarter-time and 56-20 by the main break.

Defences were on top for a lot of the second half as the Bulldogs were often forced to take shots from near the boundary.

The Dogs added 5.13 in the final hour as the Roos scored 4.7.

Matt Merrett marked his return to Gisborne’s line-up by kicking five goals as Brad Bernacki added two in a 99-51 result.

The Roos’ attack was led by Jake Hywood and Harry Whitty on two each.

Best for the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne were Macklan Lord, Flynn Lakey, Brad Bernacki, Harry Thomas, Jack Scanlon and Zach Vescovi.

Kangaroo Flat’s best were Corey Ash, Jake Hywood, Daniel Stagg, Jack Lefroy, Ethan Roberts and Luke Ellings.

There were some injury blows for Gisborne.

Gun ruckman Braidon Blake was concussed and will be unavailable to represent Bendigo in  the inter-league match against the Victorian Amateurs on July 6 at Elsternwick.

Harry Manders was another Gisborne player to be concussed.

An 11-goal haul by Strathfieldsaye Storm key forward James Schischka lifted his season tally to 38 goals and second place in the race for the Ron Best Medal.

Schischka and his Storm team-mates were ruthless in their match at Maryborough’s Princes Park.

A tally of 64 scoring shots by the Luke Freeman-coached Storm reflected its dominance.

Goalkicking practice may be on the cards as Strathfieldsaye finished with a tally of 34.30.

Storm’s best quarter was the third in which it scored 12.11 on the way to a 234-8 victory.

Leading goalkickers were Schischka, 11; Lachlan Gill and Malik Gordon, four; Zach Charles and Riley Wilson, three; and Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, two.

Maryborough’s sole goalkicker was Fraser Russell.

Best for Strathfieldsaye were James Schischka, Caleb Sheahan, Tim Hosking, Lachlan Gill, Riley Wilson and Malik Gordon.

Coby Perry was Maryborough’s best along with key defender Kya Lanfranchi, Beau Trahar, Ash Humphrey, Josh Britten and Dylan Reece.

The Magpies are jointly coached by Coby Perry and Matt Johnston.

Golden Square had the bye.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Sandhurst 321 per cent, 32 points; Gisborne 233, 28; Strathfieldsaye 169, 24; Eaglehawk 150, 20; Golden Square 123, 16; Castlemaine 85, 8; South Bendigo 76, 8; Kangaroo Flat 58, 8; Maryborough 12, 0.

Highlight of next Saturday’s round 10 matches will be Golden Square on home turf at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street against Eaglehawk.

South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye clash at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

It’s an all-Magpies showdown between Maryborough and Castlemaine at Maryborough’s Princes Park.

Sandhurst faces Kangaroo Flat at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Gisborne has the bye.

Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:

47 - (7) - Fergus Greene - Sandhurst 
38 - (11) - James Schischka - Strathfieldsaye 
32 - (0) - Brock Harvey - South Bendigo 
29 - (1) - Pat McKenna - Gisborne 
25 - (1) - Harry Luxmoore - Gisborne 
23 - (1) - Michael Hartley - Castlemaine 
22 - (4) - Steven Stroobants - South Bendigo 
21 - (0) - Jayden Burke - Golden Square 
20 - (0) - Jack Stewart - Golden Square 
20 - (3) - Jonty Neaves - Eaglehawk 
18 - (0) - Lachlan Wright - Sandhurst 
17 - (2) - Bradley Bernacki - Gisborne 
16 - (1) - Zac Denahy - Gisborne 
16 - (4) - Malik Gordon - Strathfieldsaye 
15 - (2) - Bailey Henderson - Castlemaine 
14 - (0) - Bryce Curnow - Sandhurst 
13 - (2) - Harry Whitty - Kangaroo Flat 
13 - (0) - Darcy Richards - Eaglehawk 
12 - (1) - Zachary Greeves - Castlemaine 
12 - (2) - Cobi Maxted - Sandhurst 
12 - (5) - Matthew Merrett - Gisborne 
11 - (0) - Lachlan Tardrew - Sandhurst 
11 - (4) - Lachlan Gill - Strathfieldsaye 
11 - (3) - Nicholas Stagg - Sandhurst 
11 - (0) - Noah Walsh - Sandhurst 
10 - (1) - Abe Sheahan - Strathfieldsaye 
10 - (3) - Riley Wilson - Strathfieldsaye 
10 - (2) - Mitchell Ronchieri - Eaglehawk 

PRESSURE will be high as South Bendigo takes to Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve for Saturday’s ninth round of A-grade netball action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The Bloods and Magpies are keen to rebound from defeat as teams reach the halfway mark of the season.

A win for the Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo will draw level on the Magpies’ tally of five wins and a draw.

For the Castlemaine team it’s a chance to move two wins clear of the Bloods and also stay in touch with the second and third-placed Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat.

In last Saturday’s play, Castlemaine could not halt Sandhurst’s charge to a 55-34 victory in the King’s Birthday holiday weekend match played at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Magpies’ coaches Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke are in charge of a talented line-up which outplayed Kangaroo Flat at Castlemaine in the fifth round.

The Bloods will be determined to strike back after a 32-goal loss to Gisborne at South Bendigo’s new home of Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

Another big match in the ninth round will be at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane where Strathfieldsaye takes on Kyneton.

The Storm and Tigers are both locked on 14 premiership points and separated by 1.45 per cent.

The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm marked its best performance of the season to draw on South Bendigo’s court in the sixth round.

After a loss at home to Kangaroo Flat the next round, Storm struck back for a 69-39 win at Maryborough’s Princes Park last Saturday.

Kyneton has a win-loss tally of 3-4 and a draw.

The Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Tigers were up against Kangaroo Flat last round at Kyneton Showgrounds where the Roos romped to a 38-goal win.

The league’s top three in Sandhurst, Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat should add to their win tally this round.

Unbeaten in its pursuit of a fifth consecutive A-grade premiership, Sandhurst heads to Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.

The Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks played well for a 63-35 win at Golden Square last Saturday, but are up against a formidable opponent.

Six of Sandhurst’s stars will represent Bendigo FNL at the Association championships on Sunday at the State Netball Centre in Parkville.

Gisborne is back at Gardiner Reserve to take on Maryborough.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne has a 6-2 record in which goaler Clauda Mawson and mid-courter Kirby Elliott have shone in many matches.

Kangaroo Flat takes on Golden Square on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.

A busy weekend for Roos’ coach Jayden Cowling includes the showdown with the blue and gold, and then being in charge of Bendigo FNL’s open team at the Association championships.

Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:

Sandhurst 208 per cent, 32 points; Gisborne 174, 24; Kangaroo Flat 155, 24; Castlemaine 122, 22; South Bendigo 117, 18; Strathfieldsaye 93, 14; Kyneton 92, 14; Maryborough 64, 8; Eaglehawk 70, 4; Golden Square 40, 0.

THERE are some old faces among the new as Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League clubs build up for the start of the ’23 footy season.

It’s been a busy time on the recruiting front, especially at Sandhurst and Eaglehawk as they strive to improve on last year’s fifth and seventh placings.

Grand finalists Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye have made changes in a bid to stay at the top.

Brad Fox takes charge as Gisborne chases back-to-back premiership victories, while the Darryl Wilson coached Storm eyes a fifth consecutive grand final appearance.

A top contender for the past few years, Golden Square again looks strong as it strives to hit back from a two-point loss to Gisborne in last September’s preliminary final.

It’s a new era for South Bendigo which has made the move from Queen Elizabeth Oval to now be based at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.

Sandhurst has welcomed back several premiership winners and also recruited versatile big man Bryce Curnow to be co-coach with Ash Connick.

Stung by missing the finals by percentage after a 10-8 run to be sixth, the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton looms as a big threat to climb into the top five.

Kangaroo Flat, Maryborough and Castlemaine all have new coaches in charge.

The Roos have appointed Nathan Johns who brings a wealth of coaching experience to Dower Park.

Coby Perry steps up to be playing coach at Maryborough.

Premiership player Brendan Shepherd will be determined to mark a successful return at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.

As reigning premier, Gisborne will be prepared for the heat.

It’s the third time in the club’s stint in the Bendigo FNL it starts a season chasing back-to-back premierships.

The Gardiner Reserve-based Bulldogs did so in 2002-03 and 2005-06.

A line-up that includes captain Pat McKenna, Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Jack Reaper, Matt Merrett and Sam Graham will be tough to beat.

Those to have left Gisborne include Ethan Foreman, Kyneton; Josh Kemp, Aberfeldie; Ethan Minns, Woodend-Heskett; Matt Panuccio, Riddell;

Strathfieldsaye’s remarkable run since 2013 includes being in seven of eight grand finals and a win-loss tally of 4-3.

Key inclusions for Storm include running half-back Luke Webb as playing assistant coach.

Webb was on Geelong’s list in the VFL and also played for St Joseph’s.

A powerful attack is bolstered by the inclusion of Jack Exell who kicked 100 goals for Violet Town last season.

Storm also regains Alex Powell after stints at Tooleybuc and Bridgewater.

A triple premiership player and Nalder medallist for best afield in the 2017 grand final win, Kallen Geary has left Storm to play for Eaglehawk where his superb career kicked off.

Fergus Payne has gone to Inglewood as an assistant coach.

A formidable Storm line-up includes Michelsen medallists Lachlan Sharp at full-forward, and ruck-rover Jake Moorhead.

Golden Square has kept most of last year’s line-up which reached the preliminary final.

Christian Carter kicks off a third season in charge and has 2001 premiership winner Matt Dillon back at the club as assistant coach.

Most recent coaching stint for Dillon was in 2019 when North Bendigo won the Heathcote DFNL grand final.

Back in the blue and gold is Tom Toma from Cohuna Kangas.

A hard-at-it mid/onballer, Toma’s signing is a huge plus for the Bulldogs.

A multiple premiership winner, dual Nalder medallist for best afield in a grand final, and the 2018 Michelsen medallist, Jack Geary will again lead Golden Square.

The Dogs’ attack was brilliantly led by Joel Brett and Jayden Burke last season.

Those to have transferred from Square include Jarrod Fitzpatrick to Boort; Liam Jacques to Heathcote, and Will Thrum to Cohuna Kangas.

After marking a long-awaited finals appearance by winning the elimination, South Bendigo will be determined to keep rising.

The Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods welcome back classy small forward Steven Stroobants from Rochester.

The return of Stroobants off-sets the departure of Ron Best medallist Kaiden Antonowicz to White Hills.

Another key signing for the Bloods was ruckman Mac Cameron from Monash Blues.

The play of Brock Harvey in attack, Zac Hare, Cooper Leon, Will Allen, Braydan Torpey and Andrew van Heumen will have a major bearing on South’s run in ’23.

After a productive recruiting spree, Sandhurst could mark a rise from fifth to premier this season.

The Dragons gained Bryce Curnow who was the Nalder medallist in Strathfieldsaye’s grand final win in 2019 and played in Kerang’s premiership victory last season.

Also back at Sandhurst are Nick Stagg and Andy Collins from Kerang and Bridgewater respectively.

Another key recruit is Harrison Monk.

Gun midfielder Lachlan Tardrew is still on Collingwood’s list in the VFL, but has re-aligned with the Dragons.

The Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton again shapes as a tough opponent, especially at Tigerland.

A previous winner of the club’s goalkicking award, the classy Ethan Foreman is back in the yellow and black after premiership success at Gisborne.

Although he battled hamstring issues last season, Foreman’s skill and experience is a massive plus for the Tigers.

Kyneton has also gained another talented small forward in Thomas Quinn from the VAFA, but will be without Rhys Magin, Sunbury Kangaroos; and Guy Dickson, Leongatha.

The return of the Geary brothers, Jarryn and Kallen has generated plenty of excitement as Eaglehawk strives to fly from seventh position.

After a 207-game career with St Kilda, Jarryn Geary’s play across half-back or any other role decided by coach Travis Matheson is a massive plus for the Two Blues and the league.

Another key signing for the Borough was ruckman Connor Dalgleish from Montmorency.

Other players listed on the transfer list to Eaglehawk included Ryan Wellington from Mitiamo; Jack Daley and Jacob Greenwood from Calivil United.

Departures from Eaglehawk include Shaun Knott to Westmeadows, and Sean Williams to Rochester.

A 14^th year in coaching for Nathan Johns is likely to be one of his most challenging as he takes charge at Kangaroo Flat.

Key signings for the Roos were tall defenders Jordan and Zac Rouse to join what will be an extremely young team.

Long-time number one ruckman and captain Nick Lang has made the move from the Roos to Kerang.

Others to have left Dower Park include Brodie and Jackson Fry and Lachlan Wilson to Huntly; Max Johnson to Lockington-Bamawm; and Mitch Rovers to Mount Pleasant.

For the Roos’ coaching team, players and supporters it’s not focus on what we don’t have, but we do have.

A premiership winner as a teenager with Castlemaine in 2000, Brendan Shepherd returns to Camp Reserve as senior coach.

The Magpies re-appointed Brodie Martin as senior assistant coach, while Jackson Hood tackles a new role as playing assistant coach.

Signings for the Pies included Lloyd Butcher from Waverley Blues; Tom Wilson from Marong; and David Wilson after stints at Harcourt and Maldon.

Key players for Castlemaine include Bailey Henderson, Liam Wilkinson, David Stephens, Brad Keogh, and Brodie and Jackson Byrne.

A coup for Maryborough was the signing of Joel Swatton from South Bendigo to play in the midfield and also be strength and conditioning coach.

The Magpies also regain gun onballer and previous best and fairest winner in Bailey Edwards.

Based in Darwin, Edwards played the latest Northern Territory FL season with Nightcliff.

The Tigers were beaten in the first semi by St Mary’s in a season where Edwards played 16 games and kicked 11 goals.

Edwards was among Carisbrook’s best as it finished runner-up to Harcourt in last year’s Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL senior grand final.

Players on the transfer list to the Magpies included Darcy Bond, Sam Flynn, Brodie Quinlan, and James Woods.

The Pies will be without talented on-baller Aidan Hare who has headed west from Princes Park to Peel Thunder.

Maryborough will be desperate to hit back from a winless season.

FIERCE rivals Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye clash in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals action.

The Bulldogs and Storm meet again in a qualifying final at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.20pm.

This season’s meetings between the teams stand at two-nil in favour of Golden Square.

In round two, Golden Square won 101-94 on Strathfieldsaye’s turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.

The Bulldogs defensive efforts held Storm to a tally of 3.14 (32) in a 78 victory for the blue and gold at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street in the 11^th round.

Both qualifying finalists have plenty of goalscoring power.

The Bulldogs attack is led by Joel Brett, 84 goals.

There’s strong support from the likes of Braydon Vaz, 33; Jack Stewart, 28; Ryan Hartley, 23; Hamish Morcom and Tom Toma on 21.

Storm has had co-captain Lachlan Sharp kick 93 goals to win the Ron Best Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker for a third time.

Other targets in the forward 50m arc for Storm include James Schischka, 29; Baxter Slater, 20; and Jed Brereton, 18.

On-ball and midfield duels are vital on the big ground.

Golden Square has experienced ruckman Matt Compston to team with captain Jack Geary, Ryan Hartley and Ricky Monti.

They will be up against Tim Hosking, co-captain Jake Moorhead, Callum McCarty and Lachlan Gill.

An outstanding game by Gill in the final round of the home and away series earned the Barry Plant Player of the Round award.

Gill racked up 43 disposals, 8 marks, 10 clearances, and 190 ranking points in Storm’s victory at Kyneton.

With so much firepower there will be plenty of pressure on the defences of both teams.

The back six for Golden Square includes Harrison Burke, Jon Coe, Jack Hickman and Jake Thrum.

Storm’s defence is led by Lachlan Ratcliffe, Luke Webb, Mitch Hallinan and Ben Lester.

Winner of the qualifying final meets Sandhurst in the second semi on September 9.

On Sunday it’s Eaglehawk against South Bendigo in the seniors elimination final from 2.20pm.

The Travis Matheson-coached Hawks mark a return to finals action.

A year ago, South Bendigo beat Sandhurst in the elimination final.

The Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods team has changed a lot, but there’s still many who were part of that triumph.

In this season’s meetings Eaglehawk has beaten the Bloods both times.

They met in round one where the Hawks claimed a 58-48 victory at the Bloods’ new home of Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.

In the 10^th round the Hawks dominated in a 103-47 result on their turf at Canterbury Park.

A huge test for Eaglehawk’s defence on Sunday will be restricting the impact of Bloods’ forwards Brock Harvey, Steven Stroobants and Will Keck.

The talented trio racked up goal tallies of 65, 55 and 39 across the home and away series.

Massive challenge for Hawks’ defenders Dylan Hanley, Oscar Madden, Marcus Angove and Sam Thompson who will rely a lot on pressure up the ground.

The Borough did name versatile big man Clayton Holmes in defence.

At the other end of the ground the Hawks’ attack is led by Lewin Davis, 34 goals; Noah Wheeler, 21; and Darcy Richards, 20.

The Hawks also regain co-captain Cameron McGlashan from injury.

Key players in South Bendigo’s defence include captain Zac Hare, Braydan Torpey, Cameron Taggert and Andrew van Heumen.

A highlight of this match will be the ruck duels where Hawks have Connor Dalgleish to take on Mac Cameron.

At ground level it’s Hawks’ co-captain Billy Evans, Ben Thompson and Noah Wheeler who set up plenty of attacks.

The Bloods will look to Brody Haddow, Cooper Leon and Zac Sims to win their share of contests at centre ball-ups and stoppages.

In the reserves competition, Golden Square takes on Sandhurst in Saturday’s qualifying final from 12.15pm.

This season’s meetings stand at one-all.

Sandhurst won the third round clash at the QEO by 16 points.

In the 12^th round, Golden Square fought for a 39-33 victory at home.

The Bulldogs’ line-up includes Macey Eaton, Alex Jenkyn, Will Lee, Dale Lowry, co-captains Sheldon Burke and Dean Norris, Tanner Rayner and Shaun Young.

Sandhurst’s squad includes Harrison Monk, Brodie Montague, Will Moran, Sean O’Farrell, Xavier Walsh and Lachlan Zimmer.

The ladder-leading Eaglehawk won through to the second semi.

On Sunday it will be Strathfieldsaye against Gisborne in the Harmac Homes-backed reserves elimination final from 12.15pm.

A round one thriller between Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye at Gardiner Reserve ended in a 64-59 victory for the red, white and blue.

Next time it was Storm which took the points in a 52-30 result at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.

Storm’s line-up includes Lachlan Bonney, Ethan and Jai Featherby, Carson James, captain Wade Kinniburgh and Jordan Wilson.

Key players for Gisborne include Jarrad Lynch, Michael Steinbach, Hayden Doricic, Harry Manders, Anthony Belcher and Boyd Nalder.

Last season’s grand finalists, Gisborne and Sandhurst meet in the qualifying final of the SportsPower-sponsored under-18s competition at 10.15am on Saturday.

The Bulldogs belted the Dragons by 11 goals in the seventh round at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.

In the 16^th round it was the Dragons who fired up to win 69-51 on the QEO turf.

Gisborne’s team includes ruckman Lewis Gordon, captain Alex Carr,  Frankie Ellis, Jacob Grinter, Jack Clough, Jarrod Ainsworth, Lachie Bianco and Kane Minns.

The Dragons’ line-up includes Jacob Austin, Thaine Bake, Louis Banfield, Henry Edwards, Logan Kilcullen, Daniel Noden and Wil Pinniger.

Maryborough and Strathfieldsaye will fight to stay in the premiership race when they contest the elimination final from 10.15am on Sunday.

In round nine, Maryborugh won 96-42 at its Princes Park home.

Storm won 60-50 at Triple M Park in the 17^th round.

A  Magpies’ team captain by Aidan Medlyn includes Taj Bond, Kaian Constable, Liam Freeman, Jake Gavriliadis, Damon Nitschke and Diesel Palmer.

Ruckman Tate Lowther, captain Evan Cole, Daan Lodewijks, Jesse Gill, Declan Lowther, Lincoln McKern and Siologa Siu are among the key players in Storm’s line-up.

EAGLEHAWK and Golden Square were victorious in the weekend’s start to the footy finals in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The Hawks stayed in the premiership race by beating South Bendigo in Sunday’s elimination final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

In the home-and-away series Eaglehawk had beaten South Bendigo both times.

Despite its wayward kicking at goal, Eaglehawk was too strong as it ended the Bloods’ run in ’23.

The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk led 45-31 at half-time and then scored 4.9 to 2.2 in the third quarter.

Key forward Darcy Richards made a welcome return for the Borough and finished with a match-high four goals in a 14.20 (104) to 10.11 (71) victory.

Other multiple goalkickers for the Hawks were co-captains Billy Evans and Cameron McGlashan on two and Jack O’Shannessy also booted two majors.

The Bloods were kept in check by a tight-knit Borough defence.

The skilful Brock Harvey was South Bendigo’s only multiple goalkicker on two.

Eaglehawk’s best were Billy Evans, Clayton Holmes, Joel Mullen, Dylan Hanley, Oscar Madden and Dillon Williams.

Best for the Bloods were Mac Cameron, Oscar White, Brody Haddow, Braydan Torpey, Will Keck and coach Nathan Horbury.

Eaglehawk will now meet Strathfieldsaye in next Sunday’s first semi-final.

Storm will be desperate to minimise the skill errors following a 26-point loss to Golden Square in Saturday’s qualifying final.

Whether it was real or perceived pressure, Strathfieldsaye made a lot of mistakes on which Golden Square capitalised.

It was a brilliant start to the contest by the Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs as they scored 6.3 to 2.4 in the first term.

Storm worked hard to be within 16 points at the 22-minute of the second term, but a hat-trick of goals gave Golden Square a 35-point by the long break.

With wingman Tom Strauch, Jack Hickman and backman Jon Coe winning plenty of the footy, Golden Square won the third term, 15-14.

Storm did lift to outscore the Dogs in the last, 21-11, but it was Golden Square which marked an 87-61 victory and moved to a second semi-final showdown with Sandhurst.

Joel Brett led the Dogs’ attack on fur goals as Tom Toma kicked two.

Multiple goalkickers for Strathfieldsaye were Jed Brereton and co-captains Jake Moorhead and Lachlan Sharp with two.

The Bulldogs’ best included ruckman Matt Compston, Ryan Hartley and Jack Threlfall.

Mitch Hallinan, Matt Harvey, Callum McCarty, Jake Moorhead, Daniel Clohesy and Tim Hosking were Strathfieldsaye’s best.

In the Harmac Homes reserves competition it was big wins for Sandhurst in the qualifying final, and Strathfieldsaye in the elimination final.

On Saturday, Sandhurst took on Golden Square.

The Dragons dominated the opening half.

Sandhurst led 19-1 at quarter-time and then scored 4.3 to just two behinds in the second for a 46-3 lead by the long break.

The next two quarters were evenly fought, but went Sandhurst’s way, 20-12 and 15-13.

Connor Sexton kicked three goals and nine team-mates chipped in with a goal as Sandhurst won 12.9 (81) to 4.4 (28).

Best for the Dragons were Harrison Monk, Lachlan Zimmer, Brodie Montague, Harrison Free, Martin Leyden and Campbell Rowland.

Dale Lowry, Liam Thomas, Tanner Rayner, Mitch Knox, Mitch Treacy and Jack Vinnicombe were Golden Square’s best.

The Dragons take on Eaglehawk in next Saturday’s second semi-final.

Strathfieldsaye faced Gisborne in Sunday’s elimination final.

Storm led 27-9 at half-time and the pressure did not let up as it won the next two quarters, 21-8 and 27-12.

Jordan Wilson kicked three goals as Lachlan Bonney, Ethan Featherby and Edward Hayes added two each in an 11.9 (75) to 4.5 (29) result.

Gisborne’s attack was led by Hayden Doricic on two.

Best for Storm were Joseph Mayes, Darcy Mulquiny, Lachlan Bonney, Ed Hayes, Carson James and Charles Dole.

Jarrad Lynch, Leon Thiner, Matthew Jinkins, Boyd Nalder, Sean Merrett and Harry Manders worked hard for Gisborne.

In the SportsPower-backed under-18s competition, Maryborough won the elimination final against Strathfieldsaye by 25 points.

The Magpies led 21-15 at half-time and 35-22 at a quarter to play.

In the last, Maryborough scored 4.1 to 2.1 to complete a 60-35 victory.

Taj Bond and Kaian Constable kicked three goals for the Magpies.

Storm’s attack was led by Jaidi Jackson-Leahy with two goals.

Best for Maryborough were Lachlan Bursill, Kaian Constable, Lucas Hurse, Damon Nitschke, Tom Myers and Tyson Hoban.

Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Lincoln McKern, Hugh Behrens, Zac Grieve, Declan Lowther and Evan Cole played well for Strathfieldsaye.

The Magpies will now tackle Sandhurst in the first semi.

First-up this finals series were Gisborne and Sandhurst in Saturday’s under-18s qualifying final.

Despite its inaccurate kicking, Gisborne was well in control as it led 3.10 (28) to 1.3 (9) at half-time.

The Bulldogs won the third, 19-7, and then added 3.5 to a goal in the last for a 70-22 victory.

Ed Williams kicked three goals and Jarrod Ainsworth added two majors for Gisborne.

Dragons’ captain Alex Carr kicked two goals.

Best for Gisborne were Jarrod Ainsworth, Ed Williams, Frankie Ellis, Lachlan Evans, Jack Long and Kane Minns.

Jack English, Wil Pinniger, Deakin Andrews, Declan Delaney, Daniel Noden and Declan Stevenson were Sandhurst’s best.

The win put Gisborne into a second semi-final clash with Golden Square.

Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals:

Under-18s at 10.15am: Golden Square v Gisborne.

Reserves at 12.15pm: Eaglehawk v Sandhurst.

Seniors at 2.20pm: Sandhurst v Golden Square.

Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals:

Under-18s at 10.15am: Sandhurst v Maryborough.

Reserves at 12.15pm: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.

Seniors at 2.20pm: Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk.

EIGHT clubs will feature in either netball qualifying or elimination finals in this weekend’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL action at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

On Saturday it’s Kangaroo Flat against Gisborne in the A-grade qualifying final.

The Roos and Bullogs clash starts at 3.20pm.

This season’s meetings stand at one-all.

Kangaroo Flat won the round four showdown on its Dower Park court, 44-42.

Defences were well on top in the 13^th round when Gisborne claimed a 32-35 victory at its Gardiner Reserve home.

Since the loss to Gisborne the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat is on a five-game winning streak.

Runner-up last season, the Kangaroos have a powerful team led by captain Chelsea Sartori, and co-captains Ashley Ryan and Carly Van Den Heuvel.

The Roos’ squad for the qualifying final includes Lou Dupuy, Ingrid Hopkins, Ava Lowndes, Emma Moroney, Ashlee O’Shea, Abbey Ryan, Annie Spear, Ella and Milly Wicks.

Gisborne ended the home-and-away series on a 14-4 record.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Bulldogs have a win-loss tally of 3-2 across the past five rounds.

A 31-47 loss to Sandhurst at the QEO in the 16^th round was followed by a 28-32 upset to South Bendigo at home in the 17^th round.

Key players in the red, white and blue include co-captains Kirby Elliott and Claudia Mawson who has represented Victoria Fury at the past two Netball Australia championships.

Gisborne also has Kiralee Collings, Rylee Connell, Zoe Davies, Charlee Kemp, Emerson Lakey, Tiana Newman and Torie Skrijel to take to the court.

The winner of the Kangaroo Flat and Gisborne match meets unbeaten reigning premier in the second semi-final on September 9.

Eight days after they drew their final round clash, Castlemaine and South Bendigo meet again in Sunday’s elimination final.

The Magpies and Bloods match starts at 3.20pm.

When these clubs met in round four it was Castlemaine which scored a 44-31 win on its court at Camp Reserve.

Both teams warmed up for the finals by playing a round 18 thriller in the Bloods’ home at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

Scores were locked on 45-all at the final whistle.

The Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Castlemaine achieved a win-loss tally of 11-5 and two draws in the home-and-away series.

Among the highs was a 55-39 victory against Kangaroo Flat in the fifth round at Camp Reserve.

Castlemaine’s squad for Sunday will be led by captain Jane O’Donohue, playing coach Fiona Fowler, Caitlin Richardson, Montaya Sardi and Megan Wilson.

Goalshooter Mikaela Vaughan was superb against the Bloods last Saturday.

The Magpies will also be represented by Kyla Byrne, Madeline Carter, Meg Ginnivan, Charlotte McMurray and Emma Winfield.

A knee injury has put Tara Ford on the sidelines.

The record for the Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo is 9-7-2.

The Bloods win at Gisborne showed it could be a huge threat to those in the top four.

After a 41-44 loss at Eaglehawk in the 10^th round, South Bendigo was under intense pressure in the race to decide fifth place.

The Bloods lifted for a 61-52 victory on Strathfieldsaye Storm’s court at Triple M Park in the 15^th round.

A hat-trick of wins included taking the points against Maryborough and Gisborne.

The Bloods have great leadership provided by Stephanie Goode and Alicia McGlashan.

A key player is the classy Chloe Langley in attack.

Coach Hobbs is rapt with the development of teenagers Carissa Brook, Maggie Burke and Claudia Griffiths.

South Bendigo’s squad to face the Magpies includes includes Chloe Gray, Stephanie Greene, Olivia Mason, Morgan McClellan and Amanda Walters.

In the A-reserve competition, Sandhurst takes on Kangaroo Flat in Saturday’s qualifying final at 2pm.

The Dragons have won both hit-outs against the Roos this season.

In round one, Sandhurst scored a 63-42 victory on the QEO court.

Scores were much closer in the 10^th round as the Dragons won 44-37 on the Kangaroos’ court at Dower Park.

Sandhurst achieved 14 wins, a draw, and just one defeat in the run to the finals.

The Kangaroos’ record is 10-6.

It will be the Dragons or Kangaroos against Gisborne in the second semi-final.

On Sunday it’s South Bendigo against Castlemaine in the A-reserve elimination final from 2pm.

Although the Magpies finished a rung below the Bloods, Castlemaine scored a 33-29 win against South Bendigo in the ninth round, and marked a 42-40 victory at Harry Trott Oval last Saturday.

The Bloods’ tally in the regular season was 9-7.

In B-grade, Gisborne faces Kangaroo Flat in Saturday’s qualifying final at 12.40pm.

It’s one-all in this season’s meetings.

Kangaroo Flat beat the Dogs, 47-42 in the fourth round.

The round 13 showdown at Gardiner Reserve ended in a 53-47 victory for Gisborne.

The Bulldogs had a win-loss tally of 15-2 and also drew a match in the home-and-away series.

Kangaroo Flat’s record is 14-4.

The winner meets Sandhurst in the second semi-final.

On Sunday, Strathfieldsaye plays South Bendigo in the B-grade elimination final from 12.40pm.

It was 42-all when the Bloods and Storm clashed in round six at Harry Trott Oval.

Storm surged to a 46-36 victory against the red and white in the 15^th round at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.

Storm’s record is 10 wins, seven losses, and a draw.

The Bloods’ marked a win-loss tally of 8-7, but also drew matches with Storm in round six, Eaglehawk in the 10^th, and Kyneton in the 12^th round.

Beaten just once, Kangaroo Flat will start favourite in the B-reserve qualifying final.

The Roos and Bulldogs will play from 11.20am.

In round four, Kangaroo Flat beat Gisborne, 59-42 at Dower Park.

The Roos hopped to a 48-35 victory on Gisborne’s court in the 13^th round on the way to a 17-1 record this season.

Gisborne has a win-loss tally of 13-5.

The ladder-leading Sandhurst has advanced to the second semi.

It’s Strathfieldsaye against Eaglehawk in Sunday’s elimination final from 11.20am.

The Hawks won 33-32 at Triple M Park in the fifth round.

Storm was too strong in the return game played at Canterbury Park where it won 45-33.

The league’s young stars take to the court from 10am on Saturday and Sunday to contest the 17-under matches.

In the qualifying final it’s Gisborne against Golden Square.

The Bulldogs from the south won 58-47 at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street in the sixth round.

Golden Square won a great contest at Gardiner Reserve in the 15^th round, 49-44.

It’s a 16-2 record for Gisborne, and 14-4 for Golden Square across the home-and-away series.

Either Gisborne or Golden Square will face Sandhurst in the second semi.

On Sunday it will be Strathfieldsaye and Maryborough fighting to keep their season alive in the elimination final.

First pass in the match between Storm and the Magpies will be at 10am.

In round eight scores were locked at 36-all when the whistle sounded to end the match at Maryborough’s Princes Park.

The Magpies won 41-35 at Strathfieldsaye in the 17^th round.

Both elimination finalists have identical records of 10-7-1 win across the home-and-away series.

CASTLEMAINE ended South Bendigo’s run as they met in Sunday’s elimination final on two of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL netball finals action.

The Magpies and South Bendigo had drawn their previous contest just eight days earlier in the last round of the home-and-away series.

Jointly coached by  Fiona Fowler, playing, and Gary Cooke, Castlemaine made a great start to the elimination final.

The Magpies led 13-9 at quarter-time and then took control to win the second term, 15-7.

Winning the next two quarters, 13-7 and 16-11 meant the Magpies were up 57-34 at the final siren.

Castlemaine will now meet Kangaroo Flat in next Sunday’s first semi-final.

The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos will be on the rebound from a qualifying loss to Gisborne.

In Saturday’s start to the finals series it was the strong defence of the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne which played a big part in winning the A-grade clash with Kangaroo Flat.

The Bulldogs led 10-9 at quarter-time and 19-15 by the main break.

Gisborne then won the third term, 12-8.

Although the Flat outscored the red, white and blue in the last quarter, 8-6, it was Gisborne which advanced to the second semi after a 37-31 victory.

Gisborne will take on Sandhurst, the unbeaten reigning premier next Saturday.

In A-reserve, South Bendigo won a closely-fought elimination final against Castlemaine.

The Bloods were down 10-13 at quarter-time, but hit back to win the second term, 12-7.

Both teams scored 12 goals in the third quarter.

Pressure was high in the last as the Bloods poured in 10 goals and held the Magpies to a tally of nine.

At the final siren South Bendigo led 46-43.

Sandhurst dominated Saturday’s qualifying final showdown with Kangaroo Flat.

The maroon and blue led 7-6 at quarter-time and then unleashed a 14-5 blitz in the second.

A 10-goal buffer at the start of the third was 14 by the end it as the Dragons scored 13 goals to the Roos’ tally of nine.

Sandhurst went on to win 50-27 and set up a second semi-final meeting with Gisborne.

A great day for Strathfieldsaye in the elimination finals included three wins for Storm.

In B-grade, Storm faced South Bendigo.

Strathfieldsaye led 10-7 at quarter-time and then won the next three terms, 12-3, 14-10 and 14-7 for a 50-27 victory.

Storm will now take on Kangaroo Flat in the first semi-final.

The Roos were beaten by Gisborne in Saturday’s qualifying final by 14 goals.

Just a goal separated the teams at half-time as the Bulldogs led 22-21.

Gisborne dominated the third, 16-10, and then won the last, 17-10, for a 55-41 result.

Saturday’s second semi-final will feature Sandhurst against Gisborne.

In B-reserve, Strathfieldsaye surged to an eight-goal victory against Eaglehawk in the elimination final.

Storm led 19-17 at half-time and won the third quarter, 9-5.

It was a closely-fought last term as Storm led 37-29 at the final siren.

Strathfieldsaye now takes on Gisborne in the first semi.

The Bulldogs were beaten in two quarters, had a win in one, and drew the other in a 41-55 loss to Kangaroo Flat in the qualifying final.

The Kangaroos led 15-10 at quarter-time and 25-21 by the long break.

Both teams scored 13 goals in the third before the Roos poured in 17 goals and held Gisborne to just seven in the last.

A 55-41 victory put Kangaroo Flat into the second semi against Sandhurst.

Elimination final day began with a one-goal thriller between Strathfieldsaye and Maryborough in the 17-and-under competition.

Scores were eight-all at quarter-time and 16 apiece by the long break.

In the third term it was Strathfieldsaye which outscored the Magpies, 14-11.

Maryborough won the last, 8-6, but it was Storm which stayed in the premiership race in a dramatic 36-35 victory.

Strathfieldsaye will now play Golden Square in the first semi.

On Saturday it was Gisborne against Golden Square in the qualifying final.

Gisborne led 15-12 at quarter-time and then charged to a 28-17 lead by half-time.

The team in red, white and blue won the third term, 13-9.

Golden Square fought on well to win the last, 14-12, as Gisborne won the match, 53-40 to advance to a second semi-final clash with Sandhurst.

Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:

A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Gisborne

A-reserve at 2pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.

B-grade at 12.40pm: Sandhurst v Gisborne.

B-reserve at 11.20am: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.

17-and-under at 10am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.

Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:

A-grade at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Castlemaine.

A-reserve at 2pm: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.

B-grade at 12.40pm: Kangaroo Flat v Strathfieldsaye.

B-reserve at 11.20am: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.

17-and-under at 10am: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.

THERE’S plenty of years of premiership-winning experience been added to South Bendigo’s footy and netball coaching panel for the 2025 Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The Bloods’ new senior footy coaches, Troy Coates and Jack Fallon, and A-grade netball mentor Lauren Bowles were unveiled at Tuesday night’s function at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

The signings are great coup for Bloods’ president Dujon Fuzzard and the Bloods’ powerbrokers.

Just days after leading Kerang to another grand final in the Central Murray, Coates will now join the Bloods as a non-playing coach of the senior team.

Coates will team up with Jack Fallon who last month was a co playing coach as White Hills broke its premiership drought in the Heathcote DFNL.

A remarkable playing career for Coates includes 18 senior grand finals for 11 premierships.

He was a seven-time senior club champion across three clubs, and a Northern Territory Football League medallist.

Being in the Bendigo FNL is not new for Coates.

He played for Eaglehawk, and was playing coach as Strathfieldsaye won the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup in 2019.

Coates also played for Bendigo Pioneers, Williamstown, Kerang, and Nightcliff.

An 11-year stint as senior coach across Kerang, Strathfieldsaye and Nightcliff netted seven premiership victories.

The Bloods are also rapt to gain Jack Fallon as a playing coach.

Merbein, Waratah, Eaglehawk, Essendon and White Hills are clubs he has represented with distinction.

Among the highs was being fairest and best in Eaglehawk’s premiership-winning season of 2018.

Fallon was club champion at White Hills in ’21 and in the Heathcote DFNL Team of the Year the past three seasons.

As co-coach of the Demons, Fallon played a key role in the run to last year’s preliminary final and then this season’s grand final victory.

Among the recruits for the Bloods will be Kaiden Antonowicz who rejoins the Bloods after co-coaching with Fallon at White Hills.

South Bendigo also welcomes back ruckmen Mac Cameron and Callum Crisp, and has recruited Hayden Geddes from Donald.

On the netball front, Lauren Bowles will take charge as playing coach of South Bendigo’s A-grade team.

After a nine-year stint at White Hills which included being a three-time A-grade premiership coach, Bowles will make a return to the Bendigo FNL.

In a 10-year career at Kangaroo Flat, Bowles played in three A-grade premierships and in 2008 earned the Betty Thompson Medal as league fairest and best.

An extensive and successful coaching resume includes being a North Central Academy co-coach, North Central 17-and-under state titles coach, Bendigo Strikers 23-and-under development specialist coach, and Bendigo ADP netball coach.

Family links to South Bendigo FNC are strong.

Lauren’s father, the late Gary Cowling was a three-time club fairest and best at the Bloods and in 1979 tied with Golden Square ruckman Eric Pascoe and Sandhurst rover Peter Tyack for the Michelsen Medal as Bendigo FNL fairest and best.

In 2020, Gary Cowling was posthumously awarded a Michelsen Medal.

Lauren Bowles’ husband, Gavin also starred in many matches for South Bendigo and was the club’s fairest and best award winner in 2009.

The gun netball player and coach is also a relative of the Wright and Connaughton families who have been outstanding contributors, on and off the field and courts for the red and white for many years.

In 2025, Lauren Bowles will lock horns with younger brother, Jayden Cowling when South Bendigo faces Kangaroo Flat.

That’s a contest they and the clubs will eagerly anticipate

It was a circuitous journey for Alan McDonald to end up in central Victoria to play for --- and coach --- the South Bendigo Football Club.

Marriage to a Bendigo girl during World War 2 eventually led to a permanent home in central Victoria’s biggest city and a lifetime commitment to his beloved South Bendigo Football Club.

The Bloods’ five-time premiership coach was with then VFA cub Camberwell when he answered a 1940s Bendigo Addy hard-copy advertisement calling for a senior coach for South.

“I asked my wife Phyllis if she wanted to return to live in Bendigo and she nearly jumped off the floor in delight,” he told me, back in September 1995.

McDonald, known to BFL teammates and opponents alike as ‘The Fox’ because of his mastery of tactics and game plans, arrived at the QEO for South Bendigo in 1947 and spent the rest of his life here.

Alan was born in the tiny south Gippsland town of Meeniyan in June, 1918, and played senior footy when he was just 15.

He graduated to Leongatha in the Central Gippsland F.L. and went from there to then VFL club Richmond.

His Gippsland footy record included 30 senior games for Meeniyan (1934-36) and 40 matches with Leongatha (1937-38).

‘The Fox’ played 49 senior games overall with the Tigers in 1939-41 and again in the 1943 season, kicking eight goals in his outings in the black and yellow guernsey.

The Fox earned a best-on-ground performance in the 1940 grand final against Melbourne, won by the Dees 15.17 (107) to the Tigers 10.8 (68).

His VFL career was cut short through service in the Army during WW2 and then when peacetime resumed he spent two seasons with Camberwell.

And even though he went back to TigerLand to coach Richmond from 1957 to 1960 it was with South Bendigo he achieved legendary status.

From 1947 when McDonald took over as the Bloods’ senior coach until 1956 South Bendigo was never outside the Top Four and won five premierships: three of them consecutive flags from 1954-1956.

He played his 200^th --- and farewell --- BFL game with South in the 1956 Big Dance.

But there was one thing which stood out in McDonald’s memory and recorded in my September ’95 interview in the Advertiser.

“I’ve noticed in recent years how small the gate takings are compared to my time.

“We used to get crowds of 16,000 to 17,000 to our grand finals. And I never thought crowds at Eaglehawk would get as low as they are now,” The Fox said.

“They always had a champion side when I was coaching, but now they’re ‘down to billy-oh’ compared to the crowds they’d get back in my day.”

As it turned out McDonald was spot-on with his mid-week prediction of the crowd the QEO would hold on grand final day, 1995.

“This grand final will bring back crowds to the vicinity of my day.

“I think it will be a really good game of footy and should bring a lot of people out of the woodwork.”

Although neither of us knew what would happen a few days later it turned out to be Kyneton’s flag.

In that interview of almost three decades back ‘The Fox’ was reluctant to compare South sides of the immediate post-war era with the Bloods teams of the 1990s.

He did remark, however, on the prevalence of handball these days compared with the period when he played and coached.

“You’d generally only handball when you were tackled --- or just before. You’d never handball to anyone when you were running and out in the open,” McDonald said.

That day back in 1995 ‘The Fox’ was keen to pass on his best wishes to the then South playing coach Peter Curran before the big game.

“He’s going for three premierships in a row. I’d like to meet him and wish him very well.

“After all records are made to be equalled and broken. Of course, it has to be said that South’s players don’t seem to be playing as well at this time of the year as they were last year.

“But I think it’s there. The improvement is there,” the master coach added.

Apart from that Sunday’s grand final with South matched up against Kyneton, McDonald was looking forward to a day earlier: the AFL preliminary final with his old cub Richmond up against Geelong.

“I was talking to (coach John) Northey in town recently. He told me about the youthfulness of his Tiger players along with their keenness and their ruggedness.

“He said his players all have ability and they all play AFL footy well.”

But Alan scored nought out of 2 in his weekend footy match-ups.

Kyneton defeated South in the 1995 BFL grand final 18.13 (121) to 11.10 (76) while the Cats downed the Tigers to earn a crack at Carlton in the next Saturday’s AFL ’95 grannie.

“The Fox” was one of the first five Legends inducted into the BFNL Hall of Fame in November 2019.

Much earlier he’d been inducted into the actual Hall of Fame itself in 1996.

Before the five Legends were announced, Alan had passed away in May, 1999, aged 80.