ROUND 8 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
BY NATHAN DOLE
Lots at stake for Storm, Bloods
THERE’S plenty at stake as Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo meet in Saturday’s eighth round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
It’s fifth against fourth in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane from 2.20pm.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm scored a crucial win at home last round against Castlemaine to now be a win and more than 23 per cent clear of the sixth-placed Magpies.
A win for South Bendigo will keep the heat on Eaglehawk in the fight for a top-three finish and double chance in the finals series.
A point separated these clubs when they met in round one on South Bendigo’s turf at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Tom Brereton, co-coach Jack Fallon, Kaiden Antonowicz and Mac Cameron were the Bloods’ best in an 80-79 victory.
Small forwards Brock Harvey, Antonowicz and Steven Stroobants will test Storm’s defence all match.
The back six for Strathfieldsaye includes Patrick Blandford, Kya Lanfranchi, Ethan Featherby and Lachlan Ratcliffe.
A highlight will be the midfield duels where Storm has Hunter Lawrence, Bode Stevens and Cooper Jones to take on Jake Rusbridge, Jesse Collins and Joel Swatton.
Strathfieldsaye will need big games from Michelsen medallist and on-baller Jake Moorhead, ruckman George Simpson, and rover Sam Heavyside.
It’s also a return for South Bendigo non-playing co-coach Troy Coates to a ground he knows well from his time as a playing premirship coach for Strathfieldsaye.
Another big match will be at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve where the Magpies take on the ladder-leading Sandhurst.
A two-five record has Castlemaine in sixth place, but not out of the finals race.
A loss to the red-hot Dragons will make the quest to play finals more difficult for the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine.
A key for the Magpies will be workrate at centre clearances and stoppages.
Key players for Castlemaine include ruckman Patrik Balta, Hunter Staples, Kalan Huntly, Will Moran, Brodie Byrne, Jack Chester and Liam Wilkinson.
Sandhurst co-captain Fergus Greene marked his return from a broken leg sustained in the round one victory against Castlemaine by kicking five goals in the win at Eaglehawk last round.
The Dragons also welcome back Dayten Uerata who has played the past two rounds in the reserves for the maroon and blue.
A formidable squad for the reigning premier includes co-coach and Michelsen medallist Lachlan Tardrew, Nick Stagg, Lachlan Wright, Cooper Smith and James Coghlan.
The Dragons who have Bryce Curnow as co-coach have also had Tom Campbell, Hugh Schmetzer have a big impact in their first season with the club.
Another chapter in the great rivalry between Eaglehawk and Golden Square will be played out at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The Hawks are on the rebound from defeat to Sandhurst, while Golden Square took it right up to Gisborne in the seventh round.
On-ball contests will be a highlight in this showdown between the Hawks and Golden Square.
Eaglehawk ruckman Brayden Frost takes on Daniel Keating, while on-ballers Tyh Evans and Joel Budarick will be opposed to Jordan Rosengren and Terence Reeves.
In the centre Hawks’ captain Billy Evans is one of the club’s most consistent players.
Golden Square named Tom Strauch in the centre.
It’s a different attack for the Two Blues as co-coach Clayton Holmes is out.
Eaglehawk will have Jack and Sam O’Shannessy, Joel Mullen, and Blake McGregor in attack.
The Hawks have the run of Jack Donat, Pala Kuma and Charlie Langford from half-back.
It’s another big test for the Hawks who have Travis Matheson as non-playing co-coach.
Chances of Golden Square marking an upset win will rely heavily on the play of captain Jayden Burke across half-forward, Zack Shelton and Luke Holt in defence, Brodie James and Harrison Kelly on the wings.
The Bulldogs also regain talented forward Jack Stewart for his first senior match since round two at Castlemaine.
Second in the premiership race, Gisborne will be back on its turf at Gardiner Reserve to play Kangaroo Flat.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne had to fight hard to beat Golden Square in round seven.
Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy and Matt Merrett are likely to have plenty of scoring chances.
A strong team coached by Rob Waters includes Michelsen medallist Brad Bernacki, rover James Gray, Thomas Werner on a wing, Boyd Nalder in the ruck, Jed Denahy and Zach Vescovi in defence.
Highlight for Kangaroo Flat will be ruckman/forward Nick Lang playing his 250th senior match for the club.
After playing for Kerang in 2023 and ’24, Lang returned to the Roos this season.
It’s been an amazing career for Lang who is one of the best and most consistent players in Kangaroo Flat’s history.
A goal for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat is to keep racking up wins contest by contest, minute by minute, quarter by quarter.
Key players for the Roos include captain Ethan Roberts, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Jake Hywood, Nick Keogh, Toby Roberts, Daniel and Luke Stagg.
Talented teen Xavier Coghill has featured in the Roos’ best the past three matches.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 218 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 141, 24; Eaglehawk 175, 20; South Bendigo 141, 20; Strathfieldsaye 100, 12; Castlemaine 77, 8; Golden Square 63, 4; Kangaroo Flat 27, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
22 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
20 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
19 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
18 Jack O’shannessy, Eaglehawk.
16 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
16 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
13 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
12 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
10 Billy Evans, Eagleawk.
10 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
9 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
9 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
9 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
9 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
9 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.
8 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
8 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.
8 James Gray, Gisborne.
8 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
8 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
7 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
7 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
7 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
6 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
6 John Watson, Castlemaine.
