STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm has surged to top of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after Saturday’s dramatic fightback against Gisborne.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm faced a 35-point deficit at just under 13 minutes to play in the third quarter of Saturday’s match at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Goals by Siologa Siu and Jaidi Jackson-Leahy put Storm within four goals of the Bulldogs going into the final quarter.
In a remarkable turnaround it was Strathfieldsaye which slammed on six unanswered goals through James Schischka, Ethan Featherby, Tim Hosking, Schischka, Siu, and Tyson McKenzie to complete a 98-86 victory.
Gun forward James Schischka finished with a match-high five goals as Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Tyson McKenzie and Siologa Siu kicked two each.
Leading goalkicker for Gisborne was Dominic Sullivan on three as Brad Bernacki, Jed Denahy, Dylan Johnstone and Pat McKenna kicked two each.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Tim Hosking, James Schischka, Patrick Blandford, Daniel Clohesy, Hugh Behrens and Jaidi Jackson-Leahy.
Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone, Zach Vescovi, Harry Thomas, Jed Denahy and Harrison Bryant were best for the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne Bulldogs.
South Bendigo won every quarter on its way to a 122-41 victory against Castlemaine at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The Bloods were on the rebound from consecutive defeats as they faced an opponent determined to beat a top-five team for the first time this season.
South Bendigo kept the Magpies goalless in the first half as they led 8.8 (56) to 0.7 (7) at half-time.
As South Bendigo added four goals in the third, Castlemaine fought back with three majors.
Last season’s Ron Best medallist as the league’s leading goalkicker, Brock Harvey capped a great match with five goals as ruckman/forward Callum Crisp added two.
There were another 11 players on South Bendigo’s goalkicking list.
Best for South Bendigo were co-captain Josh Nitschke, Chase Poyser, Brody Haddow, Alex Davis, Tom Templeton and Zaydyn Lockwood.
The Bloods also welcomed back Tom Brereton for his first match of the season.
Was a disappointing result for Castlemaine in which Hunter Staples, Callum McConachy, coach Bailey Henderson, Darby Semmens and Rhys Jenkins were best.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, heads to Eaglehawk for next Saturday’s big match.
The return of co-coach Clayton Holmes to the field was a huge plus for Eaglehawk’s clash with Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
It was the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos who made a great start to be up 25-13 at quarter-time.
Eaglehawk hit back with seven goals in the second as the Roos added two behinds.
A 35-point buffer for the Two Blues at half-time became 47 at a quarter to go.
The Hawks added seven goals in the final term to wrap up a 126-37 victory.
In his first match since he was given a 10-match ban from an incident in last September’s grand final victory, Holmes kicked three goals against the Kangaroos.
Another three goal haul by Jacquin Mifsud took his tally to 13 in three games for the Borough.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Hawks were Jack Donat, three; and Lewin Davis, Jack O’Shannessy, Nick and Ben Thompson, two.
Nick Keogh kicked two goals for the Kangaroos.
Ruckman Callum Heath was Eaglehawk’s best along with Jack Thompson, Noah Wheeler, Lewin Davis, Ben Thompson and Charlie Langford.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Tyran Farmer, Kyle Symons, Jake Hywood, Zach Rouse, Flynn Clark and Aaron Nevins.
A huge plus for the Kangaroos is Tyrone Downie signing a two-year contract extension as senior coach.
Golden Square passed the 200-point mark against Broadford at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
A tally of seven goals by the Bulldogs in the first quarter was matched in the second and third terms.
By the last change Golden Square led 142-22.
The blue and gold slammed on nine goals in the final quarter to complete a 203-22 victory.
Six goals by Jack McMahon earnt best on ground honours as Jack Sampson and Jack Stewart kicked four goals each.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Josh Kelly and Jordan Rosengren, three; Adam Baird, Billy Buhagiar, Tom Strauch and Logan Wescott, two.
Angus Hoyne slotted two goals as captain Adam Miles was also on target for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
Golden Square’s best were Jack McMahon, Jack Stewart, Lachlan Monti, Jordan Rosengren, Josh Kelly and Jack Sampson.
Broadford’s best were Owen Sloan, Angus Hoyne, CJ Brill, Adam Miles, Brodie Stray and Riley Middleton.
Sandhurst had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 163 per cent, 36 points; Sandhurst 200, 32; Gisborne 186, 32; South Bendigo 146, 32; Eaglehawk 154, 24; Castlemaine 117, 20; Golden Square 105, 12; Kangaroo Flat 46, 4; Broadford 10, 0.
The Ron Best Memorial Shield is up for grabs in next Saturday’s round 13 action when Golden Square takes on Sandhurst at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street from 2.20pm.
Another important match will be at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where the Hawks take on South Bendigo.
Castlemaine tackles Strathfieldsaye at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
It’s the battle of two Kangaroos’ mobs when Broadford meets Kangaroo Flat at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
Gisborne has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
53 Pat McKenna, Gis.
38 James Schischka, S’saye.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm; Brock Harvey, SB.
26 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
22 Nick Keogh, KF.
21 Fergus Greene, Sh; Ben Thompson, Eh.
20 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
19 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Brody Haddow, SB; Jack McMahon, GS.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS.
15 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Oliver Morris, Sh; Alex Smith, SB.
14 Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
13 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Jack Stewart, GS.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Jacquin Mifsud, Eh; Archie Rixon, Cm.
