ROUND 5 FOOTBALL REVIEW | Graeme Wright Cup stays in Sandhurst’s den

BY NATHAN DOLE

THE Graeme Wright Memorial Cup will stay in Sandhurst’s den for another Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.

The Dragons dominated the second half of Saturday’s with South Bendigo to kick off the split fifth round.

A big crowd was at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval on a day to honour one of South Bendigo’s greatest defenders and clubmen in Graeme Wright.

On the field the Bloods made a strong start to be within 10 points of the visitors at quarter-time.

Inaccuracy meant South Bendigo faced a 22-point deficit at half-time.

As the Bloods scored 2.8 in the first hour, Sandhurst was far more efficient in a tally of 6.6.

The Dragons turned up the heat in the third quarter.

Sandhurst slammed on 6.5 and kept South Bendigo scoreless.

The defensive play of Lachlan Wright at centre half-back and James Coghlan against Bloods’ gun forward Kaiden Antonowicz were many highs for the maroon and blue.

Tom Campbell, Nick Stagg and Matt Wilkinson all went on to kick three goals each in a 114-37 victory.

As in-form forward Antonowicz and Brock Harvey were kept goalless it was Will Allen who led the Bloods’ attack on two goals.

Best for the Dragons were Lachlan Wright, James Coghlan, Harrison Free, Matt Wilkinson, Nick Stagg and Caleb Connick.

Co playing coaches Bryce Curnow and Lachlan Tardrew would have been rapt with the goalkicking spread Sandhurst achieved once again.

Best for South Bendigo were ruckman Callum Crisp, Brody Haddow, Tom Brereton, Anthony Zimmerman, Zac Hare and Alex Davis.

A three-two record has South Bendigo in fourth place rolling into the May 24 clash on Golden Square’s ground in Wade Street.

In Saturday’s other match, Gisborne defeated Castlemaine by 21 points at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.

The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne led 27-7 at quarter-time.

Castlemaine hit back to win the second term, 22-10.

With classy forward Pat McKenna leading the way on four goals, Gisborne took the premiership points in a 79-58 result.

Luke Meletis kicked two goals for the Bulldogs in a match where there were plenty of stoppages and defensive pressure was high.

Castlemaine’s attack was led by Josh Eyre and Zac Greeves on two each.

Gisborne’s best were Pat McKenna, Matt Merrett, Jed Denahy, Brad Bernacki, Thomas Werner and Jack Reaper.

Kalan Huntly, Callum McConachy, Josh and Ryan Eyre, Darby Semmens and Liam Wilkinson played well for the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine.

Next hit-out for Gisborne will be on May 24 against Sandhurst in the rematch of the ’24 grand finalists at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Castlemaine will cast a keen eye on Eaglehawk’s performance against Strathfieldsdaye next Saturday as the Pies will take on the Hawks on May 24 at Camp Reserve.

Round five will be completed next Saturday when Kangaroo Flat tackles Golden Square on the Roos’ ground at Dower Park from 2.30pm.

Eaglehawk hosts Strathfieldsaye in the clash of the Hawks and Storm at Canterbury Park.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Sandhurst 282 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 148, 16; Eaglehawk 206, 12; South Bendigo 92, 12; Castlemaine 85, 8; Strathfieldsaye 86, 4; Golden Square 50, 0; Kangaroo Flat 25, 0.

Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:

15 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.

14 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.

11 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.

11 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.

11 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.

10 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.

10 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.

9 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.

9 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.

9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.

8 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.

8 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.

7 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.

7 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.

7 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.

6 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.

6 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.

6 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.

6 James Gray, Gisborne.

6 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.

6 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.

5 Seb Bell-Bartels, Gisborne.

5 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.

5 Matt Filo, Castlemaine.