TWO breed of Bulldog will fight for victory as Gisborne and Golden Square clash in the 18th and final round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy home-and-away series.
Both clubs have generated a tremendous rivalry across the past two decades and meet for the final time in Bendigo Bank Round.
It will be the last time Gisborne hosts Golden Square as they play at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne will start favourite, but will be wary of a Golden Square team which upset Strathfieldsaye last round.
A key for Gisborne will be more support for gun forward Pat McKenna in attack as the club builds up for another finals campaign.
McKenna kicked seven goals in last Saturday’s clash with Sandhurst to now lead the race for the Ron Best Medal as leading goalkicker by 13.
A Gisborne attack which includes Harry Luxmoore, Matt Merrett, Shane Clough and Dominic Sullivan will test Golden Square.
Players to watch for Gisborne include on-baller/mid Brad Bernacki, rover Flynn Lakey, Dylan Johnstone, and captain and key defender Zach Vescovi.
There was plenty to like about Golden Square’s performance to beat Strathfieldsaye by 39 points.
The blue and gold take plenty of confidence and momentum from that contest down the Calder to Gisborne’s ground.
It was young guns such as Archie and Macey Eaton, Zac Wescott and Noah Warfe who were outstanding in beating Storm.
The play of Jordan Rosengren, Jack McMahon in the centre, Jack Stewart, Isaac Corvo at full-back, and Tom Strauch will be crucial in Golden Square ending the season on a high.
It’s also the final game of a three-season stint for Brad Eaton as Bulldogs’ coach.
This year Eaton joined forces with Liam Barrett, playing, to guide a young Golden Square squad.
Castlemaine is back on home turf at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve to play Sandhurst.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine is assured of finishing in sixth place, but will be determined to claim a long-awaited victory against the Dragons.
Pressure and workrate in every quarter will be a key to the Magpies’ bid for an upset win.
Key players for Castlemaine include Jacob Bauer, Michael Hartley, Kalan Huntly, Darby Semmens, Harrison Sheahan and John Watson.
The Magpies’ on-ballers and midfielders are up against the hard-running and skilful Cooper Smith, Dayten Uerata and Matt Wilkinson.
A strong attack for Sandhurst includes Cobi Maxted, Hugh Schmetzer and the experienced Nick Stagg.
It’s been a superb effort by a Dragons’ team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, to be two wins clear at the top of the ladder and bound for a second semi-final appearance.
Eaglehawk returns from the bye for a home game against Broadford at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park.
When these clubs met in round nine it was the Borough which won by 208 points at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Nick Thompson kicked seven goals in Eaglehawk’s last win at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve and will be a major threat to the Kangaroos as will Jacquin Mifsud, Lewin Davis and Blake McGregor.
The Hawks forwards will be on the end of plenty of supply generated by the likes of Billy Evans, Tyh Evans, ruckman Callum Heath, Joel Mullen, Thomas Bennett, Ben Thompson and Oscar White.
Another massive challenge for Broadford in the finale to its debut season in the Bendigo FNL.
Key players for the Nathan Thompson-coached Kangaroos include captain Adam Miles, Seb Morris, ruckman Owen Sloan, Isaac Smithwick, Jayden Welch, and Ben and Louis Thompson.
Stung by a loss on Golden Square’s ground, Strathfieldsaye is back at Triple M Park to take on Kangaroo Flat.
Defeat could send the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm toppling from the second rung to an elimination final as Gisborne and Eaglehawk have greater percentage.
There’s plenty at stake for the Strathfieldsaye line-up which has an 11-4 record.
Storm is likely to have a much stronger team this round.
A strong squad includes James Schischka, Zach Charles and Drew Lloyd in attack, a defence led by Lachlan Ratcliffe and Cooper Jones, and the play of Daniel Clohesy and Riley Wilson at centre ball-ups and stoppages.
Strathfieldsaye also welcomes back Jed Brereton, Tyce Griffin, Aydan Hand, Archer Lancaster, Kya Lanfranchi, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Tyson McKenzie, Riley Mulquiny,
When the Storm played at Kangaroo Flat in round nine it won by 76 points.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos have improved markedly since then.
Kangaroo Flat put in a superb effort to be within 13 points of South Bendigo last round.
In-form players for the Kangaroos include Tyran Farmer, Nick Lang, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Aaron Nevins, Jarrell Ratcliffe and co-captains Ethan Roberts and Kyle Symons.
The play of Mitch Collins, Zac Featherby, Max Johnson, Josh Leersen, Jeremy Rodi will be crucial to the Kangaroos springing an upset win in Storm territory.
South Bendigo has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after 17 rounds:
Sandhurst 185 per cent, 52 points; Strathfieldsaye 155, 44; South Bendigo 147, 44; Gisborne 184, 40; Eaglehawk 159, 40; Castlemaine 117, 24; Golden Square 98, 16; Kangaroo Flat 60, 12; Broadford 10, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
74 Pat McKenna, Gis.
60 Brock Harvey, SB; James Schischka, S’saye.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
30 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Ben Thompson, Eh.
25 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis; Nick Thompson, Eh.
22 Brody Haddow, SB; Oliver Morris, Sh.
20 Brad Bernacki, Sh; Jacquin Mifsud, Eh.
19 Nick Lang, KF: Jack McMahon, GS; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
18 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Tom Strauch, GS; Oscar White, Eh.
17 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zach Charles, S’saye; Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Archie Eaton, GS; James Gray, Gis.; Jack Stewart, GS.
15 Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
