EAGLEHAWK gains some valuable inclusions for this Saturday’s round five clash with Strathfieldsaye Storm in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The Hawks and Storm will play on the Borough’s turf at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park from 2.20pm.
Ins for the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk are ruckman Callum Heath, hard-running half-back Jack Donat, key defender Charlie Langford, and skilful small forward Lewin Davis.
At Strathfieldsaye there’s just one change to the team which beat Castlemaine by 55 points at Triple M Park last round.
Sam Heavyside will play his first senior match of the season after a comeback through the reserves last round as Tyce Griffin goes out of the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm.
It’s a huge clash for both clubs who are locked on two wins, but Storm has a game in hand.
Latest hit-out for Eaglehawk was on Anzac Day when a top contest with South Bendigo under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval ended in a 17-point win for the Bloods.
A highlight of the Hawks and Storm showdown will be the on-ball duels.
Eaglehawk has Callum Heath teaming up at centre ball-ups with Michelsen medallists Billy Evans and Noah Wheeler, and Nick Hoare.
Huge roles will be played by Storm ruckman George Simpson and by Riley Wilson, gun recruit Tyson McKenzie, and the talented Jaidi Jackson-Leahy.
In attack the Hawks have Jordan Mangan, Ben and Nick Thompson as strong marking targets, and Lewin Davis, Joel Mullen and Blake McGregor at ground level.
They are up against a Storm defence led by Lachlan Ratcliffe, Cooper Jones, Hunter Lawrence and Patrick Blandford.
At the other end of the ground Hawks’ defenders Charlie Langford, Jonty Neaves, Tyh Evans and Sam Thompson take on Zach Charles, James Schischka, Zane Keighran and Sam Heavyside.
Down the Calder Highway and it’s Castlemaine against Gisborne at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Magpies made a flying start to the season by beating Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat, but was outpointed by South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye the past two rounds.
Castlemaine’s task does not become easier against the third-placed Gisborne which has a two-one record.
The Magpies added just one goal in the second half of the match with Strathfieldsaye, and faced a six-goal deficit at quarter-time against South Bendigo.
Best for Castlemaine at Strathfieldsaye were Callum McConachy, Zack Derksen, Zavier Murley, Darcy Semmens, Hunter Staples and Rhys Jenkins.
The Magpies’ squad includes Michael Hartley, Kalan Huntly and Darby Semmens.
A powerful attack for Gisborne includes Zac Denahy, Harry Luxmoore and Pat McKenna.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne has the running power and skill of Brad Bernacki, Shane Clough, Dylan Johnstone, Adam Brancatisano, Thomas Werner and Matt Merrett.
After breaking a lengthy winless run, Kangaroo Flat makes its way to Queen Elizabeth Oval to play Sandhurst.
The Kangaroos will have gained plenty of confidence from a 93-point win against Broadford in what was the marquee match of the Pat Cronin Foundation Round.
Pressure from the Dragons will be at a much greater intensity and for longer.
Key match-ups for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos include Tyran Farmer at centre half-back against Tom Campbell, Daniel Stagg at full-back against Cobi Maxted, and Aaron Nevins ruck-roving against Lachie Hood.
In attack the Roos have Nick Keogh, Nick Lang and Max Johnson to compete in the air and Sam Barnes and Mitch Rovers at ground level.
Kangaroo Flat’s in-form ruckman Angus Macpherson will take on Coonor Sexton.
The unbeaten Sandhurst has plenty of options for midfield and on-ball rotations.
Players to watch for the Dragons include Cooper Smith, Oliver Morris, Matt Wilkinson, Nick Stagg, Darcy Mills and Caleb Connick.
A team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, is likely to be perched on top of the ladder at the end of this match.
Golden Square has the bye.
It’s also a rest for Broadford and South Bendigo who played in the stand-alone season launch on March 28 at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Bloods marked a 205-point victory.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
South Bendigo 168 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 263, 12; Gisborne 170, 8; Strathfieldsaye 109, 8; Eaglehawk 103, 8; Castlemaine 101, 8; Golden Square 120, 4; Kangaroo Flat 68, 4; Broadford 17, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
15 Brock Harvey, SB.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Nick Keogh, KF; Pat McKenna, Gis.; Alex Smith, SB.
10 Michael Hartley, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.
8 Archie Eaton, GS; Brody Haddow, SB; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Archie Rixon, Cm; Ben Thompson, Eh.
7 Zac Denahy, Gis.; James Frawley, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
6 Pat Blake, S’saye; Tom Campbell, Sh; Coen Harker, SB; James Schischka, S’saye; Jack Stewart, GS; Jack Thompson, Eh.
