Strathfieldsaye

Strathfieldsaye fights on to end Golden Square’s run

STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm showed plenty of fighting spirit to win the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy first semi-final against Golden Square on Sunday.

Storm and the Bulldogs were in a clash to keep their premiership dream alive on Queen Elizabeth Oval.

After Storm surged to a 25-9 lead by quarter-time it was the Bulldogs who capitalised on the breeze in the second to score 4.3 as Strathfieldsaye added just two behinds.

Storm looked to be in all sorts after injuries put Charlie King and Darcy Mulquiny out of the game in the second quarter.

Despite injuring his hamstring, Shannon Geary switched from defence to play deep in the forward 50m arc to ensure Storm had some rotations off the bench in the second quarter.

Talented youngster Jaidi Jackson-Leahy also played on through injury.

Their efforts inspired team-mates as the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye won the third quarter, 42-12.

Playing into the breeze and limited by just 18 fully-fit players raised concerns for some in the Storm camp.

Led by the play of Bode Stevens, Daniel Clohesy and Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye scored 1.3 in the last and more importantly kept the Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs to a score of 3.4.

At the final siren Strathfieldsaye celebrated a 78-70 victory in one of the club’s most memorable finals matches.

Best for Golden Square were Jordan Rosengren, Tom Toma, Terence Reeves and Jack Threlfall.

Strathfieldsaye’s next target is Sandhurst in Saturday’s preliminary final.

The Dragons were outplayed for a lot of the second semi-final showdown with Gisborne.

At one stage the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs had gained a 38-point lead against the Dragons.

Although Sandhurst won the last term, 28-13, it was Gisborne which was first to qualify for the September 21 grand final as it claimed an 89-66 victory.

The Bulldogs are in the box seat to claim the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.

Zac Denany led the Bulldogs’ attack on three goals as Brad Bernacki and Matt Merrett added two each.

Sandhurst’s leading goalkickers were Fergus Greene and Cobi Maxted on two.

Gun on-baller Flynn Lakey was best afield for Gisborne as Zach Vescovi, Brad Bernacki and Macklan Lord won plenty of contests.

Best for Sandhurst were Lachlan Tardrew, Cooper Smith, Harrison Free and Noah Walsh.

After finishing the home-and-away series on top of the ladder the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Dragons now have plenty of work to do to gain another crack at Gisborne.

There will be at least one change to Gisborne’s team for the grand final after Shane Clough sustained a season-ending broken jaw.

In the reserves competition, Strathfieldsaye won the first semi-final against Golden Square by 25 points to set up a preliminary final showdown with Gisborne.

The Sandhurst Dragons fired up for an eight-point win against the Bulldogs in the second semi-final as Wil Pinniger, Darcy Mills, Rory Ellett and Brodie Montague were best.

Sandhurst is first to the SporstPower under-18s grand final after a two-point victory against Golden Square in the second semi-final.

The Jarrod Bateson-coached Dragons led 25-13 at half-time, but the Bulldogs bit back to win the third term, 16-7.

The final quarter went Square’s way, 2-1, but the Dragons led 33-31 at the final siren.

Oscar Cail kicked three goals for Sandhurst as Jaxon Howard, Will Bassett and Charles Duke were best.

The Bulldogs’ attack was led by James Wilkinson with two goals as Oliver Eaton, Lincoln McKern, Riley Dillon and Jack McMahon.

It’s an all-Bulldogs clash in the preliminary final after Gisborne won Sunday’s first semi-final against Castlemaine by 15 points.

Bendigo FNL footy first semi-finals scoreboard:

Seniors:

Strathfieldsaye 3.7 3.9 9.15 10.18 (78)

Golden Square 1.3 5.6 7.6 10.10 (70)

GOALS – Strathfieldsaye: Lachlan Gill, Matt Harvey 2, Zach Charles, Daniel Clohesy, Shannon Geary, Malik Gordon, Shannon Murphy, Riley Wilson. Golden Square: Jordan Rosengren 4, Jack Stewart, Tom Toma 2, Jayden Burke, Hugh Freckleton.

BEST – Strathfieldsaye: Bode Stevens, Daniel Clohesy, Riley Wilson, Matt Harvey, Malik Gordon, Lachlan Ratcliffe. Golden Square: Jordan Rosengren, Tom Toma, Terence Reeves, Jack Threlfall, Jon Coe, Dylan Hird.

Drummond Golf Reserves:

Strathfieldsaye 0.2 2.5 3.7 7.12 (54)

Golden Square 0.0 1.1 3.4 4.5 (29)

GOALS – Strathfieldsaye: Siologa Siu, Jye Stephens 2, Hugh Behrens, Ned Hayes, Carson James. Golden Square: Paul Symons 3, Lachlan Monti.

BEST – Strathfieldsaye: Ned Hayes, Carson James, Dermott Bell, Hugh Behrens, Charles Dole, Charlie Morrison. Golden Square: Lachlan Monti, Rory McCrann-Peters, Zac Tickell, Bailey Rackstraw, Dean Norris, Noah Warfe.

Sportspower under-18s:

Gisborne 2.5 4.5 8.9 9.10 (64)

Castlemaine 2.2 4.5 4.5 7.7 (49)

GOALS – Gisborne: Harrison Bryant, Wilhem Mackay 2, James Bullen, Lucas Hannon, Campbell Johns, Diesel Lewis, Jack Rutten. Castlemaine: Chaz Holman 3, Jackson Balcombe, Kyan Martin, Mitchell McKnight, Jack Nuttall.

BEST – Gisborne: Campbell Johns, Jacob Floreani, Baden Dickins, Thomas Dawson, Diesel Lewis. Castlemaine: Thomas Ford, Archie Rixon, Chaz Holman, Mitchell McKnight, Alton Bracken, Jackson Balcombe.

Bendigo FNL footy second semi-finals scoreboard:

Seniors:

Gisborne 4.3 6.5 11.10 13.11 (89)

Sandhurst 3.1 4.5 5.8 9.12 (66)

GOALS – Gisborne: Zac Denahy 3, Brad Bernacki, Matt Merrett 2, Braidon Blake, Shane Clough, James Gray, Dylan Johnstone, Harry Luxmoore, Pat McKenna. Sandhurst: Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted 2, Bryce Curnow, Cooper Smith, Lachlan Tardrew, Dayten Uerata, Lachlan Wright.

BEST – Gisborne: Flynn Lakey, Zach Vescovi, Brad Bernacki, Macklan Lord, Frank Schipano, Liam Spear. Sandhurst: Lachlan Tardrew, Cooper Smith, Harrison Free, Noah Walsh, Cobi Maxted, James Coghlan.

Drummond Golf reserves:

Sandhurst 3.0 3.2 4.6 5.6 (36)

Gisborne 0.1 1.6 2.7 3.10 (28)

GOALS – Sandhurst: Luke Crawford, Jack Keating, Brodie Montague, Oscar Perez, Alex Wharton. Gisborne: Hayden Doricic, Luke Weber, Tom Wood.

BEST – Sandhurst: Wil Pinniger, Darcy Mills, Rory Ellett, Brodie Montague, Oscar Perez, Jack Keating. Gisborne: Boyd Nalder, Ed Williams, Rohan Nicol, Jacob Murphy, Tom Wood, Kane Minns.

Sportspower under-18s:

Sandhurst 2.1 4.1 5.2 5.3 (33)

Golden Square 1.0 2.1 4.5 4.7 (31)

GOALS – Sandhurst: Oscar Cail 3, Joseph Artavilla, Finlay Lockhart. Golden Square: James Wilkinson 2, Archie Eaton, Jack McMahon.

BEST – Sandhurst: Jaxon Howard, Will Bassett, Charles Duke, Oscar Cail, Deakin Andrews, Shannon Tardrew. Golden Square: Oliver Eaton, Lincoln McKern, Riley Dillon, Jack McMahon, Melvic Pambai.

Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:

Under-18s at 10.45am: Golden Square v Gisborne.

Reserves at 12.45: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.

Seniors at 2.20pm: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.

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Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo enjoyed markedly different outcomes in the BFNL seasons between 2010 and 2019.

South played just three seasons in the finals for a win-loss record of 2-4 while the Storm fronted for finals in eight of those 10 years winning four premierships (in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019) and finished with a 13-8 win-loss record in September action.

They were runners-up in 2013 and 2018. Of course, there were no finals in both 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

It’s amazing to look back at cold, hard facts half-a-decade after stats for a 10-year period have been compiled, seasons wound up and premierships collected.

The Storm were newcomers to BFNL footy when the decade unrolled but by the end they were the BFNL football powerhouse.

And they started their upwards rise from 2010 (7th), up to 6th a season later and then into 3rd slot by 2012.

Grand finals followed in 2013 and 2014 after that third-placed finish 11 years back: in 2012.

Worst season for the Storm in the mid-2010s was 2016 when they finished fourth. They lost to Eaglehawk in the first semi-final.

In contrast the Bloods also started the Teens pretty well finishing runner-up to Square in 2010 (after losing to Square also in 2009) and were in the Top Five in 2011 and again in 2012.

Ironically the Bloods lost the 2012 elimination final to the Storm and then tumbled to sixth in 2013 with nine wins and a draw --- their first finish outside the finals-bound sides since 2004.

Then came one of South Bendigo’s most impotent seasons as they finished in the 2014 cellar, in 10th spot (2 wins, 16 losses), claiming their first wooden spoon since 1965.

Jut as had been the case in the mid-Sixties the Bloods managed just a pair of wins in 2014 ending up with a 2-16 record.

Just as playing coach Nathan Horbury has been for the Bloods in the early 2020s, South’s top player of the decade was unquestionably Aaron Connaughton.

One of the highlights between 2010 and 2019 was registered in 2017: Rd. 6.

It was Aaron’s 150th senior game and, up against major QEO rivals Sandhurst, South roared home by 30 points.

By registering that victory the Bloods regained the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup for the first time since 2013. Four seasons leaving the prized Cup in the Dragons’ lair.

But it wasn’t the only memorable victory during the 2010-2019 decade.

South Bendigo beat Golden Square by 15 points on the Saturday in July they celebrated their 125th BFL season.

The vital victory was registered in July of 2018. So from foundation year 1893 to 2018 marked 125 years.

Another big milestone, albeit on a personal level in 2018, came when classy key forward Kaiden Antonowicz won the 2018 Ron Best medal by booting 76 majors.

His overall tally for the decade was 174 goals. Joining Kaiden on more than a century of majors were Michael Leech (152) and Steven ‘Stroobie’ Stroobants on 103.

The decade was also memorable for another milestone.

It marked the Bloods’ transition from the QEO to the Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington and they played their first matches there for premiership points in 2014.

Among other personal milestones was the selection by the Adelaide Crows of South’s No. 1 ruckman Kieran Strachan in the 2018 AFL rookie draft.

Strachan had won a South club fairest and best award before the Crows picked him up.

Centre half-forward Justin ‘Harry’ Maddern was South’s sole representative in the Team of the Decade.

He played with South in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, taking out the Ron Best medal in his final season: 2013.

Overall records for the decade --- South Bendigo: won 82, drew 2 and lost 100 in 184 total games. Average scores for and against: 84/85. Winning %: 44.6%.

Storm: won 149, lost 49 and drew 1 in 199 total games. Average scores for and against: 110/69. Winning %: 74.9%.

Another stat. which should remain in the memories of footy followers, but might need brushing-up, is the Storm’s amazing winning streak.

From Rd. 4 in 2014 when they belted Castlemaine Strathfieldsaye won 39 games in a row. Yes, that’s right. Thirty-nine.

They didn’t lose again until Rd. 3 in 2016 when the Wade Street Bulldogs won by four goals.

That’s almost two complete seasons without a loss. The players must have had hoarse throats after singing the club song weekend after weekend from 2014 through until early 2016.

In 2015 Strathfieldsaye didn’t lose a single game. They finished that season 20-0.

The loss to Square in early 2016 was significant for another reason, however. Brilliant forward Lachlan Sharp suffered a season ending knee injury which probably put paid to their grand final hopes seven years ago.

He was back, though, in 2017 when the Storm downed Eaglehawk in the grand final, he won the Michelsen and Ron Best medals --- the latter with 142 goals --- plus the AFL Victoria grand final medal.

Sharp is one of only three players in BFNL history to have won the grand final, the Michelsen Medal and the senior goalkicking award all in the one season.

He joined Rochester’s Ray Willett (1962, 67 goals) and Eaglehawk’s Greg Kennedy (1971, 139 goals).

The 2017 season was notable not just for Sharpy’s incredible accomplishments but also because Strathfieldsaye celebrated the trifecta ---- flags in the seniors, reserves and under-18 grades.

The Storm became the first BFNL club to achieve that since Gisborne in 2002.

And second behind Sharp on the decade’s overall sgoalkicking list was Sam Mildren with 243 while tough half-back or on-baller Kallen Geary polled the most club best player votes for the decade with 248 votes.

Amazingly enough only two Storm players in Sharp and Geary made the Team of the Decade, joined by the 2010-2019 Coach of the Decade Daryl Wilson ---- premiership mentor in 2014, 2015 and again in 2017.

I remember sitting on the seven-strong selection committee in 2019 for the ten Hall of Famers and the inaugural five Legends.

Don’t think I was on the Team of the Decade committee. Maybe my memory is playing up.

Let’s return to year-end results. Strath’s Twos and Threes won a few flags. The Reserves (131 total wins) saluted twice while the under-18s (146 victories) were successful in three grand finals.

The Bloods Twos (98 wins) played in eight finals series of the decade’s 10 seasons but didn’t win a premiership. Neither did the Threes (67 total victories) who contested just two finals series.

Of course in the season just-finished’s major individual awards Storm’s brilliant on-baller Jake Moorhead won the 2022 Michelsen medal with 19 votes.

He ended up four ahead of joint runners-up Nathan Horbury (South’s playing coach) and Gisborne mid Brad Bernacki.

The Bloods’ Chloe Gray with 15 votes finished sixth in the A grade netball’s Betty Thompson medal count, won by Gisborne’s Madeline Stewart who polled an outstanding 29 votes.

The Bendigo Football Netball League would like to announce and congratulate the following BFNL netball players who have been selected in the 2023 BFNL Open Netball representative team:

2023 BFNL Open Netball Team:

Goalers:

• Claudia Mawson (Gisborne)
• Abbey Ryan (Kangaroo Flat)
• Rebecca Smith (Sandhurst)

Mid-court:

• Shae Clifford (Sandhurst)
• Kirby Elliot (Gisborne)
• Ashley Ryan (Kangaroo Flat)
• Meg Williams (Sandhurst)

Defenders:

• Heather Oliver (Sandhurst)
• Alicia McGlashan (South Bendigo)
• Charlotte Sexton (Sandhurst)
• Sophie Shoebridge (Sandhurst)

Coach: Jayden Cowling (Kangaroo Flat)

Assistant Coach: Stephanie Freemantle (Strathfieldsaye Storm)

The BFNL Open team will join the recently qualified BFNL 17 & Under netballers at the Netball Victoria Association Championships Finals, to be held at the State Netball Centre, Parkville on Sunday the 18th of June 2023

Motivated BFNL head coach Jayden Cowling is again thrilled at the prospect of leading the Open team, and buoyed by the quantity and quality of local BFNL talent that were able to make themselves available for selection for the representative program

"I am incredibly excited and proud of the talented squad that we have selected to represent the Bendigo Football Netball League”.

“We have such a star-studded league with numerous players having VNL or state level experience, but also have a range of amazing local talent who will be able to showcase their ability at the Association Championships”.

“We are fortunate to have selected a very versatile side who can cover numerous positions across the court, which will be extremely beneficial at a gruelling full-day tournament against quality opposition”.

“The group has a great mix of youth and significant experience that gives us great balance to hopefully go one step further in 2023 from our Runners-Up result in 2022."

BFNL Manager Cameron Tomlins said, “The Bendigo Football Netball League congratulate and thank all players who have been selected in the 2023 BFNL open netball representative team and will proudly represent the BFNL to showcase their ability and the current significant quality of BFNL netball at State representative level”.

“Whilst a small number of quality players were ruled out of selection consideration due to injury, VNL or personal commitments, the overall investment of all players and volunteers that were able to make themselves available for selection for representative duties has allowed Coach Jayden Cowling and the selection panel to gather an extremely strong and versatile team that we are confident will achieve success, whilst positively representing the current high standard and quality of BFNL netball.”