BFNL Round 16 Football Review
Strathfieldsaye breaks Gisborne’s streak
STRATHFIELDSAYE ended Gisborne’s winning streak on 12 matches as the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL marked the 16th round of senior footy action on Saturday.
The Storm surged to a 31-point lead by three quarter-time of the contest at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Four goals to two in the second quarter and then a tally of 5.3 to 3.1 in the third put the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye in control of the match.
Gisborne hit back to win the last, 22-14, but it was Storm which marked a 92-69 victory and showed it can be a strong challenger for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
Defeat ended Gisborne’s one-week stay at the top of the ladder.
Strathfieldsaye’s attack was led by Cooper Jones and Riley Wilson on four and three goals.
In the third game of his senior career, Hugh Behrens kicked two goals for Storm as Malik Gordon also chipped in with two majors.
The premiership-winning captain of ’22, Pat McKenna kicked three goals for Gisborne as Shane Clough and James Gray added two.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Tim Hosking, Caleb Sheahan, Ethan Featherby, Malik Gordon, Bode Stevens and Matt Harvey.
Macklan Lord, Flynn Lakey, Matt Merrett, Jake Normington, Pat McKenna and Braidon Blake were best for the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne.
Stung by defeat the previous round, Sandhurst charged to an 11-goal win on Eaglehawk’s turf at Canterbury Park.
The Dragons led 22-8 at quarter-time and then scored 4.5 to 2.1 in the second term.
A closely-fought third quarter went Sandhurst’s way, 28-19.
Five goals as it kept the Hawks to just one capped a 114-48 victory for the Dragons.
Fergus Greene increased his lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal by kicking six goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Cobi Maxted, Noah Walsh and Lachlan Wright on two.
Eaglehawk’s attack was led by Darcy Richards with four goals.
Cobi Maxted, Lachlan Tardrew, James Coghlan, Fergus Greene, co-coach Bryce Curnow and Connor Sexton were best for a Sandhurst team which has Ash Connick as non-playing co-coach.
Best for the Travis Matheson-coached Hawks were Clayton Holmes, Jonty Neaves, Sam O’Shannessy, Darcy Richards, Billy Evans and Joel Mullen.
Although Leigh ‘Joey’ Montagna’s on-field stint with Castlemaine was cut short by a quad injury, a big crowd watched the Magpies winning run keep rolling.
Leigh Montagna’s one-off appearance for Castlemaine was part of the Carlton Draught-backed Carlton Draft promotion to assist country clubs.
Montanga hurt his leg in the opening minute of the clash with Kangaroo Flat at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The St Kilda great returned to the field in a forward pocket, but from quarter-time watched on from the sidelines and mingled with the fans.
It was another ruthless performance by the Magpies.
Castlemaine led 40-19 at quarter-time and 76-39 by the long break.
Defences were on top in most of the third quarter as the Pies scored two goals and the Roos added 1.1.
The last term was one of Castlemaine’s best this season as it slammed on 9.8 and held the Roos to a tally of 2.3.
At the final siren the Magpies led 150-61.
Lists of best players and goalkickers for both teams were not supplied.
A tally of 54 scoring shots to just one was a sign of Golden Square’s dominance of its match with Maryborough at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
The Bulldogs led 41-nil at quarter-time and then slammed on 11 goals as it kept the Magpies scoreless in the second term.
Tom Toma, Jack Stewart and Harrison Kelly set up or finished off many of Golden Square’s attacking moves.
Maryborough finally goaled off the boot of Cobie Read in the final term.
A group of 13 goalkickers for the Bulldogs in the 194-6 victory was led by Jack Stewart, six; Tom Toma, five; Jack Sampson, four; Tanner Rayner, three; Tom Strauch, two.
Best for the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square included Terence Reeves, Jack Sampson and Jordan Rosengren.
Joel Swatton, co-coach Coby Perry, Kya Lanfranchi, Alex Brown, Tom Myers and Aidan Medlyn were best for a Maryborough team which has Matt Johnston as co-coach.
South Bendigo had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 301 per cent, 48 points; Gisborne 207, 48; Strathfieldsaye 153, 40; Golden Square 154, 36; Eaglehawk 129, 28; Castlemaine 114, 28; South Bendigo 71, 16; Kangaroo Flat 54, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 17 action, Gisborne will be back at Gardiner Reserve to take on Castlemaine.
Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye meet in a duel between first and third at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Maryborough will be home at Princes Park to play Eaglehawk.
South Bendigo takes on Golden Square at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Kangaroo Flat has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
74 - (6) - Fergus Greene - Sandhurst Seniors
50 - (0) - Brock Harvey - South Bendigo Seniors
50 - (0) - Harry Luxmoore - Gisborne Seniors
47 - (0) - James Schischka - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
46 - (0) - Steven Stroobants - South Bendigo Seniors
43 - (3) - Pat McKenna - Gisborne Seniors
42 - (6) - Jack Stewart - Golden Square Seniors
42 - (7) - Michael Hartley - Castlemaine Seniors
29 - (1) - Jayden Burke - Golden Square Seniors
29 - (2) - Cobi Maxted - Sandhurst Seniors
29 - (3) - Harry Whitty - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
26 - (0) - Jonty Neaves - Eaglehawk Seniors
25 - (2) - Lachlan Wright - Sandhurst Seniors
25 - (2) - Bailey Henderson - Castlemaine Seniors
24 - (0) - Bradley Bernacki - Gisborne Seniors
21 - (2) - Malik Gordon - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
20 - (1) - Jordan Rosengren - Golden Square Seniors
20 - (0) - Zac Denahy - Gisborne Seniors
20 - (4) - Darcy Richards - Eaglehawk Seniors
19 - (1) - Dylan Johnstone - Gisborne Seniors
19 - (1) - Jack O’shannessy - Eaglehawk Seniors
18 - (2) - Tom Strauch - Golden Square Seniors
18 - (5) - Kalan Huntly - Castlemaine Seniors
18 - (1) - Matthew Merrett - Gisborne Seniors
17 - (0) - Lachlan Tardrew - Sandhurst Seniors
17 - (0) - Nicholas Stagg - Sandhurst Seniors
16 - (2) - Zachary Greeves - Castlemaine Seniors
16 - (0) - Bailey Ilsley - Eaglehawk Seniors
16 - (3) - Riley Wilson - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
16 - (0) - Abe Sheahan - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
15 - (1) - Joel Wharton - Sandhurst Seniors
14 - (1) - Luke Ellings - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
14 - (0) - Lachlan Gill - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
14 - (0) - Joel Mullen - Eaglehawk Seniors
14 - (0) - Bryce Curnow - Sandhurst Seniors
13 - (0) - Ricky Monti - Golden Square Seniors
13 - (2) - Noah Walsh - Sandhurst Seniors
12 - (1) - Jake Mclean - Sandhurst Seniors
12 - (0) - Jack Lefroy - Kangaroo Flat Seniors
12 - (0) - Matthew Johnston - Maryborough Seniors
11 - (1) - Matthew Wilkinson - Sandhurst Seniors
11 - (4) - Jack Sampson - Golden Square Seniors
11 - (0) - Zach Charles - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
11 - (1) - Ben Thompson - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (4) - Cooper Jones - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
10 - (1) - Blake Mcgregor - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (0) - Matt Harvey - Strathfieldsaye Seniors
10 - (0) - Mitchell Ronchieri - Eaglehawk Seniors
10 - (0) - Tanner Nally - Sandhurst Seniors
10 - (5) - Thomas Toma - Golden Square Seniors
