KANGAROO Flat’s players, officials and supporters celebrated a long-awaited victory in Saturday’s completion to the split fourth round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
It was the clash of two mobs as Kangaroo Flat took on Broadford in the marquee match for Pat Cronin Foundation Round at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
Kangaroo Flat was determined to mark its first since late June in 2024 against Maryborough.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat went in as favourite as Broadford played its third match in the Bendigo FNL.
Kangaroo Flat led by 38 points at quarter-time and ws up by 50 and 62 at the next two breaks.
A six-goal final quarter capped a 151-58 victory.
Nick Keogh led the attack on five goals as Jarrell Ratcliffe kicked three and Mitch Collins and Max Johnson added two each.
Nine team-mates also featured on Kangaroo Flat’s goalkicking list.
Broadford’s leading goalkickers were Isaac Smithwick on three and Jaiden Magor with two.
A strong game in defence earnt Tyran Farmer the Pat Cronin Medal as Kangaroo Flat’s best.
Jay Newman, Nick Keogh, Aaron Nevins, Mitch Rovers and Angus Macpherson also played well for Kangaroo Flat.
Jaiden Magor earnt the Pat Cronin Medal for Broadford as Louis Thompson, Isaac Smithwick, Riley Edwards, Charles Neilson and Brodie Stray also played well for the Nathan Thompson-coached team.
Sandhurst won a hard-fought contest with Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval by 28 points.
The Dragons raced to a 26-9 lead by quarter-time.
Although Golden Square dominated a lot of the play in the second it would rue inaccuracy as the Bulldogs scored 1.7 and kept the Dragons to a tally of four behind.s
Just eight points separated the fierce rivals at the long break.
Sandhurst started the third term with a goal by Matt Wilkinson before Isaac Corvo was on target for the blue and gold.
Another major by the skilful Ollie Eaton put the Bulldogs within two points.
Sandhurst replied through Jaxon Howard but the Dogs kept the heat on with a Tom Strauch major.
When Archie Eaton slotted a goal the Bulldogs were up 47-44.
Sandhurst answered with the last two goals of the quarter off the boot of Nick Stagg and Jack Keating.
Playing into the breeze in the last a Dragons’ line-up jointly coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, controlled a lot of the tempo.
Goals by Keating, Greene and Howard and a strong defensive effort to keep the Bulldogs scoreless meant the Dragons ran out 77-49 victors.
Sandhurst’s attack was led by Tom Campbell, Fergus Greene, Jaxon Howard and Jack Keating on two goals each.
Archie Eaton was the Bulldogs’ leading goalkicker on two.
Best for the Dragons were Matt Wilkinson, Jack Keating, Jaxon Howard, Lachlan Wright, Fergus Greene and Lachie Hood.
Co-coach Liam Barrett, co-captain Jayden Burke, Noah Warfe, Harrison Burke, Josh Kelly and Jack Stewart were Golden Square’s best.
The Bulldogs have Brad Eaton as non-playing co-coach.
A seven-goal blitz in the third quarter set up Strathfieldsaye’s win against Castlemaine at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine led 22-12 at quarte-time, but Storm surged back to win the second term, 26-15.
Storm held a one-point lead at the long break and then slammed on seven goals in the vital third term to gain a 40-point buffer.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm kicked on for a 105-50 victory in which Pat Blake capitalised on chances with four goals as Tyce Griffin, Tyson McKenzie, Riley Mulquiny and James Schischka added two each.
Castlemaine’s only multiple goalkicker was Hunter Staples on two.
Best for Storm were Cooper Jones, Darcy Mulquiny, Pat Blandford, Pat Blake, Ethan Featherby and George Simpson.
Callum McConachy, key forward Zack Derksen, Zavier Murley, Darby Semmens, Hunter Staples and Rhys Jenkins were best for the Magpies.
Gisborne had the bye.
The split fourth round began with the stand-alone match on Anzac Day between South Bendigo and Eaglehawk.
The Bloods won a great match under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval by 17 points.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
South Bendigo 168 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 263, 12; Gisborne 170, 8; Strathfieldsaye 109, 8; Eaglehawk 103, 8; Castlemaine 101, 8; Golden Square 120, 4; Kangaroo Flat 68, 4; Broadford 17, 0.
In next Saturday’s fifth round, Eaglehawk will be on home turf at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park to take on Strathfieldsaye Storm from 2.20pm.
Castlemaine tackles Gisborne at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Sandhurst faces Kangaroo Flat at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Golden Square has the bye.
It’s also a rest for Broadford and South Bendigo.
The Kangaroos and Bloods played the stand-alone season launch match on March 28 at Harley Hammond Reserve where South Bendigo marked a 218-13 victory.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
15 Brock Harvey, SB.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Nick Keogh, KF; Pat McKenna, Gis.; Alex Smith, SB.
10 Michael Hartley, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.
8 Archie Eaton, GS; Brody Haddow, SB; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Archie Rixon, Cm; Ben Thompson, Eh.
7 Zac Denahy, Gis.; James Frawley, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
6 Pat Blake, S’saye; Tom Campbell, Sh; Coen Harker, SB; James Schischka, S’saye; Jack Stewart, GS; Jack Thompson, Eh.
