THE showdown between Sandhurst and Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval highlights round 17 in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
A big clash between first and third starts at 2.20pm.
These clubs have played out many great matches, including finals, across the past two decades.
Many of them have been on the famous QEO.
Defeat could put Gisborne out of the top three and fighting to regain a double chance in the 18th round.
Sandhurst marked a one-point thriller in the Bendigo Health Round match at Strathfieldsaye last Saturday as Gisborne scored 258 points in its clash with Gisborne at home.
On-ball duels will be a highlight.
Sandhurst ruckman Connor Sexton teams superbly with on-ballers Cooper Smith and Matt Wilkinson and centreman Dayten Uerata.
In attack the Dragons have Hugh Schmetzer, Cobi Maxted, Nick Stagg and Finlay Lockhart.
On a wing or closer to goal, Sandhurst co-coach Fergus Greene is a key cog in this team.
A line-up which has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach includes Caleb Connick, Liam Ireland, Oliver Morris and Lachlan Wright.
The Gisborne attack was in hot form against Broadford as full-forward Pat McKenna kicked 12 goals to lead the race for the Ron Best Medal by seven.
Also lurking inside the forward 50m arc for the Bulldogs are Harry Luxmoore, Matt Merrett, Shane Clough and James Gray.
Players to watch in the red, white and blue include captain Zach Vescovi in defence, Brad Bernacki in the centre, Adam Brancatisano, Dylan Johnstone, Will Elliott and Thomas Werner.
After a breakthrough victory on Golden Square’s turf, Kangaroo Flat is back home at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park to take on South Bendigo.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos marked their best performance of the season against the Bulldogs and will be striving to build on the momentum of that victory.
Doing so will not be an easy task against South Bendigo.
Key players for the Kangaroos include Aaron Nevins, Jeremy Rodi, captain Ethan Roberts, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Nick Lang, Tyran Farmer, Max Johnson, Jake Hywood.
In-form players for the Bloods include Brody Haddow, co-captain Zac Hare, Zaydyn Lockwood, Sam Langley and Anthony Zimmerman.
South Bendigo welcomes back Hawthorn premiership player and key forward James Frawley for his first match since the win against Sandhurst to reclaim the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup in round six.
A team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, includes gun forward Brock Harvey, Isaiah Miller, Callum Crisp, Coen Harker and Will Allen.
Former coach Nathan Horbury was also named to play for the red and white.
Golden Square is back at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street to play Strathfieldsaye.
There’s a fierce rivalry between these clubs.
When they met in King’s Birthday round it was Storm which won on home turf by 39 points.
Huge test for the Brad Eaton and Liam Barrett-coached Golden Square against a hard-running and skilful opponent.
Key players for the Bulldogs include Harry Burke, Jordan Rosengren, Tom Strauch, Adam Baird and Jack Stewart.
There’s a lot to like about the play of youngsters such as Archie Eaton, Noah Warfe, and Logan and Zac Wescott.
Strathfieldsaye forwards James Schischka, Zach Charles, Tyson McKenzie and Siologa Siu will test the Bulldogs in every quarter.
The high-leaping Drew Lloyd who is on Port Melbourne’s list in the VFL returns to play his fifth match for the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm this season.
Many of Storm’s attacks are generated by the likes of Daniel Clohesy, Riley Wilson, Jack Bell, Riley Mulquiny and ruckman Tim Hosking.
A strong defence is led by Cooper Jones, Hunter Lawrence, Ben Lester and Lachlan Ratcliffe.
In what will be his fifth senior game of the season, Hugh Behrens is another of the exciting crop of youngsters in Storm’s squad to watch.
Broadford tackles Castlemaine at Harley Hammond Reserve.
It’s been a daunting run for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford which has played South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne the past three rounds.
On the King’s Birthday weekend it was Castlemaine which scored a 207-point win against Broadford at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
Broadford will be determined to end a run of 200-plus scores against.
Key players for the Kangaroos include Bryce Fleming, Oliver Lubeck, Adam Miles, Owen Sloan, Isaac Smithwick, Ben and Louis Thompson, and Jay Eager.
Seb Morris returns for his first match since the 14th round.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine is chasing its sixth victory of the season.
The Magpies played well last Saturday, but could not halt Eaglehawk kicking clear in the final term to win by 29 points.
Players to watch for Castlemaine include former Richmond forward Jacob Bauer, and skilful on-baller Dylan Landt who has starred for St Mary’s in the Northern Territory Football League.
The Magpies also have former AFL player Michael Hartley, Jaise Coleman, John Watson, Riley Pedretti, Darby Semmens, and Harrison Sheahan in their line-up.
Eaglehawk has the bye
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after 16 rounds:
Sandhurst 193 per cent, 48 points; Strathfieldsaye 164, 44; Gisborne 192, 40; Eaglehawk 159, 40; South Bendigo 148, 40; Castlemaine 105, 20; Golden Square 94, 12; Kangaroo Flat 59, 12; Broadford 10, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
67 Pat McKenna, Gis.
60 James Schischka, S’saye.
53 Brock Harvey, SB.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Ben Thompson, Eh.
25 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
21 Brody Haddow, SB; Nick Thompson, Eh.
20 Jacquin Mifsud, Eh; Oliver Morris, Sh.
19 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Jack McMahon, GS; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
18 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Nick Lang, KF; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Tom Strauch, GS; Oscar White, Eh.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zach Charles, S’saye.
15 James Gray, Gis.; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
