ROUND 14 WEEK 2 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Hawks hunt four points in Dragons’ den
EAGLEHAWK faces a fired-up Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday to complete the split 14th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy action.
Just as it was in round seven, Eaglehawk meets Sandhurst on the rebound from defeat.
On that occasion the Dragons won the Indigenous Round match on the Hawks’ turf at Canterbury Park by 33 points.
The only defeats Sandhurst has had in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships were to Gisborne by 12 and 37 points.
The Bryce Curnow and Lachlan Tardrew-coached Dragons had more time to mull over the latest defeat which was at Gardiner Reserve on July 26.
Sandhurst has a chance to gain a four-point break on Gisborne in the fight to finish top of the ladder.
As the Dragons rested last Saturday, Gisborne was beaten on Golden Square’s ground.
The Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk has played well to be third on a 10-3 record.
Both showdowns with Gisborne ended in defeat.
A key to the Hawks’ chances of taking the points against the Dragons will be the play of its on-ball group.
Eaglehawk ruckman Brayden Frost has had an outstanding season and sets up a lot of attacks, as do captain Billy Evans, Joel Budarick, Tyh Evans and Ben Thompson.
They face a huge task against Seb Collins, Lachie Hood, Dragons’ co-coach and Michelsen medallist Lachlan Tardrew, and Cooper Smith.
A tight-knit Eaglehawk defence is led by Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves, Dylan Hanley and Joel Mullen.
They will be up against the marking power of Fergus Greene, Tom Campbell and Bryce Curnow.
At ground level the Dragons have the dangerous Nick Stagg, Matt Wilkinson and James Coghlan.
Hawks’ young gun Jack O’Shannessy was rewarded for his great play by representing Bendigo in the senior inter-league match against the Victorian Amateurs.
The Two Blues will look to O’Shannessy as the main target in attack along with Blake McGregor and Nick Hoare.
Midfielder Marcus Angove is also back after not playing against Storm.
Kangaroo Flat will be back on its turf at Dower Park to take on South Bendigo.
It’s a big day for the Kangaroos as they honour long-time trainer Wayne Murdoch.
Affectionately known as ‘Sticks’, Murdoch had done a power of work for Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo Thunder and many other footy clubs.
On-field the Kangaroos will be desperate to put in a strong showing.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos will have gained plenty of confidence from the 36-22 result at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park in round 13.
When the Roos and Bloods met in Indigenous Round it was South Bendigo which surged to a 194-46 victory at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Another huge challenge for the Kangaroos’ midfielders and on-ballers to limit the quality and quantity of supply to the Bloods’ attack.
Key players for the Flat include captain and on-baller Ethan Roberts, Josh Leersen, Nick Lang, Jeremy Rodi, Jake Hywood, Sam Barnes and Kyle Symons.
Kangaroos’ ruckman Angus Macpherson pits his skill against the in-form Callum Crisp who racked up more than 100 hit-outs in the win against Golden Square.
After a five goal haul for Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League clash with Geelong Falcons, Connor Evans will bolster the Kangaroo Flat attack.
The Roos also welcome back Shaun Watson from the Pioneers.
A strong forward line for South Bendigo is led by Kaiden Antonowicz, Brock Harvey and Steven Stroobants.
Other players to watch in the red and white include centreman Brody Haddow, co-coach Jack Fallon, Jesse Collins, Anthony Zimmerman and Tom Brereton.
The Bloods also welcome back high-leaping forward/ruckman Zaydyn Lockwood from the Bendigo Pioneers.
A multiple premiership winning coach with Kerang, Troy Coates returned to the Bendigo FNL this season as non-playing coach of the Bloods.
Coates also coached Strathfieldsaye to premiership glory.
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.
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.
