Round 8 Football Review | Storm fights back against South Bendigo
BY NATHAN DOLE
Storm caps brilliant fightback against South Bendigo
STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm fought from four goals down at half-time to defeat South Bendigo in Saturday’s eighth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL.
Storm was down 44-21 at half-time of the contest on its turf at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Momentum swung dramatically in the third quarter and for a lot of the fourth.
As Storm scored 2.4 in the third it kept the Bloods to just two behinds.
South Bendigo held a nine-point buffer at three quarter-time.
Goals by Jaidi Jackson-Leahy and Riley Mulquiny put Storm in front.
Another goal by Cooper Jones gave Strathfieldaye a 10-point cushion.
The Bloods scored their only goal of the second half to be within six points, but it was the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye which fought on for a 59-53 victory.
Storm’s attack was led by Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Cooper Jones, Riley Mulquiny and Bode Stevens on two goals each.
For the Bloods it was Steven Stroobants with a match-high three goals.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Sam Heavyside, Ben Lester, Kya Lanfranchi, Jed Daniels, Jake Moorhead and Riley Mulquiny.
A fourth win of the season has meant Storm is now eight points clear of the sixth-placed Castlemaine in the fight for a top-five finish.
The South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, will be back on home turf at Harry Trott Oval to face Gisborne next round.
Eaglehawk’s first-quarter blitz set up a 51-point win against Golden Square on the Borough’s turf in Canterbury Park.
The Hawks charged to a 38-3 lead by quarter-time as young forward Jack O’Shannessy dominated in the air and at ground level.
A tally of 10 goals in the first half by the Two Blues included a great shot by Nick Thompson from outside the 50m arc and another by Tyh Evans on an acute angle in the pocket.
Although it was 64-17 at half-time, Golden Square’s endeavour could not be faulted across the last three terms.
After being outclassed in the first term, Golden Square hit back strongly.
A hat-trick of goals from midway in the third quarter and the early minute of the last by the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 33 points.
Eaglehawk then scored the last three goals of the contest to wrap up a 93-42 victory.
A five-goal haul by Jack O’Shannessy meant he has moved to top of the goalkicking ladder for the Ron Best Medal.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Borough were Nick Thompson with three and captain Billy Evans and Tyh Evans on two each.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Jordan Rosengren on two.
Best for the Hawks were Jack O’Shannessy, ruckman Brayden Frost, Joel Budarick, Ben Thompson, Jack Donat and Jonty Neaves.
Terence Reeves, Tom Strauch, Luke Holt, Lachlan Humphrey, Jordan Rosengren and Zack Shelton played well for the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square.
Hawks’ non-playing co-coach Travis Matheson was joined on the sidelines by in-form forward and co-coach Clayton Holmes who is recovering from knee soreness.
Sandhurst dominated its clash at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Dragons led 26-8 at quarter-time and then fired up to slam on six goals as the Magpies were held to a solitary major in the second.
A 50-point lead for the reigning premier at half-time became 64 at a quarter to go.
Seven goals in the last capped a 147-38 win for the Dragons.
Tom Campbell led the attack on four goals as co-captian Fergus Greene and Charlie Robinson added three each.
Other multiple goalkickers were James Coghlan, co-coach Lachlan Tardrew and Matt Wilkinson with two each.
There were no multiple goalkickers for the Magpies.
Best for Sandhurst were Lachlan Tardrew, Lachlan Wright, Dayten Uerata, Hugh Schmetzer, Jack Keating and Cooper Smith.
Dragons’ co-coach Bryce Curnow did not play.
Castlemaine’s best were Patrik Balta, Liam Wilkinson, Rhys Jenkins, Darby Semmens, Ryan Eyre and Kalan Huntly.
A two-six record has the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine in sixth place and two wins adrift of the fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye at the season’s halfway mark.
It was a big occasion for Kangaroo Flat’s Nick Lang and his family as he played his 250th senior match for the club.
The young Kangaroos made their way to Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Kangaroo Flat took it right up to Gisborne in the first half as the Bulldogs led 48-23 at the main break.
A 10-goal blitz by the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs in the third term was followed by another seven majors in the last to complete a 156-39 victory.
Pat McKenna kicked four goals in a best on ground performance as Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone and Harry Luxmoore added three majors each.
The Bulldogs also had Shane Clough kick two goals.
Highs for the Roos included two goals by Nick Lang.
Gisborne’s best were Pat McKenna, Dylan Johnstone, Zach Vescovi, Brad Bernacki, Jed Denahy and Shane Clough.
Angus McPherson, Zach Bird, Kyle Symons, Nick Lang, Jaye Hywood and Luke Stagg played well for a Kangaroo Flat team coached by Tyrone Downie.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 234 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 160, 28; Eaglehawk 179, 24; South Bendigo 135, 20; Strathfieldsaye 101, 16; Castlemaine 67, 8; Golden Square 61, 4; Kangaroo Flat 27, 0.
The second half of the home-and-away series kicks off next Saturday at 2.20pm.
Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
South Bendigo takes on Gisborne at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Golden Square and Castlemaine meet on the Bulldogs’ turf in Wade Street.
Kangaroo Flat faces Eaglehawk on the Roos’ ground in Dower Park.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
26 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
24 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
22 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
21 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
20 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
16 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
15 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
14 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
13 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
13 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
12 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
12 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
12 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
12 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
12 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
11 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
11 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
10 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
10 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.
9 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
9 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
9 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
9 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
8 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.
8 James Gray, Gisborne.
8 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 John Watson, Castlemaine.
7 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
7 Nick Keogh, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
