JUST as it was 12 months ago, Eaglehawk and Gisborne meet in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy preliminary final this Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Plenty at stake for both clubs as the Hawks fight to stay on track for back-to-back consecutive premierahipa and for Gisborne which if beaten ends its time in the league as it crosses to Ballarat in 2027.
Eaglehawk has not won back-to-back premierships since 2007 and ’08 when league legend Derrick Filo was coach.
The fifth of Gisborne’s grand final wins was in ’22 when the Rob Waters-coached team beat Strathfieldsaye Storm in torrential rain.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Hawks and Bulldogs.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne marked a 102-95 win on its turf at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve in round six.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, dominated most of the round 15 match at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park to record a 121-76 victory.
Gisborne has made one change to the team which beat Strathfieldsaye Storm in last Sunday’s preliminary final.
Harry Luxmoore returns to bolster the Bulldogs attack as Liam Rodgers goes out.
There were two forced changes as Eaglehawk aims to rebound from a four-point loss to Sandhurst in the second semi.
A dislocated shoulder has put Clayton Holmes on the sidelines and classy forward Lewin Davies is battling a hamstring injury.
Eaglehawk brought in athletic forward Jack O’Shannessy who kicked three goals in the reserves first semi-final and accepted a reprimand after an early guilty plea to striking.
The Two Blues also brought in versatile big man Jordan Mangan.
Eaglehawk’s league record winning margin in the 18th round meant it leapt above Gisborne to the third rung and the double chance.
The Hawks kicked off the finals by winning the qualifying final against Strathfieldsaye by 29 points.
Gisborne’s run began with a 52-point victory against South Bendigo in the elimination final.
The Bulldogs then outran Storm in the first semi to win by 38 points.
A crucial contest will be in the ruck where Eaglehawk run recruit Callum Heath takes on Lucas Carnell.
At ground level the Hawks have captain Billy Evans, Joel Mullen and Ben Thompson at centre ball-ups and stoppages.
Gisborne on-ballers Dylan Johnstone, Flynn Lakey and Brad Bernacki are among the best in the competition.
Key targets in the Eaglehawk attack are Jacquin Mifsud, 37 goals in nine matches; Nick Thompson, 37 in 12; on-baller Ben Thompson, 30; and the hard-running Oscar White, 26.
They will be up against a Gisborne defence led by captain Zach Vescovi, Harry Thomas, Frank Schipano and Will Elliott.
Gisborne gun Pat McKenna has kicked 86 goals in 16 matches and will be presented with the Ron Best Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker at Sunday night’s Michelsen Medal and Betty Thompson Medal vote count at Bendigo Club in Strathdale.
Other targets in Gisborne’s forward line are Zac Denahy, Shane Clough, James Gray and Dominic Sullivan.
Big roles will be played by Hawks’ defenders Jonty Neaves, Dylan Hanley, Jack and Sam Thompson, Jack Donat and Michelsen medallist Noah Wheeler.
In the Drummond Golf reserves it’s South Bendigo against Eaglehawk from 12.45pm.
The Bloods scored a 78-34 win against the Hawks on Anzac Day at the QEO.
Just three points separated the teams as South Bendigo claimed a 41-38 win at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park in the 13th round.
After finishing on top of the ladder, South Bendigo could not stop Sandhurst charging to a four-goal win in the second semi-final.
Eaglehawk hit back from a 29-point loss to Sandhurst in the qualifying final to win the first semi-final against Strathfieldsaye by 55 points.
Leading vote-getters for the Bloods in the Alan McDonald Medal race for league fairest and best were Ryan Walker, 12; Ben Bacon, 8; Toby Hardingham and Wil McCaig, 6.
The Bloods’ leading goalkickers are Will Purcell, 30; Jasper Irwin, 23; Regan Harvey, 21; and Wil McCaig, 16.
Players to watch in the red and white include Cohen Balnaves, Patrick Blood, Tait Rojewski and Thomas Starr.
A big week for Eaglehawk captain Ethan Hanley kicked off by winning the Alan McDonald Medal on 19 votes as team-mate Jaxon Vroom polled 14 votes.
The Hawks’ attack is led by Sam Dean, 26; and Ryan Wellington, 24.
Eaglehawk will look to Zack Bulger, Noah and Tyler Eliades, Aydan Hanley, Cory Jacobs and Mitch Ronchieri to have big games.
In the Sportspower under-18s it’s South Bendigo against Sandhurst from 10.45am.
Latest meeting was the qualifying final where the young Bloods won 67-52.
It was one-all across the home-and-away series as both finished on 13-3 records and were second and third on the ladder.
In round six, South Bendigo marked a 71-21 win on its ground at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Sandhurst dominated in round 15 at the QEO to claim an 83-30 victory.
The Bloods are on the rebound from a 56-58 loss to Strathfieldsaye in the second semi-final.
Sandhurst won the first semi against Castlemaine by 31 points.
Players to watch for South Bendigo include captain Anthony Gray, Logan Howell, Jeswin Daniel, Jacobi Kramer, Max Kornmann, Lachlan Magee, Aydin Price and Zavier Ralphs.
Sandhurst’s team includes Jack Moresi who polled 17 votes to be joint winner of the George Symons Medal as league fairest and best with Strathfieldsaye Storm’s Sam O’Bree.
The Dragons also have the competition’s leading goalkicker in Miller Armstrong, 51 goals.
Key players for Sandhurst include Jaxon Kelly, Patrick McNamara, Carter Reid, Kingston Uerata, Duncan Strachan and Drew Warren.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.45am: South Bendigo v Sandhurst.
Drummond Golf reserves at 12.45pm: South Bendigo v Eaglehawk.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.50pm: Eaglehawk v Gisborne.
