SANDHURST fans again had value for money as Golden Square supporters celebrated a stunning victory against Strathfieldsaye in Saturday’s 17th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
At Queen Elizabeth Oval it was first against third as Sandhurst took on Gisborne.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne led 15-nil by quarter-time after gun forward Pat McKenna kicked two goals in the opening term on his way to a match-high seven majors.
Sandhurst responded to the challenge with a run of four unanswered goals in which Oliver Morris, Cobi Maxted twice, and Matt Wilkinson were on target.
Consecutive goals by McKenna made it 28-all before Maxted match that feat.
Gisborne scored the last goal of the half as Sandhurst led 40-34 at the break.
In the third it was Matt Merrett who was first to goal for the Bulldogs before back-to-back goals by Wilkinson gave the maroon and blue a 10-point buffer.
A James Gray goal for the Bulldogs was answered about eight minutes later by Charlie Robinson.
When McKenna goaled Gisborne was within five points going into the final term.
Another major by the brilliant McKenna put the Bulldogs in front early in the last.
Just as it had done the previous round on Strathfieldsaye’s turf, Sandhurst seized control.
Goals by Jaxon Howard, Dayten Uerata and Oliver Morris gave the maroon and blue a three-goal buffer.
Gisborne kept fighting and was rewarded with goals by McKenna and Brad Bernacki.
At 44 seconds to play the Bulldogs were within five points.
Both teams added a behind each as the Dragons clung on for an 83-78 victory.
Sandhurst’s attack was led by Cobi Maxted, Matt Wilkinson and Oliver Morris with four, three and two goals.
McKenna slotted a match-high seven goals for Gisborne as Matt Merrett kicked two.
Best for Sandhurst were Liam Ireland, Cobi Maxted, Oliver Morris, Nick Stagg, Matt Wilkinson and Dayten Uerata.
Gisborne’s best were Pat McKenna, Lucas Hannon, Zach Vescovi, Shane Clough, Brad Bernacki and James Gray.
A Sandhurst team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, heads to Castlemaine next Saturday and then has a rest in the first week of the finals campaign.
Gisborne will be back on home turf at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve to play Golden Square.
The Gisborne team will be fighting to reclaim its place in the top three and double chance at finals time.
Golden Square capped its best match of the season in a 90-51 win on its turf at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street against Strathfieldsaye.
The Bulldogs scored the last four goals of the opening quarter as Isaac Corvo, Archie Edwards by two, and Jack Stewart capped excellent team play.
By quarter-time the Brad Eaton and Liam Barrett-coached Golden Square led 31-14.
The blue and gold then charged to a six-goal lead in the 13th minute of term two as Lachlan Humphrey was on target and the talented Macey Eaton kicked consecutive goals.
Storm scored two goals for the quarter, but belief in the Golden Square team was rising as it led 57-28 at the long break.
The Bulldogs scored three goals straight and worked hard to limit Storm to a tally of 1.3 in the third term.
An evenly-fought final quarter went the way of the Dogs, 15-14, on the way to a 90-51 victory.
Macey Eaton capped a best-on-ground performance with three goals as Archie Edwards also slotted three goals as Isaac Corvo, Archie Eaton and Jack Stewart kicked two each.
The only multiple goalkicker for Strathfieldsaye was Pat Blake on two.
Best for Golden Square were Macey Eaton, Lachlan Monti, Zac Wescott, Jack McMahon, Noah Warfe and Archie Edwards.
Cooper Jones, Ben Lester, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Daniel Clohesy and Hugh Behrens were best for the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm.
It was a great finish to the Kangaroo Flat and South Bendigo clash at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
South Bendigo led 26-15 at quarter-time and then took control in the second.
As a Bloods’ line-up coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, scored three goals in the second it kept the Kangaroos to a behind.
The contest flipped dramatically in the third quarter.
Five unanswered goals by the Kangaroos put them up 49-48.
A Brock Harvey goal meant the Bloods led 56-50 going into the final term.
Defences were on top for most of the last quarter.
Harvey and Hawthorn premiership player James Frawley were on target for the Bloods as they fought on for a 71-58 victory against a much-improved Kangaroo Flat team.
Eight goals by South Bendigo gun forward and last season’s Ron Best medallist in Brock Harvey earnt best afield honours.
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by Nick Lang and Ethan Roberts with two goals each.
The Bloods’ best were Brock Harvey, Coen Harker, Zaydyn Lockwood, Nathan Horbury, Alex Davis and Hayden Geddes.
Best for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos were captain Ethan Roberts, Tyran Farmer, Angus Macpherson, Jarrell Ratcliffe, Nick Lang and Josh Leersen.
Castlemaine had many goalkickers in its win on Broadford’s turf at Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Magpies led 40-7 at quarter-time and then kicked eight goals in the second to hold an 81-point lead at the long break.
After being goalless in the first half of the round 15 clash and then scoring just one major a week later, Broadford had two goals across the opening hour against Castlemaine.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine scored four goals in term three and finished with eight in the last.
At the final siren the Magpies led 175-27.
Castlemaine’s attack was led by Michael Hartley, Chaz Holman and Darby Semmens on four goals each as Jacob Bauer and Kalan Huntly kicked three and Jack Sutherland added two.
For Broadford it was Isaac Smithwick who led the attack on two goals as Caylin Ingram and captain Adam Miles were also on target.
Best for Castlemaine were Darby Semmens, Harrison Sheahan, Jack Sutherland, Bodhi Robinson, Kalan Huntly and Ashton Frankling.
Owen Sloan, Ryder Primrose, Ben Thompson, Isaac Smithwick, Jay Eager and Harry Behan played well for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
Eaglehawk had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after 17 rounds:
Sandhurst 185 per cent, 52 points; Strathfieldsaye 155, 44; South Bendigo 147, 44; Gisborne 184, 40; Eaglehawk 159, 40; Castlemaine 117, 24; Golden Square 98, 16; Kangaroo Flat 60, 12; Broadford 10, 0.
There’s plenty for several teams to play for in Saturday’s 18th and final round in the home-and-away series.
Gisborne and Eaglehawk start the round locked on 40 points, but a chance to climb to the third rung.
It’s the showdown of two breed of Bulldog as Gisborne hosts Golden Square at Gardiner Reserve from 2.20pm.
Eaglehawk is almost 25 per cent behind Gisborne as the boys from the Borough take on Broadford at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Castlemaine tackles Sandhurst at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Strathfieldsaye is back in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane to play Kangaroo Flat.
The third-placed South Bendigo has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
74 Pat McKenna, Gis.
60 Brock Harvey, SB; James Schischka, S’saye.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
30 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Ben Thompson, Eh.
25 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis; Nick Thompson, Eh.
22 Brody Haddow, SB; Oliver Morris, Sh.
20 Brad Bernacki, Sh; Jacquin Mifsud, Eh.
19 Nick Lang, KF: Jack McMahon, GS; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
18 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Tom Strauch, GS; Oscar White, Eh.
17 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zach Charles, S’saye; Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Archie Eaton, GS; James Gray, Gis.; Jack Stewart, GS.
15 Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
