GISBORNE and Eaglehawk marked victories in the weekend’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals series.
In a break from tradition the league decided to move the elimination and qualifying finals from Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Many fans made their way to Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane for Sunday’s elimination finals, and to Harry Trott Oval in Kennington for Saturday’s qualifying finals.
Supporters of Gisborne and Eaglehawk were rapt with their team’s performance, as the Bloods and Storm were left with plenty to ponder.
On Sunday it was Gisborne which outran South Bendigo in the second half to win the Bendigo Bank seniors elimination final by 52 points.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne was first to goal through Ron Best medallist Pat McKenna who is the competition’s leading goalkicker this season.
When Hawthorn premiership player James Frawley was on target for the Bloods it was seven-all.
Gisborne’s play was capped with goals by Dominic Sullivan, Zac Denahy and McKenna to lead 25-7 at just over minutes to play in the opening term.
The Bloods fought back with majors by co-captain Josh Nitschke and Sam Langley.
After a series of behinds by both teams a Coen Harker goal drew the Bloods level on 28-all.
McKenna and brilliant on-baller Flynn Lakey goaled for the Bulldogs.
Goals by Bloods’ team-mates Jasper Langley and Brody Haddow to end the quarter meant Gisborne led 42-41 at the long break.
The Bulldogs’ pressure lifted in the third.
Superb team play was capped by goals by McKenna, Adam Brancatisano and Matt Merrett to lead 67-44 going into the last.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, was desperate for goals in the early minutes of the fourth term.
It was not to be.
A Brancatisno goal turned up the pressure on the Bloods.
The skilful Brock Harvey kicked a much-needed major for South Bendigo.
From there it was the Bulldogs who ran riot.
A run of five consecutive goals sealed a 105-53 victory for the red, white and blue and a showdown with Strathfieldsaye in Sunday’s first semi-final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by McKenna on four goals as Ryan Bourke, Adam Brancatisano and Dominic Sullivan kicked two each.
A list of goalkickers supplied by the red, white and blue featured Zac Denahy, Will Elliott, James Gray, Flynn Lakey and Matt Merrett.
Was a tough afternoon for the South Bendigo attack which had no multiple goalkickers.
James Frawley, Brody Haddow, Coen Harker, Brock Harvey, Jasper Langley, Sam Langley and Josh Nitschke were on target for the red and white.
Best for Gisborne were Adam Brancatisano, Flynn Lakey, Dominic Sullivan, Ryan Bourke, Lucas Carnell and Shane Clough.
South Bendigo’s best were Jake Rusbridge, Coen Harker, Zaydyn Lockwood, Thomas Brereton, Josh Nitschke and Jack English.
On Saturday it was Eaglehawk which fought from 25 points down in the 12th minute of the third quarter to win the qualifying final against Strathfieldsaye 29 points.
Despite plenty of attacking moves, Eaglehawk led 15-8 at quarter-time of the match at Harry Trott Oval.
After consecutive goals by Drew Lloyd and James Schischka it was Storm which led 22-16.
The Hawks scored a hat-trick of goals, but Storm surged back with the last two goals of the half to be up 38-35 at the long break.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye started the third term with plenty of run.
Three unanswered goals gave Storm a 25-point buffer.
In a four-minute run it was Eaglehawk which scored four goals, two of those were by Lewin Davis to be back within two points.
A much-needed goal by Schischka was answered as Storm led 68-65 going into the last quarter.
Eaglehawk’s ability to win and break clear at stoppages became a telling factor.
In a brilliant patch the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk scored five goals in a row to lead 98-70 in the 14th minute.
Schischka slotted his fifth goal, but the Two Blues had the answers.
Eaglehawk scored three of the last five goals of the contest to record a 118-89 victory.
Lewin Davis and Jacquin Mifsud led the attack with three goals each as Joel Mullen, Nick Thompson and Oscar White kicked two.
Other goalkickers for the Borough were Jack Donat, captain Billy Evans, Tyh Evans, Bailey Ilsley, Blake McGregor and Jack O’Shannessy.
Schischka finished with a match-high six goals as Siologa Siu slotted two.
Other goalkickers for Storm were Jed Brereton, Drew Lloyd, Tyson McKenzie and Riley Wilson.
Best for Eaglehawk were Dylan Hanley in defence, Joel Mullen, the hard-running Oscar White, ruckman Callum Heath, Billy Evans and on-baller Ben Thompson.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were James Schischka, Hugh Behrens, Daniel Clohesy, Kya Lanfranchi, Zach Charles and Siologa Siu.
It’s a rematch of the ’25 grand finalists as Eaglehawk faces Sandhurst in next Saturday’s second semi-final on the QEO turf.
Storm will fight to stay in the premiership race when it tackles Gisborne in Sunday’s first semi-final.
In the Drummond Golf reserves competition, Sandhurst set up a second semi-final showdown with South Bendigo.
The Dragons fired up after half-time to win Saturday’s qualifying final against Eaglehawk by 29 points.
Scores were 28-all at half-time.
As Sandhurst scored 5.2 in the crucial third term it kept the Borough to a tally of 1.3.
The final quarter went the way of the Dragons, 15-9.
Finlay Lockhart and Will Long kicked four and three goals in a 75-46 victory for Sandhurst.
Other goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Darcy Bakes, Billy Bassett, Shannon Tardrew and James Vlaeminck.
The Hawks’ attack was led by Isaiah Phillips-Adams with two goals as Cahal Blandthorn, Sam Dean, Deacon Marsh and Austin Spiteri were also on target.
Sandhurst’s best were Gus Hay, Finlay Lockhart, Will Long, Charlie Robinson, Jonty Davis and Fraser Walsh.
Zack Bulger, Isaiah Phillips-Adams, Deacon Marsh, Jack Leersen, Brody Brown and Jack Kerr were Eaglehawk’s best.
The Hawks will now face Strathfieldsaye in Sunday’s first semi-final.
Storm surged to a 40-18 lead by half-time of the elimination final against Kangaroo Flat.
The Kangaroos bounced back to win the third term, 14-3.
A high-scoring last quarter went Strathfieldsaye’s way, 26-25.
Jack Bell led Storm’s attack on two goals as Jed Daniels, Charles Dole, Scout Hatcher, Charlie King, Marco Mentha, Joel Reinheimer, Jordan Wilson and Alex Wingrave kicked a goal each in the 69-57 victory.
Kangaroo Flat’s leading goalkickers were Jake Lyons with three and Ben Savy and Tucker Thach on two as Connor Lee and Luke Stagg added a goal each.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Jordan Wilson, Charles Dole, Charlie King, Jack Bell, Cooper Forte and Charlie Morrison.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Connor Lee, Toby Roberts, Ethan Roberts, Tucker Thach, Taylor Collins and Mitchell Daly.
In the Sportspower under-18s competition, South Bendigo broke clear in the last term to win the qualifying final against Sandhurst by 15 points.
The young Bloods turned a seven-point deficit at quarter-time into a seven-point lead at half-time.
Sandhurst won the third term, 25-22, as South Bendigo led 43-39 going into the last quarter.
As the Bloods scored four goals straight they kept the maroon and blue to a tall of 2.1.
Logan Howell and Max Kornmann finished on two goals apiece in a 67-52 victory for South Bendigo.
Other goalkickers for the red and white were Jeswin Daniel, Anthony Gray, Thomas Henderson, Lachlan Magee, Zavier Ralphs and Harry Warne.
The Sandhurst attack was led by Luke Cameron, Jaxon Kelly and Carter Reid on two goals each as Tommy Byrne and Jack Moresi kicked a goal.
Best for South Bendigo were Logan Howell, Lachlan Magee, Campbell Wood, Rylan Newman, Riley Davey and Seb Gray.
The Dragons’ best were Drew Warren, Thomas Smith, Jaxon Kelly, Luke Cameron, Patrick McNamara and Harry Byrne.
South Bendigo will tackle Strathfieldsaye in Saturday’s second semi-final.
The Dragons will fight to stay in the race when they meet Castlemaine in the first semi-final.
It was a high-scoring elimination final between Castlemaine and Golden Square.
The Magpies led 7-2 at quarter-time and then scored 3.1 as they kept the Bulldogs to a behind in the second.
Castlemaine won the third term, 29-19.
The last was also ruled by the Magpies, 32-26, as they recorded an 87-48 victory.
Jack Archer nailed three goals for Castlemaine as Morgan McClure and Riley Skinner kicked two each.
Miller Bartlett, Oliver Britt, Angus Fitzgerald, captain Ben Jardine, Ben Lalit and Brian Shafik-Eid were all on target for the Magpies.
Goalkickers for Golden Square were Mack Skinner and Tyler Wescott with two each as Ryan Brown, Alex Ryan and captain Logan Wilson kicked a goal.
Castlemaine’s best were Brian Shafik-Eid, Jack Archer, Angus Fitzgerald, Harper Kneebone, Ben Lalit and Riley Skinner.
Ethan Tonna-Dorling, Zach Barker, Jake Rosa, Logan Wilson, James Peter and William Pike played well for the blue and gold.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo.
Drummond Golf reserves at 12.15pm: South Bendigo v Sandhurst.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Sandhurst v Eaglehawk.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Sandhurst v Castlemaine.
Drummond Golf reserves at 12.15pm: Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne.
