STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm showed it’s a serious contender for the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy premiership after Saturday’s round 10 win against South Bendigo.
It was the second time this season the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm had beaten the Bloods.
This time it was away from Storm territory at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye as the league’s top two clashed at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Strathfieldsaye’s dominance across most of the first half meant it led 62-35 at the long break.
The Bloods were first goal in term three, but Storm struck back with consecutive goals.
South Bendigo was within 21 points nearing four minutes to go in the quarter before Storm closed out the quarter with back-to-back goals.
As it was in the previous quarter, Storm was able to answer every Bloods goal.
When the siren sounded Strathfieldsaye led 109-82.
It was another superb match by Tyson McKenzie who thrilled Strathfieldsaye fans with a five-goal haul and his long kicking when on the run.
Big leaps and four goals by Drew Lloyd were among the highs for Storm as James Schischka also kicked three goals and Riley Mulquiny added two.
Was a tough afternoon for South Bendigo’s forwards in which Anthony Zimmerman led the way on two goals.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were co-captain Daniel Clohesy, Riley Mulquiny, Tyson McKenzie, Drew Lloyd, Darcy Mulquiny and Ethan Featherby.
Anthony Zimmerman, Sam Langley, Hayden Geddes, Tom Templeton, Brody Haddow and Callum Crisp were best for South Bendigo.
A Bloods’ team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Falllon, playing, faces a huge test on Gisborne’s ground next round.
Sandhurst scored a 69-48 win against Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Both line-ups had changed markedly since Eaglehawk charged to victory in last September’s grand final against the Dragons on the QEO turf.
On Saturday it was Sandhurst which led 22-15 at quarter-time and then took control in the second.
A run of three unanswered goals put Sandhurst up 41-15 approaching 13 minutes to go in the first half.
Eaglehawk hit back with a Jacquin Mifsud goal, but Sandhurst replied off the boot of James Coghlan.
The Hawks faced a 26-point deficit at half-time.
Back-to-back goals by Jack Donat lifted the hopes of Eaglehawk’s players and fans as the margin was two goals nearing the halfway mark of the third quarter.
After a goalless third term the heat was on the Dragons to respond.
A goal by Tyh Evans put the heat on as the Two Blues were within eight points early in the final term.
It was Sandhurst which lifted it’s intensity at stoppages and linkwork.
Goals by Oliver Morris, Cooper Smith and Darcy Mills opened up a 26-point buffer.
Eaglehawk scored another goal through Mifsud, but it was to be the last of the match.
For Sandhurst it was on-baller James Coghlan who kicked two goals as eight team-mates also featured on the goalkicking list.
The Hawks’ leading goalkickers were Donat and Mifsud on two each.
Dragons’ co-coach Fergus Greene was best along with Liam Ireland, Jaxon Howard, Oliver Morris, Cooper Smith and Matt Wilkinson.
Sandhurst has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach.
Eaglehawk’s best were ruckman Callum Heath, Charlie Langford, Joel Mullen, Billy Evans, Ben Thompson and Jonty Neaves.
A Borough line-up coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes is now just percentage clear of Castlemaine as they fight to be fifth on the ladder.
Castlemaine achieved a long-awaited victory on Golden Square’s turf at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
The Bulldogs kennel had been a hoodoo for the Magpies for many seasons.
On Saturday the Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine raced to a 40-8 lead by quarter-time.
In his comeback match for Golden Square, four-time premiership winner Adam Baird kicked the first goal of the match.
The Magpies then struck back with goals by Ben McConachy, Henderson, John Watson, Hendeerson, Ben McConachy and Brodie Byrne to open a 32-point buffer.
Golden Square began the second with goals by Jack Stewart and Jordan Rosengren.
A second goal by Byrne was answered by Bulldogs’ co-coach Liam Barrett.
The half ended with goals by Xavier Grant and Jack Stewart as the Bulldogs moved within eight points at the long break.
When Tom Strauch goaled for Golden Square in the early minutes of the third term it was 50-47 in Castlemaine’s favour.
A goal by hard-working on-baller Dylan Landt broke a goalless run for the Magpies.
Adam Baird slotted a second for the blue and gold, but a Watson major gave Castlemaine an 11 -point buffer going into the final quarter.
The Magpies racked up a hat-trick of goals as Byrne, Henderson and Kalan Huntly were on target.
Golden Square’s fight was rewarded with goals by Lachlan Monti, Terry Reeves and Jack McMahon.
Although the Dogs kept attacking they could not goal as Castlemaine claimed an 89-79 victory.
Leading goalkickers for the Magpies were Brodie Byrne and Bailey Henderson with three as Ben McConachy and John Watson added two each.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Adam Baird and Jack Stewart on two best.
Castlemaine’s best were Brodie Byrne, Dylan Landt, Hunter Staples, Jaise Coleman, Callum McConachy and Kalan Huntly.
Jack Stewart, Byron Ritchie, Carson James, Jordan Rosengren, Adam Baird and Logan Wilson were best for a Golden Square team which has Brad Eaton as non-playing co-coach.
Gisborne racked up 48 scoring shots in a dominant display on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne was superb at many of the stoppages as it led 35-3 at quarter-time and then slammed on six goals in the second to be up 75-5 at the long break.
After a run of 22 unanswered goals it was Kangaroo Flat veteran Nick Lang who slotted his team’s first goal of a one-sided contest.
Gisborne added another nine goals in the last as the Roos’ sole reply was by Nick Keogh.
At the final siren the Bulldogs led 203-21.
The brilliant Pat McKenna has gained a sizeable lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal as leading goalkicker after he slotted 10 against the Roos.
The in-form Dominic Sullivan slotted five majors as Zac Denahy and Campbell Johns kicked three each.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Brad Bernacki, Adam Brancatisano and Jed Denahy on two.
Gisborne’s best were gun on-baller Brad Bernacki, Pat McKenna, Dylan Johnstone, Shane Clough, Dominic Sullivan and Will Elliott.
Ruckman Angus Macpherson, Mitch Collins, Darcy McClure, Isaac Lowndes, Kyle Symons and Zach Rouse were best on a tough afternoon for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat.
Broadford had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 170 per cent, 32 points; Gisborne 202, 28; Sandhurst 160, 28; South Bendigo 152, 28; Eaglehawk 131, 16; Castlemaine 123, 16; Golden Square 96, 8; Kangaroo Flat 48, 4; Broadford 10, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s round 11 action will be Gisborne against South Bendigo at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve from 2.20pm.
Another crucial match will be at Golden Square where the Bulldogs take on an Eaglehawk team fighting to stay in the top five.
Castlemaine tackles Kangaroo Flat in the Magpies’ nest at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
Broadford’s back in action against Sandhurst on the Kangaroos’ ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Strathfieldsaye has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
41 Pat McKenna, Gis.
30 James Schischka, S’saye.
27 Michael Hartley, Cm.
25 Brock Harvey, SB.
19 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
18 Nick Keogh, KF; Ben Thompson, Eh.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zac Denahy, Gis.; Fergus Greene, Sh.
14 Brody Haddow, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
13 Jordan Rosengren, GS; Alex Smith, SB.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Archie Rixon, Cm.
