ROUND 9 FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Bloods aim for double against Gisborne
DEFEATING Gisborne twice in a season is a feat South Bendigo has not achieved for a long time in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
South Bendigo will be striving to do so when it tackles Gisborne in Saturday’s round nine clash at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval from 2.25pm.
The Bloods are on the rebound from a one-goal defeat at Strathfieldsaye last Saturday.
As the Bloods were overrun the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs kicked away in the second half to beat Kangaroo Flat by 117 points.
Back in round two it was a South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, which won at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve by 27 points.
A key factor for the Bloods was its workrate at centre clearances and stoppages.
The Bloods have talented ruckman Callum Crisp, and the hard-working Brody Haddow, Anthony Zimmerman and Joel Swatton at ground level.
Huge plus for Gisborne is the return of ruckman Braidon Blake who was joint Michelsen medallist as league fairest and best last season with clubmate Brad Bernacki and Sandhurst’s Lachlan Tardrew.
Huge task for a South Bendigo defence led by Alex Davis, Luke Darling, Tom Brereton and Hayden Geddes against Gisborne’s Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy, Matt Merrett and Pat McKenna.
South Bendigo regains Kaiden Antonowicz to team up with Brock Harvey, Steven Stroobants and Will Allen in attack.
The Bulldogs’ defence includes Jed Denahy, Elijah Bretherton, Zac Vescovi and Ryan Bourke.
Another big match will be at Queen Elizabeth Oval where Sandhurst takes on Strathfieldsaye.
Beaten just once in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Sandhurst will be wary of a resurgent Storm.
As the Dragons won last Saturday’s match at Castlemaine by 18 goals, Storm turned a four-goal deficit at half-time into a one-goal win against South Bendigo at Triple M Park.
In round two Sandhurst won in Storm territory in Tannery Lane by 50 points.
Key players for a Dragons team co-coached by Bryce Curnow and Lachlan Tardrew include Fergus Greene and Tom Campbell in attack, Hugh Schmetzer, James Coghlan, Nick Stagg and Cooper Smith.
The Dragons again have Essendon VFL-listed player Dayten Uerata in this Saturday’s line-up.
A strong Sandhurst defence includes Liam Ireland, Lachlan Wright, Matt Wilkinson and Darcy Mills.
There were significant changes for Storm as several of the young stars who played key roles against the Bloods return to Coates Talent League action with Bendigo Pioneers.
Premiership players Sam Heavyside and Jake Moorhead led Storm’s charge to victory against South Bendigo.
In defence the Luke Freeman-coached Storm has Ben Lester, Kya Lanfranchi, Pat Blandford and Lachlan Ratcliffe.
Other key players for Strathfieldsaye include Bode Stevens in the centre, Cooper Jones and ruckman George Simpson.
Golden Square will be back on home turf in Wade Street against Castlemaine.
Both teams will be desperate to start well, especially Castlemaine which needs a win to stay in touch with the top five.
When these clubs met in round two the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine won at Camp Reserve by 50 points.
After a disappointing first quarter at Eaglehawk last round, Golden Square fought hard to be outscored by just 16 points across the next three terms.
Best for the Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs against the Hawks were on-baller Terence Reeves, midfielder Tom Strauch, Luke Holt, Lachlan Humphrey and Zack Shelton.
Keys to the blue and gold’s chances of beaing the Magpies include Jordan Rosengren, ruckman Daniel Keating, captain Jayden Burke, Jake Maher and Harry Burke.
A two-six record has Castlemaine in sixth place and two wins adrift of the fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye at the halfway mark.
The Magpies welcome back Jack Chester, Archie Rixon, Harrison Sheahan and John Watson.
Best in the clash with Sandhurst were ruckman Patrik Balta, Liam Wilkinson, Rhys Jenkins, Darby Semmens, Ryan Eyre and Kalan Huntly.
Kangaroo Flat takes on Eaglehawk on the Roos’ turf at Dower Park.
There were plenty of positives to take from Kangaroo Flat’s play at Gisborne particularly in the first half in which the young Roos scored three goals and kept the Dogs to seven majors.
In the final hour the far more experienced Gisborne took control against the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat.
It’s another big test for Roos’ ruckman Angus Macpherson and on-ballers Ethan Roberts, Kyle Symons and Aaron Nevins.
The Roos named Zach Rouse in the centre.
Wherever he plays, Nick Lang gives his all in what will be his 251st senior match for the Kangaroos.
The Roos’ best at Gisborne included Zach Bird, Jake Hywood and Luke Stagg.
In round two the Hawks almost hit the 150-point mark.
Kangaroo Flat must bring a high level of pressure when the skilful and hard-running Hawks have possession.
Eaglehawk forward Jack O’Shannessy has jumped to the lead on the goalkicking ladder for the Ron Best Medal.
O’Shannessy’s strong marking and work at ground level will be tough for the Roos to hold all match.
The in-form forward was charged by the Match Review Officer for rough conduct against Golden Square and was reprimanded after lodging an early guilty plea.
A strong Hawks’ attack includes Sam O’Shannessy, Blake McGregor and Jack Thompson.
The Borough welcome Bailey Ilsley for his first senior match of the season.
Players to watch for the Two Blues include Tyh Evans on a wing, ruck-rover Ben Thompson and Pala Kuma.
A defence that includes Jonty Neaves, Jack Donat, Sam Thompson and Charlie Langford links well to support each other.
Hawks’ non-playing co-coach Travis Matheson will again be joined on the sidelines by in-form forward and co-coach Clayton Holmes who is recovering from knee soreness.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 234 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 160, 28; Eaglehawk 179, 24; South Bendigo 135, 20; Strathfieldsaye 101, 16; Castlemaine 67, 8; Golden Square 61, 4; Kangaroo Flat 27, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
26 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
24 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
22 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
21 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
20 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
16 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
15 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
14 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
13 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
13 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
12 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
12 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
12 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
12 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
12 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
11 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
11 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
10 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
10 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.
9 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
9 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
9 Charlie Robinson, Sandhurst.
9 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
8 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.
8 James Gray, Gisborne.
8 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 John Watson, Castlemaine.
7 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
7 Nick Keogh, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
