EAGLEHAWK is the latest team which will try to break Strathfieldsaye’s unbeaten run at Triple M Park as the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL marks round 14 in senior footy action this Saturday.
The clash between first and fifth will start at 2.20pm.
Just seven points separated these teams when they met in round five at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm carries a seven-match winning streak into this contest.
A seven-five record has Eaglehawk in fifth position, but building momentum in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships.
A Borough line-up coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, marked one of its best games of the season as it won last Saturday’s home game against South Bendigo by eight goals.
The Hawks did as expected in beating Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat the previous rounds and did so by margins of 102 and 89 points.
On-ball contests will be a highlight of the Storm and Hawks’ showdown.
Strathfieldsaye ruckman Tim Hosking takes on Callum Heath who is arguably one of the recruits of the year.
The run and teamwork of Daniel Clohesy, Riley Wilson and Jaidi Jackson-Leahy from centre ball-ups and stoppages has played a big part in Storm’s success.
Eaglehawk’s on-ball options include Michelsen medallist and captain Billy Evans, Ben Thompson, Joel Mullen and another Michelsen medallist in Noah Wheeler.
Playing on a wing, Oscar White kicked six goals in the win against South Bendigo.
In attack Storm has James Schishcka, Zach Charles, Siologa Siu and Pat Blake to test a Hawks’ defence led by Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves, Dylan Hanley and Sam Thompson.
Strathfieldsaye defenders Kya Lanfranchi, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Ben Lester, Hunter Lawrence and Patrick Blandford are up against the marking power of Bailey Ilsley, Jacquin Mifsud, Jack O’Shannessy and Nick Thompson.
Storm had to replace Sam Heavyside, hamstring; and Zac Grieve, concussion for this contest.
Rested by the bye, Gisborne will be back at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve to take on Castlemaine.
In round five the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne won a top contest at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve by a point.
The Bulldogs are on the rebound from a two-goal loss on Strathfieldsaye’s ground.
Players to watch for Gisborne include ruck-rover Brad Bernacki, Zac Denahy, Shane Clough, Thomas Werner and captain Zac Vescovi.
The Bulldogs will be without gun forward Pat McKenna who leads the race for the Ron Best Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker.
An upset win by Castlemaine will keep the Magpies in the race for the finals as they start the round eight points behind the fifth-placed Eaglehawk.
Key players for the Magpies include coach Bailey Henderson, Michael Hartley, Callum McConachy, Darby Semmens, Dylan Landt and Hunter Staples.
A gun player with Darwin Buffaloes as a mid/forward, Jarrod Stokes was among the best in his first match for Castlemaine against Storm last Saturday.
Stung by an eight-goal loss, South Bendigo will be back at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington to take on Broadford.
The Bloods kicked off the season by winning the stand-alone match at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve by 205 points.
A Bloods’ attack led by Brock Harvey, Sam Langley, Callum Crisp and Anthony Zimmerman is likely to have plenty of scoring chances set up by Brody Haddow, Jack English, Zac Hare and Chase Poyser.
The South Bendigo line-up which is co-coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, is locked on 32 points, but 52 per cent behind the third-placed Gisborne.
It’s another massive test for a young Broadford team coached by Nathan Thompson.
Best for Broadford in last Saturday’s home game against Kangaroo Flat were Angus Hoyne, Harry Behan, captain Adam Miles, Louis Thompson, Brodie Stray and Jarrah Younger.
Big roles will be played by Bryce Fleming and Jake Hibbs-Hall in the key defensive posts, Owen Sloan in the ruck, Seb Morris as rover, Oliver Lubeck and Isaac Smithwick in attack.
After a big win on Broadford’s turf, Kangaroo Flat returns to Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park to take on Sandhurst.
Key players for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos include ruckman Angus Macpherson, Nick Keogh, Aaron Nevins, captain Ethan Roberts, Nick Lang and Tyran Famer.
The Kangaroos welcome back Jeremy Rodi who has not played since round eight against South Bendigo.
A hard-running and skilful player, Rodi previously played for Sandhurst.
The in-form Sandhurst retained the Ron Best Memorial Shield as it won last Saturday’s match at Golden Square by 44 points.
There’s plenty of running power in a Dragons’ line-up which includes Cooper Smith, Nick Stagg, Dayten Uerata, Lachie Hood, Caleb Connick, Oliver Morris and Matt Wilkinson.
Others to watch in the maroon and blue include James Coghlan, Wil Pinniger and Hugh Schmetzer.
A team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, is second in the premiership race and a has a tough run after this as it plays South Bendigo at the QEO, Strathfieldsaye at Triple M Park, and Gisborne on the QEO.
Golden Square has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 162 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 201, 36; Gisborne 186, 32; South Bendigo 134, 32; Eaglehawk 154, 28; Castlemaine 111, 20; Golden Square 100, 12; Kangaroo Flat 57, 8; Broadford 11, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
53 Pat McKenna, Gis.
40 James Schischka, S’saye.
34 Brock Harvey, SB.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
22 Nick Keogh, KF; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
21 Fergus Greene, Sh; Jordan Rosengren, GS; Ben Thompson, Eh.
20 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
18 Jack McMahon, GS; Oliver Morris, Sh; Tom Strauch, GS.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Brody Haddow, SB; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Bailey Henderson, Cm.
15 Alex Smith-Ralph, SB
