Sandhurst marks big day against Castlemaine

BY NATHAN DOLE

UNFURLING of three premiership flags at Queen Elizabeth Oval will be part of a memorable day for Sandhurst as it takes on Castlemaine in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The Dragons and Magpies will fight for the premiership points from 2.20pm.

Now jointly coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Lachlan Tardrew, playing, Sandhurst will be striving for back-to-back premierships.

A brilliant run for Tardrew in ’24 included being joint winner of the Michelsen Medal as league fairest and best with Gisborne ruckman Braidon Blake and ruck-rover Brad Bernacki.

Most recent club to achieve back-to-back premierships at senior level was Strathfieldsaye Storm in 2014 and ’15.

There’s been plenty of changes to Sandhurst’s team since last September’s triumph.

Seven of the grand final team of ’24 will not be on-field this Saturday.

The Dragons’ line-up includes recruits Will Brohm from Mayne, Tom Campbell from Wedderburn, Seb Collins from Maryborough, and Hugh Schmetzer from Osborne.

Gun forward Fergus Greene and midfielder Cooper Smith are co-captains.

The Dragons have the experienced James Coghlan and Nick Stagg teaming up with young guns Caleb Connick and Wil Pinniger.

There’s plenty of hype about the prospects of Castlemaine this season.

The Michael Hartley-coached Magpies finished sixth last season on a seven-nine record.

A key in Castlemaine’s recruiting was more height and marking power.

Newcomers for the Magpies include ruckman Patrik Balta, Josh Eyre, Ronald Fejo and William Marks.

Bailey Henderson, Kalan Huntly, Matt Filo, Ryan Eyre and Callum McConachy will test the Dragons with their running power and skill.

Fierce rivals at any level of footy, Golden Square and Eaglehawk will clash on Golden Square’s ground in Wade Street.

The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs beat the Hawks in last September’s elimination final.

Both teams will be a lot different this time.

Golden Square’s recruits include Jake Maher and Carson James.

The Bulldogs put a lot of faith in their younger players in ’24 and will do so again.

Players to watch for the blue and gold include Jayden Burke at centre half-forward, the versatile Jordan Rosengren, Tom Strauch, Jack Stewart, Jon Coe, Harrison Kelly and Noah Warfe.

Eaglehawk has also made a change to its coaching structure as Travis Matheson, non-playing, teams up with Clayton Holmes, playing.

Ruck-rover Joel Budarick who has played at VFL with Brisbane Lions will mark his first match in the famous Two Blues guernsey.

The Hawks also recruited Jack Donat from Cohuna Kangas and Tyh Evans from Geelong West Giants.

They join the likes of ruckman Brayden Frost, centreman Billy Evans, Cameron McGlashan, Charlie Langford, and Ben, Jack and Sam Thompson in representing Eaglehawk.

A new-look South Bendigo faces Strathfieldsaye at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

The Bloods completed a recruiting coup in gaining Troy Coates from Kerang and Jack Fallon from White Hills as non-playing and playing coach.

Both have been part of the Bendigo FNL before.

Coates as a player at Eaglehawk and then as playing coach of Strathfieldsaye’s premiership team in 2019.

Fallon also played at Eaglehawk and then was co-coach of White Hills.

The Bloods were among the most active on the recruiting front.

Newcomers for South Bendigo include Luke Darling, Alex Davis, Hayden Geddes, Josh Nitschke and Jake Rusbridge.

The Bloods also welcome back ruckman Mac Cameron, classy forwards Kaiden Antonowicz and Will Keck, and on-baller Joel Swatton.

Injuries have rocked Strathfieldsaye in recent weeks.

The Luke Freeman-coached Storm still has plenty of talent.

Daniel Clohesy and Lachlan Ratcliffe team up as co-captains.

One of the most-watched players in Storm’s line-up will be gun defender Kya Lanfranchi from Maryborough.

Players to watch in the blue and white hoops include Sam Heavyside who is back from Kerang, Hunter Lawrence has returned from Nullawil, and Jye Formosa back from Longwood.

Storm also has Cooper Jones, Riley Wilson, Ben Lester and Bode Stevens ready to tackle the Bloods.

Kangaroo Flat faces a big test against Gisborne on the Roos’ turf at Dower Park.

Tyrone Downie marks a return to coaching Kangaroo Flat in a non-playing capacity.

Downie has Corey Greer as assistant coach and Jason Stevens as director of coaching.

A huge plus for the Roos is the return of big man Nick Lang from Kerang.

Key match-ups for Kangaroo Flat will be Zach Rouse at full-back against Pat McKenna, Lang at centre half-back against Harry Luxmoore, and Angus McPherson rucking against Braidon Blake.

Kangaroos’ captain Ethan Roberts will play a crucial role in the centre, as will vice-captain Kyle Symons ruck-roving against Brad Bernacki.

The Roos’ line-up includes Sam Barnes, Nicholas Keogh, Josh Leersen, Aaron Nevins, Toby Roberts and Luke Stagg.

A powerful Gisborne team coached by Rob Waters includes captain Jack Reaper at full-back, Jed Denahy, Seb Bell-Bartels, Matt Merrett and Zach Vescovi.