ROUND 1 FOOTBALL REVIEW - Bloods win thriller against Strathfieldsaye
BY NATHAN DOLE
SOUTH Bendigo fought on to beat Strathfieldsaye by a point in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
The new-look Bloods raced to a three-goal lead by half-time on their turf at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
As South Bendigo scored 7.5 across the opening hour, Storm was wayward near goal as it scored 3.11.
Strathfieldsaye hit back to win the third term, 30-20.
A hat-trick of goals put Storm back in the game.
A huge blow for Strathfieldsaye was a season-ending shoulder injury to co-captain and top on-baller Daniel Clohesy.
Storm’s run kept rolling as six unanswered goals through the third quarter and early minutes of the last gave it a four-point lead.
A goal by South Bendigo co-coach Jack Fallon from the pocket put the red and white back in front.
Wil McCaig’s checkside kick from deep in the pocket never looked like missing as the Bloods were up by seven points.
Storm hit back as Riley Wilson goaled after a free kick in the 28th minute.
From a tough shot on the run, Hunter Lawrence’s kick went out on the full.
Shortly after the siren sounded.
Amid the euphoria of the victory, South Bendigo was also rocked by the injury to classy forward/mid Will Keck.
Best for the Bloods who have Troy Coates as non-playing co-coach were Tom Brereton, Jack Fallon, Kaiden Antonowicz, ruckman Mac Cameron, Brody Haddow and Tait Poyser.
Jye Formosa, Sam Heavyside, Riley Wilson, Jed Daniels, Zach Charles and Ben Lester were best for the Luke Freeman-coached Storm.
Sandhurst’s run at back-to-back premierships began with a nine-goal win against Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons unfurled the ’24 senior, reserves and under-18 footy premiership flags.
A closely-fought opening term went Sandhurst’s way, 13-8.
The Dragons then fired up to score 6.2 in the second as Castlemaine added 3.2.
Slick teamwork, high pressure and a glut of goalkicking options are some of the many hallmarks of the Sandhurst line-up.
The Dragons won the second half, 56-25 on the way to a 107-53 victory.
Co-captain and last season’s Ron Best medallist, Fergus Greene led the Dragons attack on four goals as Tom Campbell and Hugh Schmetzer booted two each.
Leading goalkickers for the Magpies were Matt Filo and John Watson with two.
A joint Michelsen medallist as league fairest and best in ’24, Lachlan Tardrew has stepped up to be co-coach of Sandhurst with non-playing coach Bryce Curnow.
Tardrew’s non-stop run and skill earnt best on ground honours in Saturday’s match as Schmetzer, Cobi Maxted, Charlie Robinson, Lachlan Wright and Seb Collins also starred for the maroon and blue.
Although disappointed by the final margin, Castlemaine will have learnt a lot.
Best for the Magpies were Brodie Byrne, Bailey Henderson, coach Michael Hartley, Hunter Staples, Harrison Sheahan and Matt Filo.
A seven-goal second quarter as it kept the opposition scoreless set up Eaglehawk’s big win on Golden Square’s turf in Wade Street.
It was 20-all at quarter-time before the Hawks slammed on seven goals straight in the second.
The Borough led 76-41 at a quarter to play and then added another five goals in the last to complete a 108-48 victory.
The classy Tyh Evans led the Hawks attack on three goals as Joel Budarick, Sam Dean, captain Billy Evans and Jonty Neaves kicked two each.
Golden Square’s leading goalkicker was Jack McMahon with three.
Ruckman Brayden Frost, Billy and Tyh Evans, Joel Budarick, Ben Thompson and Zack Bulger were best for an Eaglehawk team jointly coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing.
Jon Coe, Jake Maher, Jayden Burke, Terence Reeves, Jack McMahon and Jesse Gill were best for the Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs.
The league’s other breed of Bulldog, Gisborne made a flying start at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
The Bulldogs led 35-4 at quarter-time and then scored 8.3 as the Roos added 2.2 in the second.
Gisborne’s run and carry through midfield and into attack was outstanding.
The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs scored eight goals in the third and then slammed on 11.3 in the last to complete a 211-61 victory.
Dylan Johnstone led the attack on five goasl as Seb Bell-Bartels, four; Brad Bernacki and Harry Luxmoore, three; James Gray, Pat McKenna and Darcy Young, two, capped off many attacks.
The Roos’ leading goalkickers were Sam Barnes, Xavier Dingfelder-Hope, captain Ethan Roberts with two each.
Gisborne’s best were Dylan Johnstone, Brad Bernacki, Zach Vescovi, James Gray, Jed Denahy and Campbell Johns.
Best for a young Kangaroos line-up coached by Tyrone Downie were Campbell Smith, Aaron Nevins, Zach Bird, Jay Newman, Lachie Raymond and Sam Barnes.
The Bulldogs will sweat on the outcome on scans for Seb Bell-Bartels who sustained another knee injury.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 413 per cent, 4 points; Eaglehawk 225, 4; Sandhurst 201, 4; South Bendigo 101, 4; Strathfieldsaye 98, 0; Castlemaine 49, 0; Golden Square 44, 0; Kangaroo Flat 24, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
5 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
4 Seb Bell-Bartels, Gisborne.
4 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
3 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
3 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
3 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
3 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
2 Sam Barnes, Kangaroo Flat.
2 Joel Budarick, Eaglehawk.
2 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
2 Sam Dean, Eaglehawk.
2 Xavier Dingfelder-Hope, Kangaroo Flat.
2 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
2 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.
2 Matt Filo, Castlemaine.
2 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
2 James Gray, Gisborne.
2 Kya Lanfranchi, Strathfieldsaye.
2 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
2 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
2 Ethan Roberts, Kangaroo Flat.
2 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
2 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
2 John Watson, Castlemaine.
2 Darcy Young, Gisborne.
Good Friday will feature all four senior matches from 2.20pm.
Last season’s preliminary finalists, Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst will clash in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Gisborne tackles South Bendigo in the Bulldogs’ kennel at Gardiner Reserve.
Eaglehawk faces Kangaroo Flat on the Borough’s turf in Canterbury Park.
Castlemaine and Golden Square clash at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
