EAGLEHAWK broke through Strathfieldsaye Storm’s fortress in Saturday’s 14th round to be the first senior footy team to win at Triple M Park in this season’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL action.
A 68-point victory by the reigning premier was also another sign it cannot be discounted from this year’s race for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
Storm was far from full-strength for this contest, but that cannot take away from an impressive 103-35 victory by the Two Blues.
Eaglehawk charged to a 32-8 lead by quarter-time.
Strathfieldsaye hit back to win the second, 21-10.
The second half was dominated by the Borough.
Although it racked up an inaccurate 3.9, Eaglehawk’s defence teamed superbly to keep Storm scoreless in the third term.
The Borough led 69-29 going into the final term and did not let up.
As Eaglehawk scored five goals in the last, Strathfieldsaye’s only goal of the second half was kicked by Ethan Featherby at 24 ½ minutes to play.
Nick Thompson led Eaglehawk’s attack on three goals as Connor Evans and Oscar White kicked two each in a 103-35 result.
Leading goalkicker for Strathfieldsaye was James Schischka on three.
Eaglehawk’s best were Joel Mullen, Ben Thompson, Noah Wheeler, Charlie Langford, Callum Heath and Billy Evans.
The Two Blues are jointly coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes.
Best for the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm were Lachlan Ratcliffe, Jye Chambers, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, tim Hosking and Charles Dole.
Sandhurst climbed to the top rung of the ladder after a 124-51 victory on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
As Sandhurst marked another victory thoughts were with gun midfielder Lachlan Hood who dislocated an ankle in the early minutes of the third quarter.
Hood was taken to hospital by ambulance and had surgery on Sunday.
It was a closely-fought first half in which the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos kept the heat on.
As the Roos scored 3.4 the Dragons kicked 6.5.
After a 20-minute delay to treat Hood it was Sandhurst which quickly regained its composure.
The Dragons scored 5.8 in the third as the Roos added 1.2.
Seven goals in the last capped a 124-51 victory by the Dragons.
Finlay Lockhart marked his first senior game for Sandhurst by kicking six goals as Harrison Free, Lachie Hood and Matt Wilkinson finished with two each.
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by Sam Barnes and Nick Keogh on three and two goals.
Sandhurst’s best were Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson, Finlay Lockhart, Jaxon Howard, James Coghlan and Darcy Mills.
The Dragons are jointly coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Aaron Nevins, Jeremy Rodi, Zach Bird, Jake Hywood, Angus Macpherson and Kyle Symons.
A strong first quarter set up Gisborne’s win against Castlemaine at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne led 33-2 at quarter-time.
Castlemaine hit back to win the second, 21-15, but it was Gisborne which held a 32-point buffer going into the final term.
The Magpies added three straight goals in the last and kept the Bulldogs to a major.
At the siren Gisborne was up 78-54.
James Gray led the Bulldogs’ attack on three goals as Brad Bernacki and Blake Freeth slotted two each.
Castlemaine’s leading goalkicker was Riley Pedretti on four goals as Kalan Huntly kicked two.
Best for Gisborne were James Gray, Zach Vescovi, Shane Clough, Brad Bernacki, Lachlan Evans and Lucas Hannon.
Castlemaine’s best were former Richmond forward Jacob Bauer in his first match for the club after recovering from major knee surgery.
Riley Pedretti, Bodhi Robinson, Darby Semmens, Ben McConachy and Jack Sutherland also played well for the Bailey Henderson-coached Magpies.
South Bendigo scored a 207-point win against Broadford at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
The Bloods won 215-8.
More details on the Bloods and Kangaroos match to come.
Golden Square had the bye.
Two crucial matches feature in next Saturday’s round 15 action starting at 2.20pm.
Sandhurst tackles South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Eaglehawk meets Gisborne at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Golden Square will be aiming to continue its long-running winning streak against Kangaroo Flat in the match at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Broadford meets Strathfieldsaye in the Kangaroos’ home at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 204 per cent, 40 points; Strathfieldsaye 146, 40; Gisborne 183, 36; South Bendigo 156, 36; Eaglehawk 160, 32; Castlemaine 108, 20; Golden Square 100, 12; Kangaroo Flat 56, 8; Broadford 11, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
53 Pat McKenna, Gis.
51 Brock Harvey, SB.
43 James Schischka, S’saye.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm; Nick Keogh, KF.
26 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
24 Ben Thompson, Eh.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
22 Fergus Greene, Sh.
21 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
20 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
19 Brody Haddow, SB.
18 Jack McMahon, GS; Oliver Morris, Sh; Tom Strauch, GS.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Nick Lang, KF.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Bailey Henderson, Cm.
15 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Jacquin Mifsud, Eh; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB; Oscar White, Eh.
