Round 11 Football Preview | Plenty at stake as Gisborne faces Borough
MORE than premiership points are at stake as Gisborne faces Eaglehawk in Saturday’s 11th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
It’s a likely qualifying final prelude as the Bulldogs and Hawks clash at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve from 2.20pm.
Beaten just twice so far, Eaglehawk could not halt Gisborne’s run to an 11-point victory on the Borough’s turf in Canterbury Park in round four.
The Bulldogs and Hawks take winning form into this match.
Gisborne marked a 10-goal win at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park last round as the Hawks won at home against South Bendigo by 15 points.
Two of the league’s best ruckmen in Gisborne’s Braidon Blake and Eaglehawk’s Brayden Frost will play crucial roles in Saturday’s match.
Blake teams with fellow Michelsen medallist Brad Bernacki, Jacob Murphy and James Gray at the centre ball-ups for the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne team.
The Hawks who are jointly coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes have captain Billy Evans, Joel Budarick and Joel Mullen in on-ball roles.
Gisborne welcomes back Pat McKenna to full-forward in an attack that features Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy and Matt Merrett.
It’s a huge test for Eaglehawk defenders Charlie Langford, Jacob O’Brien, Ethan Hanley and Jack Donat.
Second in the race for the Ron Best Medal on 27 goals, Jack O’Shannessy is also back in the Hawks attack after being sidelined because of an ankle injury last round.
The Hawks have Bailey Ilsley, Ben and Nick Thompson as targets in an attack opposed by Bulldogs’ captain Jack Reaper, Elijah Bretherton, Jed Denahy and Zach Vescovi.
Gisborne will be without Dylan Johnstone who was concussed in the match at Strathfieldsaye and also unavailable for selection in Bendigo’s team to play the Victorian Amateurs on July 13 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It’s fourth against sixth as South Bendigo takes on Castlemaine at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
The Bloods are on the rebound from defeat as Castlemaine aims to build on a 35-point win against Kangaroo Flat.
When these teams met in round four it was the Bloods who raced to a 56-point victory at Camp Reserve.
South Bendigo forwards Kaiden Antonowicz, Brock Harvey and Steven Stroobants were in great form at Eaglehawk last Saturday.
The Bloods have also brought in Logan Howell to play his first senior match.
Athletic ruckman/forward Zaydyn Lockwood is back for his fourth match in a season he has played eight games for the La Trobe University Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League.
Other players to watch for the Bloods include Brody Haddow in the centre, on-ballers Joel Swatton and Tom Brereton, and Luke Darling and Josh Nitschke in defence.
A team jointly coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, will be chasing its seventh win of the season.
Castlemaine needs to mark some upset wins to be a chance of climbing into the top five.
The Michael Hartley-coached Magpies are a win and 10 per cent behind the fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Key players for the Magpies include ruckman Patrik Balta, rover Kalan Huntly, Ryan Eyre, Will Moran, Brodie Byrne and Ben McConachy.
In attack it will be Ronald Fejo, Zach Greeves and Michael Hartley working to finish or set up attacks.
Golden Square will be back on home turf in Wade Street to play Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs were up against a red-hot Sandhurst in the clash for the Ron Best Memorial Cup.
Storm was outplayed by Gisborne at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
When these teams met in Storm territory in round four the home team fought on for a 19-point win.
A highlight of this Saturday’s contest will be in the centre where Golden Square has Tom Strauch against Michelsen medallist Jake Moorhead.
Bulldogs’ on-ballers Daniel Keating, Jordan Rosengren and Terence Reeves will take on Tim Hosking, Sam Heavyside and Bode Stevens.
Storm named Ben Lester as ruck-rover.
In attack Golden Square has captain Jayden Burke, Jack Stewart and Jack McMahon.
The Bulldogs recalled Tommi Turner for his first senior game since round five and he was named in a forward pocket.
Storm’s defence includes Kya Lanfranchi, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Patrick Blandford and Cooper Jones.
A Golden Square defence led by Luke Holt, Zack Shelton and Jake Maher will try to shut down Zach Charles, Jed Brereton and Riley Wilson.
Dermott Bell is out for a match after an early guilty plea for rough conduct in Golden Square’s match with Sandhurst.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm will be without Jai Featherby as he starts a four-match ban after lodging an early guilty plea for rough conduct.
Kangaroo Flat will be back on its ground in Dower Park to take on Sandhurst.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos will be determined to improve on the tally of 15 points they scored against the Dragons in the fourth round.
There was plenty to like about Kangaroo Flat’s play at Castlemaine last round.
The Roos had 21 scoring shots, but slotted just six goals in an 86-51 defeat.
Sam Barnes and and Jake Hywood kicked two goals as Zach Rouse, Zach Bird, Aaron Nevins and Josh Leersen were among the best.
It’s another huge challenge for the Flat, especially across the half-back line where Josh Leersen, Lachie Raymond and Xavier Coghill are opposed to Tom Campbell, Ron Best medallist Fergus Greene and the classy Dayten Uerata.
Angus McPherson has had a great season in the ruck for the Roos and will play a crucial role against Hugh Schmetzer.
Roos’ captain Ethan Roberts and vice-captain Kyle Symons will start as ruck-rover and rover against Michelsen medallist and Sandhurst co-coach Lachlan Tardrew and Nick Stagg.
In a career spanning more than 330 matches, Jarryd Wiegard will play his first senior match for Kangaroo Flat since the 10th round of the ’23 season against Sandhurst.
Best for Sandhurst in last week’s 76-point win against Golden Square included Lachie Hood, Cobi Maxted, co-captain Cooper Smith, James Austin and Darcy Mills.
A team which has Bryce Curnow as co-coach is on a nine-one record in pursuit of back-to-back premierships.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 240 per cent, 36 points; Eaglehawk 176, 32; Gisborne 148, 32; South Bendigo 131, 24; Strathfieldsaye 83, 16; Castlemaine 73, 12; Golden Square 63, 8; Kangaroo Flat 29, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
29 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
27 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
26 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
26 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
25 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
21 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
16 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
16 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
16 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
15 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
15 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
15 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
15 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
14 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
14 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
14 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
14 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
13 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
12 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
12 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
11 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
11 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
11 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
10 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
10 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
10 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.
9 Shane Clough, Gisborne.
9 Luke Meletis, Gisborne.
9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
9 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 Xavier Carter, Golden Square.
8 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.
8 James Gray, Gisborne.
8 Jake Hywood, Kangaroo Flat.
8 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
8 John Watson, Castlemaine.
7 Sam Barnes, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Nick Hoare, Eaglehawk.
7 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
7 Nick Keogh, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Cooper Smith, Sandhurst.
7 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
7 Jack Thompson, Eaglehawk.
7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
