A RECORD-WINNING margin of 359 points meant Eaglehawk grabbed the double chance at finals-time after Saturday’s 18th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The Hawks’ eyed a percentage-lifting win against Broadford at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park to soar above Gisborne to the third rung.
It was a remarkable performance by Eaglehawk against a vastly inexperienced Broadford which had to make plenty of changes after flu swept through the club.
On field it was Eaglehawk which racked up 84 scoring shots to nil.
Eaglehawk’s score of 55.29 (359) surpassed the mark of 54.23 (347) set by Sandhurst in a 333-point victory on Maryborough’s turf at Princes Park in round four of the 2024 season.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, almost hit the century mark in the opening term as it scored 15.9 (99).
Intensity and pressure did not ease up as the Two Blues kicked 12 goals in the second, 12 in the third, and 16 in the last.
Jacquin Mifsud and Clayton Holmes kicked 11 and 10 goals as Nick Thompson slotted nine.
Other multiple goalkickers were Ben Thompson and Oscar White, four; Lewin Davis, Billy Evans and Callum Heath, three; Jack Donat and Joel Mullen, two.
Best for Eaglehawk were ruckman Callum Heath, Oscar White, Joel Mullen, Nick Hoare, Jacquin Mifsud and Nick Thompson.
Broadford’s best were Louis Thompson, Oliver Lubeck, CJ Brill, Jarrah Younger, Taiten Thomas and David Hussey.
Was an incredibly difficult day for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford which had many players unavailable because of illness and injury.
To clinch the coveted double chance has Eaglehawk poised for another strong challenge at back-to-back premierships.
The Hawks make their way to Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street for next Saturday’s qualifying final against Strathfieldsaye.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye completed the home-and-away series with an 86-victory on its turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane against Kangaroo Flat.
Storm was close to full-strength with forwards Jed Brereton and Drew Lloyd back to team up with James Schischka and Zach Charles.
Strathfieldsaye raced to a 40-7 lead by quarter-time and then scored four goals in the second.
A strong defensive effort kept the Kangaroos to a goal in the first half as Storm was up 70-9 at the long break.
It was a closely-fought third term which went Strathfieldsaye’s way, 13-8.
James Schischka capped a superb match with seven goals in the 110-24 victory as Drew Lloyd slotted four and Pat Blake, Jed Brereton, Zach Charles and Aydan Hand kicked one each.
Goalkickers for the Kangaroos were Jack Bell, Isaac Lowndes and Luke Stagg.
Storm’s best were Daniel Clohesy, Ben Lester, James Schischka, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Zach Charles and Hugh Behrens.
Jake Hywood, Angus Macpherson, Aaron Nevins, Max Johnson, Zach Rouse and Josh Leersen were Kangaroo Flat’s best.
Strathfieldsaye will now prepare to tackle Eaglehawk in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Was a disappointing result for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat which had played well the previous two rounds to beat Golden Square and also pushed South Bendigo.
Two of the league’s greatest rivals, Gisborne and Golden Square met for the final time at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
The Bulldogs trophy is always keenly played for.
Gisborne led 13-4 at quarter-time and then scored 4.1 in the second as Golden Square racked up 1.6 in the opening half.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne had surged to a six-goal lead going into the final term.
A Harry Luxmoore goal put Gisborne up by 52 points at 19 minutes to play.
From there it was Golden Square which dominated play to score six of the last seven goals in what was Brad Eaton’s final match in a three-season stint as non-playing co-coach.
When the final siren sounded Gisborne led 86-65, but it had dropped to the fourth rung and an elimination final after Eaglehawk’s massive win.
Four goals by Pat McKenna lifted his season tally to 78 as he claimed the Ron Best Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker.
Other multiple goalkickers for Gisborne were Shane Clough with three and Harry Luxmoore on two.
The Golden Square attack was led by Archie Eaton and Isaac Corvo on three and two goals.
Best for Gisborne were Brad Bernacki, Frank Schipano, Lucas Hannon, Dylan Johnstone, Flynn Lakey and Pat McKenna.
Golden Square’s best were Tom Strauch, Lachlan Monti, Lachlan Humphrey, Bailey Warfe, Macey Eaton and Lewis Ritchie.
Although it had top spot and a week’s rest sewn up, Sandhurst did not take it easy on Castlemaine’s turf at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
The Dragons led 29-1 at quarter-time and 68-3 by the long break.
As Sandhurst scored 19 goals in the opening three terms it put in a brilliant defensive performance to limit the Magpies to a tally of five behinds.
Closest term was the last in which the Dragons kicked 5.2 and the Magpies fought on to score four goals.
At the final siren a Sandhurst team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, led 158-29.
The strong-marking Cobi Maxted kicked a match-high seven goals as mid/on-baller Dayten Uerata slotted four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Eamon Austin, three; Gus Hay, Hugh Schmetzer and Cooper Smith, two.
Castlemaine’s goalkickers were Jacob Bauer, Michael Hartley, Archie Rixon and Bodhi Robinson.
Best for the Dragons were the classy Dayten Uerata, captain Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson, Cobi Maxted, Connor Sexton and Wilson Butler.
Castlemaine’s best were Darby Semmens, Harper Kneebone, Jack Sutherland, Jacob Bauer, Kalan Huntly and Harrison Sheahan.
The Darby Henderson-coached Castlemaine ended the season in sixth place on a 6-10 record.
South Bendigo had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after the 18th and final round in the home-and-away series:
Sandhurst 197 per cent, 56 points; Strathfieldsaye 162, 48; Eaglehawk 195, 44; Gisborne 180, 44; South Bendigo 147, 44; Castlemaine 106, 24; Golden Square 96, 16; Kangaroo Flat 58, 12; Broadford 9, 0.
Schedule for next Saturday’s qualifying finals at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
Drummond Golf reserves at 12.15pm: Eaglehawk v Sandhurst.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk.
Schedule for next Sunday’s elimination finals at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Castlemaine v Golden Square.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.
Final standings in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
78 Pat McKenna, Gis.
68 James Schischka, S’saye.
61 Brock Harvey, SB.
37 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
36 Michael Hartley, Cm.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
32 Nick Thompson, Eh.
31 Jacquin Mifsud, Eh.
30 Ben Thompson, Eh.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
22 Oliver Morris, Sh; Oscar White, Eh.
21 Brody Haddow, SB.
20 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Nick Lang, KF; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
19 Pat Blake, S’saye; Jack McMahon, GS.
18 Zach Charles, S’saye; Bailey Henderson, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Jack Donat, Eh; Archie Eaton, GS; James Gray, Gis.; Jack Stewart, GS.
15 Kalan Huntly, Cm; Archie Rixon, Cm; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
