ROUND 14 WEEK 1 FOOTBALL REVIEW | Golden Square wins Dog-fight with Gisborne
GOLDEN Square’s chances of playing in this season’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals are not over.
A five-point victory against Gisborne in last Saturday’s match on its Wade Street turf meant Golden Square kept the heat on the fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye.
The Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square kicked off week one in the split 14th round by upsetting Gisborne.
Just a week earlier the Rob Waters had beaten the ladder-leading Sandhurst by 37 points at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
In the clash of the league’s two breed of Bulldog it was Golden Square which was “top dog” this time.
A hard-fought opening term went Gisborne’s way, 22-20.
In the second the blue and gold scored 3.2 as Gisborne rued an inaccurate return of 1.6.
Quarter three was dominated by Gisborne as it scored 4.1 and kept Square to a tally of 1.4.
Gisborne led 59-50 going into the final term.
A goal to the red, white and blue in the 19th minute meant Gisborne was up 65-53.
Golden Square fought back superbly.
A Tommi Turner goal for Golden Square was answered by a Jacob Floreani goal for Gisborne.
Despite a taxing hit-out in the Harry Trott Oval slush the previous round it was Golden Square which finished stronger.
A Jack Stewart goal for Golden Square nearing seven minutes to play was followed by another major by Hughie Freckleton which levelled the contest at six minutes to go.
When gun on-baller Jordan Rosengren was on target at four minutes to go Golden Square was in front.
The final score of a great contest was a behind for Gisborne as Golden Square held on for a 78-73 victory.
Dylan Hird, Jordan Rosengren and Tommi Turner all kicked two goals in Golden Square’s fifth win of the season.
Other goalkickers for the blue and gold were Drew Barrett, Hughie Freckleton, Jack McMahon, Jack Stewart and Tom Strauch.
Gisborne’s attack was led by Dylan Johnstone on three as Pat McKenna and Luke Meletis added two each.
Brad Bernacki, Campbell Johns and Matt Merrett were also on target for the red, white and blue.
Best for Golden Square were Dylan Hird, Jack Stewart, Tom Strauch, Noah Warfe, Daniel Keating and Jordan Rosengren.
Gisborne’s best were captain Jack Reaper, Zach Vescovi, James Gray, Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone and Zac Denahy.
The other match to kick off round 14 was at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve where the Magpies faced Strathfieldsaye Storm.
It was a crucial contest for the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye in the fight to hold fifth place.
Castlemaine made a flying start with goals by coach Michael Hartley and Jack Chester to lead 12-nil.
Hunter Staples and Brodie Byrne were also on target as the Magpies led 25-21 at quarter-time.
Consecutive goals by Storm key forward Jed Brereton made it 33-all at 17 minutes to go in the second term.
Castlemaine regained the lead, but the talented James Schischka replied for Storm.
By half-time the Magpies were up 46-41.
A major by talented youngster Tyce Griffin put Strathfieldsaye in front, 48-47, early in the third term.
Back-to-back goals by Jye Stephens meant Storm had surged to a 61-49 lead.
Strathfieldsaye finished the match with plenty of run.
A run of six unanswered goals involved three by Schisckha and other majors off the boot of Brereton, Jye Stephens and Hugh Behrens to lead 100-51.
Castlemaine’s sole reply was by Hunter Staples in what became a 100-59 victory for Strathfieldsaye.
The Storm attack was led by Schischka on six in a best afield feat as Brereton and Stephens finished with three each.
Castlemaine’s leading goalkicker was Staples on two.
Best for Storm were James Schischka, Cooper Jones, Charles Dole, Seamus Doherty, Jordan Wilson and Ned Hayes.
The Magpies’ best were Callum McConachy, Michael Hartley, Josh Eyre, Will Marks, Darby Semmens and John Watson.
Although he was named in the selected side on Thursday night, Bailey Henderson did not play for Castlemaine.
In a tough run 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.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 223 per cent, 44 points; Gisborne 142, 44; Eaglehawk 170, 40; South Bendigo 121, 32; Strathfieldsaye 88, 24; Golden Square 80, 20; Castlemaine 71, 12; Kangaroo Flat 29, 0.
Round 14 will be completed next Saturday at Kangaroo Flat and Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.20pm.
Kangaroo Flat will be on its Dower Park ground to take on South Bendigo.
Sandhurst faces Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
33 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
33 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
32 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
32 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
27 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
25 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
25 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
22 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
22 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
20 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
20 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
19 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
18 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
18 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
17 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
16 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
16 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
16 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
16 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
15 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
15 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
14 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
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.
12 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
