KANGAROO Flat and Broadford will be jumping at the chance to mark a long-awaited senior footy victory when the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s split fourth round is completed on Saturday.
Two mobs of Kangaroos will meet at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park for the Pat Cronin Foundation Round marquee match.
Play will start at 2.20pm.
Every player will wear a yellow armband bearing the message, “Let’s End the Coward Punch” to spark conversations and keep the message being heard.
Kangaroo Flat has not won since the 11th round of the 2024 season when it beat Maryborough at Dower Park by 13 goals.
After a two-year recess on the footy front, Broadford has returned to action.
Broadford’s most recent victory was on July 1, 2023 when it beat Yarra Junction by 44 points in the 10th round of the Outer East FNL’s second division.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat will start favourite to take the points this round.
There were plenty of positives signs by the Roos in their round three showdown on Eaglehawk’s turf at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Kangaroo Flat was in front halfway through the third quarter before the Hawks scored nine unanswered goals on the way to a 112-73 victory.
Key players for Kangaroo Flat include ruckman Angus Macpherson, Nick Keogh, Max Johnson, Mitch Rovers, Nick Lang and Aaron Nevins.
A huge plus is the inclusion of the skilful and hard-running Jeremy Rodi for his first match of the season.
Been a tough run for Broadford which has played South Bendigo, Sandhurst and Golden Square.
A goal for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford will be staying competitive for longer in every quarter.
Best for Broadford in its round three match at home against Golden Square were Jaiden Magor, Charles Neilson, Adam Miles, Isaac Smithwick, Rhys Carman and Louis Thompson.
Two of the league’s greatest rivals in Sandhurst and Golden Square will fight for victory at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Both clubs have met in many grand finals across the decades.
The switch by gun goalkicker Ron Best to leave Golden Square to coach Sandhurst to a premiership was one of the biggest transfers in the history of country footy.
A Michelsen medallist in his time with Sandhurst, Brian Walsh kicked on to play for Carlton and Essendon and on his return coached Golden Square to multiple premiership wins.
On Saturday it will be a Sandhurst team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, which starts favourites.
The Dragons have had plenty of time on the sidelines as their round two win at Broadford was followed by a bye and then a stand-alone match between South Bendigo and Sandhurst on Anzac Day.
Key match-ups for the Dragons and Bulldogs include Sandhurst centre half-forward Tom Campbell against Isaac Corvo, and Cobi Maxted against Noah Warfe.
Dragons’ ruckman Connor Sexton is in for his first senior game of the season and will take on gun recruit Liam Hoy.
Another great battle will be the in-form Lachie Hood against Bulldogs’ ruck-rover Jordan Rosengren.
Players to watch in the maroon and blue include Nick Stagg, Oliver Morris, Liam Ireland and Lachlan Wright.
The Bulldogs’ best in their first win of the season were Jack Stewart, Terry Reeves, Tommi Turner, Lachlan Humphrey and Tom Strauch.
It will be a crucial match at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane where Strathfieldsaye Storm faces Castlemaine.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye beat South Bendigo on Good Friday, had a bye, and was then beaten at Gisborne by 35 points.
Storm takes on an opponent which is fourth on a two-one record.
Ins for Storm are co-captain Daniel Clohesy, Jack Bell, Tyce Griffin, Ben Lester and Riley Wilson.
The outs for Strathfieldsaye are Zac Grieve, Mitch Hallinan, Ned Hayes and Archie Stevens.
Key players for Storm include James Schishcka and Zach Charles in attack, Hunter Lawrence, co-captain Lachlan Ratcliffe and Kya Lanfranchi.
A premiership winner with Storm, Bailey Henderson returns to Triple M Park as playing coach of the Magpies.
Best for Castlemaine in the six-goal loss to South Bendigo were Michael Hartley, Bailey Henderson, Callum McConachy, Harrison Sheahan, Ashton Frankling and Oscar Giddings.
On Anzac Day it was South Bendigo which won a top match against Eaglehawk under the QEO lights by 17 points.
Gisborne has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
South Bendigo 168 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 322, 8; Gisborne 170, 8; Castlemaine 123, 8; Eaglehawk 103, 8; Golden Square 141, 4; Strathfieldsaye 87, 4; Kangaroo Flat 42, 0; Broadford 11, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
15 Brock Harvey, SB.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Pat McKenna, Gis.; Alex Smith, SB.
10 Michael Hartley, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.
8 Brody Haddow, SB; Ben Thompson, Eh.
7 Zac Denahy, Gis.; James Frawley, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Archie Rixon, Cm; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
6 Archie Eaton, GS; Coen Harker, SB; Nick Keogh, KF; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Jack Stewart, GS; Jack Thompson, Eh.
