ROUND 14 WEEK 1 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Square chases upset against Gisborne
GOLDEN Square’s hopes of playing Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals hinge greatly on Saturday’s home game against Gisborne.
It’s the clash of the Bulldogs at Golden Square’s Wade Street Oval in week one of the split 14th round.
It’s a crucial showdown from 2.30pm, especially for Golden Square which is sixth and a win and five per cent behind fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye.
Although it has home-ground advantage the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square faces a huge challenge.
When these clubs met in Indigenous Round it was the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne which won by 21 points.
Gisborne was down by 21 points at the start of the final quarter.
Among the many key battles this Saturday will be in the ruck where Daniel Keating takes on Gisborne’s Zac Denahy.
Gisborne will be without number one ruckman and Michelsen medallist Braidon Blake.
At centre bounces Golden Square has Jordan Rosengren, Terence Reeves and Tom Strauch to take on another Michelsen medallist in Brad Bernacki, along with Dylan Johnstone and James Gray.
A Golden Square defence led by Zack Shelton, Luke Holt and Lachlan Humphrey is up against Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett.
The blue and gold will look to captain Jayden Burke, Jack Stewart and Jack McMahon to cap off attacks with goals.
In last week’s slog against South Bendigo in Kennington the Square scored one goal through Harrison Kelly.
The task for the blue and gold will not be easy against Gisborne defenders Jack Reaper, Elijah Bretherton, Zac Vescovi and Jed Denahy.
Gisborne half-back Ryan Bourke was issued with a reprimand after he lodged an early guilty plea for striking in the win against Sandhurst for a second time in ’25.
Castlemaine will be back on home turf at Camp Reserve to take on Strathfieldsaye.
A win for the Magpies would put them within four points of Strathfieldsaye at two rounds to go.
Huge plus for Castlemaine is the return of Bailey Henderson for his first match since the round two win against Golden Square.
A premiership-winning player with Strathfieldsaye, Henderson will coach Castlemaine next season.
When the Magpies and Storm met in Indigenous Round it was the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye which fought on for a 72-70 win at Triple M Park.
The Magpies will be keen to hit back from last Saturday’s loss at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Storm won a hard-fought match at home against Kangaroo Flat by 14 points.
Key players for Castlemaine include playing coach and forward/ruckman Michael Hartley, Kalan Huntly, Ben and Callum McConachy, and Riley Pedretti.
The Magpies will also look for ruckman Patrik Balta to dominate centre ball-ups and boundary throw-ins.
Other players to watch in the black and white are Hunter Staples, Rhys Jenkins, Brodie Byrne, Jack Chester and Josh Eyre.
A sixth win for Storm would greatly enhance chances of another finals campaign.
Strathfieldsaye is just a win and five per cent clear of the sixth-placed Golden Square.
Strathfieldsaye plays at Gisborne in round 15 and then meets Golden Square in the 16th and final round of the home-and-away series at Triple M Park.
Best for Storm in last Saturday’s win were Cooper Jones, key defender Kya Lanfranchi, Tim Hosking and Jordan Wilson.
Gun forward James Schischka marked his first senior match since round 14 of last season by kicking three goals.
Storm’s squad to tackle Castlemaine includes Jed Brereton, Hunter Lawrence, Ben Lester, Lachlan Ratcliffe and Riley Wilson.
On-baller Sam Heavyside is back in action since the round 11 loss on Golden Square’s ground.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 223 per cent, 44 points; Gisborne 146, 44; Eaglehawk 170, 40; South Bendigo 121, 32; Strathfieldsaye 83, 20; Golden Square 78, 16; Castlemaine 72, 12; Kangaroo Flat 29, 0.
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Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
33 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
32 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
32 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
31 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
28 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
25 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
25 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
21 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
20 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
19 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
19 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
18 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
18 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
17 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
16 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
16 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
16 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
16 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
15 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
15 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
14 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
14 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
13 Xavier Carter, Golden Square.
13 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
13 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
13 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
12 Sam Barnes, Kangaroo Flat.
12 James Gray, Gisborne.
12 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
Round 14 will be completed on August 9 when Kangaroo Flat tackles South Bendigo at Dower Park, and Sandhurst faces Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
