ROUND 16 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Finals preview headlines Round 16
SANDHURST will be desperate to avoid a third loss to Gisborne this season when they clash in Saturday’s 16th round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
It’s a huge match for both clubs as they prepare for finals.
Both have built a fierce rivalry which may ended this September as Gisborne’s members voted on Thursday night to pursue the transfer to the Ballarat FNL.
The Sandhurst and Gisborne showdown is at the home of Bendigo’s finals action at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.20pm.
Although Sandhurst holds top spot on the ladder it’s two defeats in ’25 have been to Gisborne by margins of 12 and 37 points.
In the rematch of the 2024 grand final it was the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne which won at the QEO.
The Bulldogs then dominated on their Gardiner Reserve turf in the 13th round.
A Sandhurst team coached by Bryce Curnow and Lachlan Tardrew will be desperate to take the points as it works toward back-to-back premierships.
A joint Michelsen medallist as league fairest and best last season, Tardrew has had another outstanding season.
Whether it be playing on-ball or midfield, Tardrew’s workrate is exceptional.
A strong Sandhurst team includes Cooper Smith, Fergus Greene, Tom Campbell and Matt Wilkinson.
Will be another big test for Sandhurst defenders Lachlan Wright, Liam Ireland and Jack Keating against a Gisborne attack which includes Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett.
The Dragons welcome back the skilful Dayten Uerata for his first senior match with the club since round 11.
Uerata played the last five rounds of the VFL season with Essendon.
Gisborne also has brilliant on-ballers Brad Bernacki, a Michelsen medallist in ’24, and James Gray, and defenders Jack Reaper and Zach Vescovi in hot form.
The Bulldogs broke clear in the second half to beat Strathfieldsaye by 17 points last Saturday after scores were locked on 30 all.
Another big match will at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane where Storm takes on Golden Square.
The Storm rolls into this round in fifth place and a win and more than 12 per cent clear of the sixth-placed Golden Square.
The Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye marked a 62-43 win at home against Golden Square in the fourth round.
When they met in round 11 it was the Bulldogs who won 68-57 on their Wade Street turf.
Been a great effort by the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square to fight back from a win-loss tally of 1-7 at the half-way mark of the home-and-away series to now have a 5-10 record.
Among the highs was victory against Gisborne on day one of the split 14th round.
Key players for Strathfieldsaye include Bode Stevens, James Schischka, Jed Brereton, Kya Lanfranchi and Lachlan Ratcliffe.
Storm also has the running power and skill of Sam Heavyside, and Michelsen medallist Jake Moorhead.
Golden Square will look to Jordan Rosengren, Terence Reeves, Jack Stewart, Zack Shelton, Tom Strauch and Luke Holt to lead the way to victory.
The Bulldogs’ squad includes James Wilkinson recalled for his first senior game since round seven.
Other players to watch for the blue and gold include Harrison Kelly and Ollie Eaton.
Another of the Bulldogs, Carson James takes on his former club.
The third-placed Eaglehawk will be back on its turf at Canterbury Park to take on Castlemaine.
The Hawks have a two-nil record against the Magpies.
In round six the Borough won 144-65 at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Hawks marked a 52-20 win against the Pies in the 13th round at Canterbury Park.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes will be determined to put in a four-quarter performance leading into a qualifying final.
Players to watch for the Hawks include captain Billy Evans, Bailey Ilsley, Jack O’Shannessy, Joel Mullen and Ben Thompson.
The Two Blues have a strong defence led by Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves and Sam Thompson.
Castlemaine put in a superb effort to finish within four points of South Bendigo in last Saturday’s match at Camp Reserve.
The Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine will be keen to end the season strongly.
Key players for the Magpies include on-baller Ryan Eyre, Harrison Sheahan, ruckman Patrik Balta, Brodie Byrne and Kalan Huntly.
Other players to watch in the black and white include Jack Chester, Will Moran, Jack Sutherland and John Watson.
There was lot to like about the enthusiasm and pressure all of the Castlemaine team put on the Bloods.
South Bendigo returns to its ground at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval to take on Kangaroo Flat.
The Bloods dominated the previous two hit-outs with the Roos to win by margins of 148 and 87 points.
The leader of the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal, Brock Harvey kicked nine goals against the Roos at Dower Park in round 14.
The Bloods were under the pump at Castlemaine but fought on for a 108-104 victory as co-coach Jack Fallon, James Davies, Steven Stroobants and Hayden Geddes were best.
A South Bendigo team which has Troy Coates as non-playing coach will not want to let standards slip leading into an elimination final.
The Bloods’ line-up includes Jasper Langley and Zac Sims on the wings, ruckman Callum Crisp, ruck-rover Brody Haddow, and Zac Hare and Alex Davis in defence.
Been a tough season for Kangaroo Flat coach Tyrone Downie and the young squad.
Stand-outs in most matches for Flat include captain Ethan Roberts, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Xavier Coghill, Kyle Symons and Jay Newman.
The Roos also welcome back the talented Jeremy Rodi who has featured in the best in four of his six matches so far.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after 15 rounds:
Sandhurst 220 per cent, 52 points; Gisborne 141, 48; Eaglehawk 174, 44; South Bendigo 127, 40; Strathfieldsaye 87, 24; Golden Square 75, 20; Castlemaine 73, 12; Kangaroo Flat 29, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
43 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
34 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
33 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
33 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
33 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
32 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
31 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
23 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
23 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
23 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
22 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
20 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
20 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
19 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
18 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
18 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
17 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
17 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
17 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
16 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
16 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
15 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
13 Sam Barnes, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Xavier Carter, Golden Square.
13 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
13 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
13 James Gray, Gisborne.
13 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
13 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
