SHOWDOWNS between four teams in the top five on the senior footy ladder highlight round 15 in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
A resurgent Eaglehawk will be back on its turf at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park to tackle Gisborne as Sandhurst and South Bendigo renew their rivalry at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Hawks are riding a four-match winning streak which includes wins against South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye by 48 and 68 points the past two rounds.
Fifth in the premiership race on an 8-5 record, Eaglehawk’s confidence is soaring in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships.
The Borough line-up will be fired up for this contest in what is likely to be Gisborne’s final trip to Eaglehawk.
Just seven points separated the Bulldogs and Hawks at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve in round six.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne fought on for a 102-95 victory.
An Eaglehawk attack that includes Bailey Ilsley, Jacquin Mifsud, Jack O’Shannessy and Nick Thompson will be a huge test for Gisborne’s defence.
The Bulldogs’ back six which includes Will Elliott, Frank Schipano and Harry Thomas is led superbly by captain Zach Vescovi.
This match will feature two Michelsen medallists in Eaglehawk gun Billy Evans, and Gisborne ruck-rover Brad Bernacki.
It would have been three, but Eaglehawk’s Noah Wheeler starts a four-match ban for rough conduct.
Gisborne ruckman Boyd Nalder will team with Brad Bernacki and Flynn Lakey.
It’s Lakey’s first senior match since the 2024 grand final.
After not playing last season because he was overseas, Lakey’s return was derailed by knee surgery in pre-season.
He caps a remarkable recovery by lining up against Eaglehawk and will play a crucial role in the team’s drive toward premiership glory.
The Borough’s on-ball group is ruckman Callum Heath, Billy Evans and Ben Thompson.
Gun forward Pat McKenna did not play in last Saturday’s four goal win against Castlemaine and returns to an attack which includes Zac Denahy, Shane Clough and Campbell Johns.
They will be up against an Eaglehawk defence led by Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves, Dylan Hanley and Jack Donat.
It’s first against fourth as Sandhurst and South Bendigo clash at the QEO.
Both clubs were long-time co-tenants at the city’s premier oval.
In round six it was South Bendigo which reclaimed the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup in a 98-50 victory against the Dragons at Harry Trott Oval.
The Bloods bounced back from an eight-goal defeat at Eaglehawk in the 13th round to dominate last Saturday’s showdown with Broadford.
A 10-goal haul by Brock Harvey put South Bendigo’s ace forward well in contention for consecutive Ron Best Medal wins as the competition’s leading goalkicker.
Players to watch in the red and white include ruckman Callum Crisp, ruck-rover Brody Haddow, Jack English against his former club, Coen Harker and Isaiah Miller.
Ins for the Bloods are key defender Will Allen, former coach Nathan Horbury, Jasper Langley, athletic ruckman-forward Zaydyn Lockwood, co-captain Josh Nitschke, and forward Alex Smith-Ralph,
The Bloods are coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing.
Sandhurst regained top spot on the ladder and will be fighting to stay there.
The depth in a Dragons’ squad coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, has faced a big test across the season.
Key players for Sandhurst include Hugh Schmetzer, Cooper Smith, Nick Stagg and Dayten Uerata.
In attack the Dragons have Cobi Maxted, Finlay Lockhart, Oliver Morris and Matt Wilkinson.
Huge roles will be played in the maroon and blue’s defence by Lachlan Wright, James Coghlan, Jaxon Howard and Jack Keating.
Golden Square will aim to continue its long-running winning streak against Kangaroo Flat when the Bulldogs and Roos clash at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
The Bulldogs had the bye last round as Kangaroo Flat faced Sandhurst.
In round six, Golden Square won by 39 points on the Roos’ ground.
Key players in the Bulldogs’ line-up include Harry Burke, Jack McMahon, Jordan Rosengren, Jack Stewart, Bailey and Noah Warfe.
Co-captain Jayden Burke also returns from injury for the blue and gold.
A Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing, which includes Adam Baird, Archie and Macey Eaton, Tom Strauch, will be determined not to allow the Roos to take the points.
Kangaroo Flat played well to be within 19-points of Sandhurst going into the second half of last Saturday’s clash.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos will be desperate not to allow the Bulldogs to get a run of four consecutive goals or more.
Players to watch for the Roos include ruckman Angus Macpherson, Aaron Nevins, captain Ethan Roberts, Nick Lang, Jeremy Rodi, and Nick Keogh.
The Kangaroos also welcome back on-baller/forward Mitch Rovers for this match.
A tough run for Broadford keeps rolling.
The Nathan Thompson-coached Kangaroos will be on their turf at Harley Hammond Reserve to face a Strathfieldsaye line-up on the rebound from defeat.
Broadford’s best in last Saturday’s clash with South Bendigo were Louis Thompson, Owen Sloan, captain Adam Miles, and Harry Behan.
Kangaroos’ defenders Jake Hibbs-Hall, Bryce Fleming, Jayden Welch and Jack Reynolds-Brooks will be up against James Schischka, Zach Charles, Tyson McKenzie, and Drew Lloyd.
The Kangaroos will face a huge challenge against Storm’s slick teamwork from stoppages, and also limiting the play of Strathfieldsaye’s forwards.
In midfield, Broadford has CJ Brill, Seb Morris and Brodie Stray to take on Jye Chambers, co-coach Daniel Clohesy and Mitch McClure.
The charge by the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm in a 10-2 run is being led by Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Riley Wilson, Ben Lester, and many more.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 204 per cent, 40 points; Strathfieldsaye 146, 40; Gisborne 183, 36; South Bendigo 156, 36; Eaglehawk 160, 32; Castlemaine 108, 20; Golden Square 100, 12; Kangaroo Flat 56, 8; Broadford 11, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
53 Pat McKenna, Gis.
51 Brock Harvey, SB.
43 James Schischka, S’saye.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm; Nick Keogh, KF.
26 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
24 Ben Thompson, Eh.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
22 Fergus Greene, Sh.
21 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
20 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
19 Brody Haddow, SB.
18 Jack McMahon, GS; Oliver Morris, Sh; Tom Strauch, GS.
17 Zak Denahy, Gis.; Nick Lang, KF; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Bailey Henderson, Cm.
15 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Jacquin Mifsud, Eh; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB; Oscar White, Eh.
