ROUND 13 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Gisborne tries to repeat feat against Dragons
THE only team to beat Sandhurst this season, Gisborne will attempt the repeat the feat in Saturday’s 13th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
Second takes on first at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve from 2.20pm.
With conditions forecast to be cold and wet then being first-in and playing in front will be crucial.
When these clubs met in round six it was Gisborne which won the rematch of the ’24 grand finalists by two goals.
Back on home turf the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs will be aiming to take the four points again.
Two of the league’s best on-ball groups will do battle.
Gisborne has ruckman Braidon Blake to team up with Brad Bernacki, James Gray and Jacob Murphy.
One of the Dragons’ prized recruits, Hugh Schmetzer has played well in the ruck and has great support from co-coach Lachlan Tardrew, Matt Wilkinson and co-captain Cooper Smith.
A Gisborne attack led by Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett will test Dragons’ defenders James Coghlan, Lachlan Wright and Will Brohm.
At the other end of the ground it’s a Gisborne defence led by Jack Reaper, Elijah Bretheron and Zach Vescovi opposed to Cobi Maxted, Fergus Greene and Tom Campbell.
Another big match will be at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval where South Bendigo takes on Golden Square.
The Bloods face a test against one of the competition’s in-form teams.
Back in round six the Bloods won at Golden Square by 86 points.
Now the Troy Coates and Jack Fallon-coached South Bendigo faces an opponent that is on a four-eight record and fighting to grab fifth spot.
The Bloods played well to be level in the final quarter of last Saturday’s match with Sandhurst before the reigning premier scored eight unanswered goals.
A win-loss tally of seven-five has the Bloods in fourth place on the ladder.
South Bendigo small forwards Steven Stroobants, Kaiden Antonowicz and Brock Harvey are a huge threat to the Bulldogs chances.
It will be a huge test for a Golden Square defence that includes Harry Burke, Luke Holt, Zach Shelton and Noah Warfe.
Bloods’ ruckman Callum Crisp is in great form and will team up with Tom Brereton, Jesse Collins and Brody Haddow.
Golden Square on-ballers Daniel Keating, Jordan Rosengren, Terence Reeves and Tom Strauch have played big roles in the team’s resurgence.
A Bloods’ defence led by Zac Hare, Luke Darling, Andrew van Heumen and Jack Fallon takes on Jack Stewart, Jayden Burke, Jack McMahon and Xavier Carter.
Feathers will be flying at Canterbury Park as Eaglehawk takes on Castlemaine in the clash of the Hawks and Magpies.
In round six the Two Blues dominated play at Castlemaine to win by 79 points.
A Hawks team coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes won a hard-fought match at Strathfieldsaye last round to strengthen its grip on the third rung.
Castlemaine must-win this match to be any chance of qualifying for the finals.
A strong Eaglehawk line-up includes ruckman Brayden Frost, captain Billy Evans in the centre, Bailey Ilsley and Jack O’Shannessy in attack, Jonty Neaves and Charlie Langford in defence.
Castlemaine will need big games from Jack Nuttall, Kalan Huntly, ruckman Patrik Balta, coach Michael Hartley, Jack Chester, Ben McConachy and Will Moran to be a chance of an upset.
Under pressure to hold fifth place, Strathfieldsaye will be on home turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane against Kangaroo Flat.
Huge plus for Strathfieldsaye is the return of key forward James Schischka for his first senior game of the year.
Other inclusions for the Luke Freeman-coached Storm include Hunter Lawrence, Jed Brereton, Riley Mulquiny and Tyce Griffin.
Strathfieldsaye’s team to play the Kangaroos includes Jordan and Riley Wilson, Kya Lanfranchi, Jack Bell, Zach Charles and Cooper Jones.
Although he injured an ankle against Golden Square, Kangaroos’ ruckman/forward Nick Lang was named to play.
The Roos selected Finn Mulcair for his first senior game.
Key players in a young Kangaroo Flat line-up include captain Ethan Roberts, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Jeremy Rodi, Jarryd Wiegard, Zach Bird, Sam Barnes and Kyle Symons.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 246 per cent, 44 points; Gisborne 144, 40; Eaglehawk 167, 36; South Bendigo 121, 28; Strathfieldsaye 81, 16; Golden Square 78, 16; Castlemaine 74, 12; Kangaroo Flat 29, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
33 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
32 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
30 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
27 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
27 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
25 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
24 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
21 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
20 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
18 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
18 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
18 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
17 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
16 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
16 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
16 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
16 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
15 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
15 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
15 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
14 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
14 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Xavier Carter, Golden Square.
13 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
12 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
12 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
12 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
12 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
