ROUND 5 WEEK 2 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
BY NATHAN DOLE
Kangaroos aiming to break Golden Square hoodoo
KANGAROO Flat will aim to break Golden Square’s hoodoo when they meet in Saturday’s match to complete the split fifth round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
Past 45 matches between the Roos and Bulldogs have all been won by Golden Square.
A Kangaroos’ line-up which has Tyrone Downie in his second stint as senior coach of the club will be on home turf at Dower Park to tackle the Bulldogs from 2.20pm.
Both teams will be desperate to mark their first win of the season.
Most recent hit-out for the Kangaroos was against the ladder-leading Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The round four clash ended in a 171-15 win for the reigning premier.
Roos’ captain Ethan Roberts was best again as Shaun Watson, Zach Rouse and Daniel Stagg also played well.
Key match-ups for the Roos in this clash with the Bulldogs include Nick Lang in the ruck against Daniel Keating, Kyle Symons as ruck-rover against Jordan Rosengren, and Angus Macpherson at full-forward opposed to Zack Shelton.
Kangaroo Flat defenders Daniel Stagg and Zach Rouse have crucial roles to play against Tommi Turner and Bulldogs’ captain Jayden Burke.
Other players to watch in the green and white include Sam Barnes, Xavier Dingfelder-Hope, Zach Bird and Josh Leersen.
The Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square has the experienced Jon Coe in defence, Terence Reeves as rover, Jake Maher and Drew Barrett.
It will be a memorable day for the Eaton family as Ollie Eaton marks his first senior match for the Bulldogs.
Golden Square has the running power and skill of Brodie and Carson James, Harrison Kelly, Melvic Pambai and Tom Strauch.
Across the city it will be Eaglehawk on home turf at Canterbury Park against Strathfieldsaye.
The Hawks are on the rebound from their first defeat of the season while Storm chases back-to-back wins for the first time in ’25.
Best for the Hawks in an 11-point loss at home to Gisborne in round four were co-coach Clayton Holmes, ruckman Brayden Frost, captain Billy Evans, and on-baller Ben Thompson.
The Hawks’ team to face Storm includes Joel Mullen in the centre, Jack O’Shannessy and Ethan Hanley in attack, Charlie Langford, Tyh Evans and Aydan Hanley in defence.
Eaglehawk’s non-playing coach Travis Matheson will also look for a high level of workrate from wingmen Thomas Bennett and Jordy Holland to set up attacks and also move back to support the back six.
Strathfieldsaye broke its season ‘duck’ when it scored a 62-43 win at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane last round.
Premiership-winning on-baller Sam Heavyside was best afield and had great support from Riley Wilson, Tim Hosking and Charlie King.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm has a strong half-back line of Cooper Jones, Lachlan Ratcliffe and Jake Moorhead who earnt a Michelsen Medal playing in an on-ball role.
Storm’s defence includes Patrick Blandford, Charles Dole and Kya Lanfranchi.
Big test for Tim Hosking in the ruck and for on-ballers Mitch Hallinan and Jai Featherby.
Storm named Zach Charles, Jed Daniels and Charlie Simpson in attack.
Week one of the split fifth round was marked by Sandhurst retaining the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup when it beat South Bendigo by 77 points at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Gisborne won a hard-fought match against Castlemaine on Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve by 21 points.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 282 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 148, 16; Eaglehawk 206, 12; South Bendigo 92, 12; Castlemaine 85, 8; Strathfieldsaye 86, 4; Golden Square 50, 0; Kangaroo Flat 25, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
15 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
14 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
11 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
11 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
11 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
10 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
10 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
9 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
9 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
8 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
8 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.
7 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
7 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
7 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
