ROUND 15 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Huge games for Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye
SEPARATED by four points, Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye face huge matches in Saturday’s 15th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
An upset win by Golden Square against Gisborne in week one of the split 14th round kept the blue and gold in the finals race.
The Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square will be back on home turf in Wade Street for this Saturday’s showdown with the ladder-leading Sandhurst from 2.20pm.
When these teams last met in round 10 it was Sandhurst which won 131-55 at Queen Elizabeth Oval to retain the Ron Best Memorial Cup.
The Dragons also fired up to score an eight-goal win against the Bulldogs in round three in Wade Street.
Playing the league’s top two teams in consecutive rounds is a huge test of Golden Square’s finals credentials.
Beat the Dragons and Golden Square could draw level with Strathfieldsaye which it tackles in the 16th and final round.
A major factor in Golden Square’s chances of slaying the Dragons will be on the on-ball duels.
The Bulldogs have ruckman Daniel Keating to team with Jordan Rosengren, Terence Reeves and Tom Strauch.
They will be up against Seb Collins, Lachie Hood, Cooper Smith and Dragons’ co-coach Lachlan Tardrew.
It will be a huge challenge for a Square defence led by Zack Shelton, Luke Holt and Harrison Burke against Tom Campbell, Fergus Green and Matt Wilkinson.
Bulldogs’ captain Jayden Burke will play a key role in defence or attack.
The Bulldogs have Jack Stewart, Xavier Carter and Jack McMahon teaming well in the forward 50m arc.
A tight-knit Sandhurst defence includes Liam Ireland, co-coach Bryce Curnow, Will Brohm and Lachlan Wright.
At Gisborne it’s the Bulldogs in the sights of Strathfieldsaye Storm.
There’s still plenty to unfold, but this could be Gisborne’s final home game at Gardiner Reserve in the Bendigo Football Netball League.
Ballarat clubs have overwhelmingly agreed to accept Gisborne should the Bulldogs members vote to apply for a transfer.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne will be determined not to be distracted by off-field developments as it tackles Strathfieldsaye.
It’s a crucial match for both clubs.
Gisborne will be determined to bounce back from its five-point loss on Golden Square’s turf.
This season’s meetings between Gisborne and Storm stand at two-nil in favour of the Bulldogs.
In round three the Dogs fought for a 57-52 win at home.
The round 10 showdown in Storm territory at Triple M Park ended in a 10-goal win for the red, white and blue.
Among the key match-ups this time will be Gisborne captain Jack Reaper at full-back against the in-form James Schischka.
The Storm has Jed Brereton at centre half-forward where his likely opponent will be Jed Denahy.
With ruckman Braidon Blake’s season over because of shoulder surgery, Gisborne has named Hugo Olive in the ruck.
Olive will team up with Brad Bernacki, James Gray and Dylan Johnstone at centre ball-ups.
Storm’s on-ball group includes Ned Hayes, Riley Wilson, Patrick Blandford and Bode Stevens.
A Gisborne attack led by Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett will test Storm defenders Lachlan Ratcliffe, Kya Lanfranchi and Hunter Lawrence.
There’s been plenty happening at Strathfieldsaye acros the past week.
Luke Freeman will be determined his senior coaching stint with Storm goes beyond the 16th round into the finals.
Storm has appointed Jeff Andrews as coach for next season.
Castlemaine will be determined to mark another victory on its turf at Camp Reserve when it tackles South Bendigo.
The Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine played well in a 75-61 loss on South Bendigo’s ground at Harry Trott Oval in the 11th round.
Back in round four the Bloods won 115-59 at Camp Reserve.
It’s going to be another big test for the Magpies defence in trying to limit the impact of Bloods’ forwards Brock Harvey and Steven Stroobants.
The Bloods do not have Kaiden Antonowicz on-field this round.
The Castlemaine defence includes Brodie Byrne, Riley Pedretti, Ben Jardine and Will Marks.
A highlight will be the ruck duels between Castlemaine’s Patrik Balta and Bloods’ gun Callum Crisp.
In the centre the Pies have Rhys Jenkins to take on Brody Haddow who sets up so many of South’s attacks.
On the wings the Magpies have Darby Semmens and Ben McConachy to take on Zac Sims and Joel Swatton.
In attack the Magpies have Michael Hartley, Dylan Hickey and Will Moran to take on Andrew van Heumen, Zac Hare and Tom Brereton.
The Bloods are jointly coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing.
Kangaroo Flat will be back on its turf in Dower Park to take on Eaglehawk.
The Roos have struggled to hold the Hawks’ run in their previous two contests.
On Good Friday it was Eaglehawk which charged to a 149-17 win against the Roos at Canterbury Park.
In round nine the Hawks won 100-37 on Kangaroo Flat’s ground.
The Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Hawks will be determined to put in a strong four-quarter performance in the lead-up to finals.
A strong squad representing the Borough includes Billy Evans, Charlie Langford, Joel Mullen, Jonty Neaves, Bailey Ilsley, Pala Kuma and Joel Budarick.
There’s also Ben, Jack and Sam Thompson in action for the Two Blues.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat worked hard to be within 21 points of South Bendigo at half-time of last Saturday’s match.
By the final siren the margin was 87.
Roos’ captain and on-baller Ethan Roberts has racked up 30-plus possessions in most matches.
The Kangaroos squad includes ruckman Angus Macpherson, Nick Lang, Kyle Symons, Sam Barnes, Jarryd Wiegard, Josh Leersen and Zach Rouse.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 217 per cent, 48 points; Gisborne 142, 44; Eaglehawk 160, 40; South Bendigo 129, 36; Strathfieldsaye 88, 24; Golden Square 80, 20; Castlemaine 71, 12; Kangaroo Flat 30, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
41 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
33 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
33 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
33 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
29 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
28 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
27 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
22 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
22 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
22 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
20 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
19 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
18 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
18 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
17 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
17 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
17 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
16 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
16 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
15 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
15 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
15 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Xavier Carter, Golden Square.
13 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
13 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
13 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
13 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
12 Sam Barnes, Kangaroo Flat.
12 James Gray, Gisborne.
12 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
12 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
