ROUND 2 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Crucial contest at Camp Reserve

BY NATHAN DOLE

CASTLEMAINE and Golden Square will fight to avoid a nil-two start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season when they meet on Good Friday at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.

The clash of the Magpies and Bulldogs starts at 2.20pm.

Both teams were outpointed in the season opener.

The Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine could not halt the run by reigning premier Sandhurst to a nine-goal victory at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Golden Square will be determined to hit back after a 10-goal loss to Eaglehawk on the Bulldogs’ turf in Wade Streeet.

There’s been plenty  of positivity about Castlemaine’s prospects leading into this season.

After a sixth-placed finish and win-loss tally of seven-nine in ’24, Castlemaine fans are confident of a finals appearance.

The loss to Sandhurst showed Castlemaine’s coaching staff and players there is plenty of work to be done.

The Magpies go into this match without Josh Eyre, hamstring, and Kalan Huntly.

A talented on-ball and midfield in black and white includes Patrik Balta, Ryan Eyre, Hunter Staples, Matt  Filo and Callum McConachy.

The versatility of captain Bailey Henderson who could play on-ball, across half-back or in attack is a huge plus.

Hartley will again be a key target near goal as will Zac Greeves.

Other key players for Castlemaine include Liam Wilkinson, Brodie Byrne, Hunter Staples, Will Moran and Darby Semmens.

Golden Square has premiership players Jayden Burke, Jon Coe, Hugh Freckleton, Brodie James, Zack Shelton, Jack Stewart and Tom Strauch in its line-up.

The play of Jordan Rosengren, Terence Reeves, Luke Holt and Jake Maher will be vital to the chances of the blue and gold capturing the four premiership points.

An exciting group of youngsters in the Bulldogs’ team coached by Brad Eaton includes Zac Wescott, Riley Dillon, Harrison Kelly and Xavier Carter.

Another big match will be at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park in Tannery Lane where Storm takes on Sandhurst.

It’s the rematch of last season’s preliminary finalists.

Storm has endured a tough start to this campaign.

Several gun players who were on the sidelines in round one have been joined by on-baller and co-captain Daniel Clohesy who sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in the one-point loss to South Bendigo.

Inclusions for Storm this round are Pat Blake, Seamus Doherty, George Simpson and Joel Reinheimer.

Outs are Clohesy, Lachlan Gill, Charles Dole and Shannon Murphy.

Strathfieldsaye’s defence faces a huge test.

Storm has Kya Lanfranchi, Ben Lester, Patrick Blandford and Lachlan Ratcliffe up against Cobi Maxted, Tom Campbell and Hugh Schmetzer.

The winner of last season’s Ron Best Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker, Fergus Greene is likely to miss many weeks because of a leg injury.

Greene is co-captain of the Dragons this season.

Whether it be senior footy or under-12s, pressure from the midfield and on-ball is so important for any defensive set-up.

Strathfieldsaye cannot afford to give Sandhurst too much latitude around contests inside the forward 50m arc.

Of the many match-ups planned by Storm coach Luke Freeman and his assistants will be who takes on Sandhurst co-coach and Michelsen medallist Lachlan Tardrew.

Jye Formosa was named as Storm’s ruck-rover and could be given first crack at the Dragons’ star.

In midfield Storm has Bode Stevens, Charlie King and Hunter Lawrence to take on Cooper Smith, Wil Pinniger and Caleb Connick.

Huge task for Strathfieldsaye forwards Zach Charles, Tim Hosking and Riley Wilson against a tight-knit defence led by Lachlan Wright, Liam Ireland and Matt Wilkinson.

Gisborne and South Bendigo will be chasing consecutive victories when they meet at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.

A new era for South Bendigo in which Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, have teamed up as co-coaches began with a hard-fought one-point win against Strathfieldsaye.

Pressure on the Bloods does not ease up for one of the most daunting challenges across the league.

Gisborne had many stand-outs as they scored 32 goals in their win on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Dower Park.

Best afield honours for the Bulldogs went to Dylan Johnstone who was switched from attack to an on-ball role.

Joint winners of last year’s Michelsen Medal, ruckman Braidon Blake and ruck-rover Brad Bernacki are two of the most valuable players in the competition.

Runner-up in ’24 the Rob Waters-coached squad for this season includes captain Jack Reaper, Haryr Luxmoore, Zach Vescovi, Jed Denahy, Matt Merrett and Pat McKenna.

There was a lot to like about South Bendigo’s play against Strathfieldsaye at Harry Trott Oval.

Kaiden Antonowicz marked his return to the Bloods by kicking five goals.

A strong mark for his size and brilliant at ground level, Antonowicz will be a huge threat to Gisborne’s defence.

The Bloods also have Brock Harvey capable of kicking many goals.

A huge role will be played by ruckman Mac Cameron and by Brody Haddow, Antony Zimmerman and Joel Swatton at centre clearances and stoppages.

Ins for the Bloods are Jesse Collins, Callum Crisp, James Davies and Alex Smith.

The Bloods will be without Will Keck, Wil McCaig, Steven Stroobants and Andrew van Heumen for this match.

A big crowd is expected at Canterbury Park where Eaglehawk takes on Kangaroo Flat.

These clubs were the first to feature in a Good Friday match many seasons ago.

Jointly coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, Eaglehawk will start hot favourite against the Roos young line-up.

Hawks’ recruits Thy Evans, Joel Budarick and Jack Donat were among the best in the 10-goal victory at Golden Square.

The Hawks have brought in Bailey Ilsley and Charlie Langford, but Izak O’Suillivan is out.

Players to watch for the Two Blues include ruckman Brayden Frost, Jonty Neaves, Ben Thompson, Cam McGlashan and captain Billy Evans.

The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat gains a huge lift by the return of experienced big man Nick Lang.

Most of his Lang’s career tally of 278 matches as a ruckman is in the green and white.

He has returned to Dower Park after a two-year stint with Kerang which included the ’23 premiership.

Lang is likely to play at centre half-back.

Other ins for the Roos include Toby Roberts and Daniel Stagg.

Players to watch for Kangaroo Flat include captain Ethan Roberts in midfield, Aaron Nevins, Xavier Dingfelder-Hope, Kyle Symons,  Jay Newman, Zach Bird and Campbell Smith.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Gisborne 413 per cent, 4 points; Eaglehawk 225, 4; Sandhurst 201, 4; South Bendigo 101, 4; Strathfieldsaye 98, 0; Castlemaine 49, 0; Golden Square 44, 0; Kangaroo Flat 24, 0.

Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:

7 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.

5 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.

5 Seb Bell-Bartels, Gisborne.

5 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.

4 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.

3 Thy Evans, Eaglehawk.

3 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.

3 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.

3 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.