NOW fourth on the ladder, South Bendigo’s Bloods face a huge test on Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve in Saturday’s 11th round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The Bloods are on the rebound from defeat for just the second time this season after a 27-point loss to Strathfieldsaye.
Back in round two South Bendigo won a thrilling contest with Gisborne.
The Bloods were up 91-89 when the siren sounded to end the clash at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Gisborne’s only defeat at home this season was to Sandhurst by 11 points on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
The past two rounds the Bulldogs have made their way north to win at Golden Square by 23 points and then at Kangaroo Flat by 182 points.
Gisborne’s attacking power was to the fore against the Roos.
A tally of 31 goals included 10 by Pat McKenna and five by Dominic Sullivan.
A Bulldogs’ attack that includes McKenna, Jed Denany, Shane Clough and Will Elliott will be up against Will Allen, Alex Davis, Ollie Turnbull and Zac Hare.
On-ball contests will again be a highlight of this Gisborne and South Bendigo showdown.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne has Brad Bernacki, Adam Brancatisano and Kobe Zerafa in great form.
With gun ruckman Braidon Blake on the sidelines it’s been Boyd Nalder who competes strongly every time for Gisborne.
The Bloods will have Callum Crisp working to tap the ball to Brody Haddow, Coen Harker and Jack English.
Gisborne defenders Zach Vescovi, Zac Denahy and Lucas Hannon take on Brock Harvey, Alex Smith and Tom Templeton.
The Bloods are jointly coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing.
Eaglehawk and Castlemaine face crucial matches as they fight for the fifth rung.
The Hawks hold fifth place by percentage rolling into their match on Golden Square’s ground at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
Eaglehawk is on the rebound from a 21-point loss to Sandhurst.
In round two the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk beat Golden Square at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park by 27 points.
The Borough will look for big games from the likes of captain and Michelsen medallist Billy Evans, ruckman Callum Heath, and Joel Mullen.
Key inclusion for Eaglehawk is Max Kennedy who has played 10 games for the Coburg Lions in this season’s VFL action.
In attack the Hawks have Jack O’Shannessy and Jacquin Mifsud as strong marking targets.
The Borough gains plenty of run from Thomas Bennett, Lewin Davis, Jack Donat and Oscar White.
It’s a hat-trick of home games for Golden Square.
In the past two rounds the Bulldogs have been defeated by Gisborne and Castlemaine.
Key players for the blue and gold include co-coach Liam Barrett, ruckman Liam Hoy, Carson James, Jordan Rosengren and Jack Stewart.
The return of Michelsen medallist and four-time premiership player Adam Baird is a huge plus for a Golden Square team which has Brad Eaton as non-playing coach.
Big test for Golden Square defenders Harry Burke, Isaac Corvo, Archie Edwards and Bailey Warfe.
The Bulldogs will be without Luke Holt who was handed a one-match ban after an early guilty plea to rough conduct.
Castlemaine will be determined to build on the momentum of last week’s victory as it faces Kangaroo Flat at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Magpies will start favourite against the Kangaroos.
In round two Castlemaine won at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park by 88 points.
A Magpies’ attack led by Michael Hartley and Kalan Huntly will test the Kangaroos.
At centre bounces Jaise Coleman will team up with Dylan Landt, Hunter Staples and Bailey Henderson.
The Magpies’ squad includes Brodie Byrne, Ben and Callum McConachy, Will Marks and John Watson.
After encouraging form the previous two rounds against South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos could not halt Gisborne’s four-quarter blitz.
Effort is the key for the Kangaroos rolling into this contest with the Magpies.
Massive plus for Kangaroo Flat is the return of captain and gun on-baller Ethan Roberts for his first senior game since round one at Gisborne.
Roberts played in the reserves last round.
The play of Mitch Collins, Max Johnson, Jake Hywood, Nick Keogh, Nick Lang, Josh Leersen, Angus Macpherson, Aaron Nevins, Zach Rouse will go a long way toward Kangaroo Flat keeping the heat on in every quarter.
Broadford returns from the bye to host Sandhurst at Harley Hammond Reserve.
It’s another big step on the learning curve for a young Broadford team coached by Nathan Thompson.
Best for the Kangaroos in their latest hit-out with Eaglehawk were Louis Thompson, Adam Miles, Riley Edwards, Jacob Street-Glasson, Charles Neilson and Oliver Lubeck.
Key match-ups for Broadford include Taiten Thomas in the centre against Cooper Smith, Bryce Fleming at full-back against Cobi Maxted, and Oliver Lubeck across half-forward against the strong marking Lachlan Wright.
Sandhurst has shown its considerable depth across the past three rounds where it has won at Gisborne and beaten Castlemaine and Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It’s many of the lesser-lights who have shone in the Dragons’ run.
In-form players for Sandhurst include Liam Ireland, Jaxon Howard, Oliver Morris and Wil Pinniger.
A team which has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach and Fergus Greene as playing co-coach also has the running power and skill of James Coghlan, Lachie Hood, Jack Keating and Nick Stagg.
Strathfieldsaye has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 170 per cent, 32 points; Gisborne 202, 28; Sandhurst 160, 28; South Bendigo 152, 28; Eaglehawk 131, 16; Castlemaine 123, 16; Golden Square 96, 8; Kangaroo Flat 48, 4; Broadford 10, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
41 Pat McKenna, Gis.
33 James Schischka, S’saye.
27 Michael Hartley, Cm.
26 Brock Harvey, SB.
24 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
19 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
18 Nick Keogh, KF; Ben Thompson, Eh.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zac Denahy, Gis.; Fergus Greene, Sh.
15 Brody Haddow, SB.
14 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS.
13 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Jordan Rosengren, GS; Alex Smith, SB.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Archie Rixon, Cm.
