SANDHURST marked a 31-point win against Castlemaine as they met in Saturday’s ninth round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons raced to a 25-9 lead by quarter-time and were up, 50-24 by the long break.
A closely-fought third quarter went the way of the Dragons, 26-18.
Accuracy was a key factor in term three as Sandhurst scored 4.2 as the Magpies rued a tally of 2.6.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine worked hard to win the final quarter, 15-12, but it was Sandhurst which celebrated an 88-57 victory.
Oliver Stewart led the Dragons’ attack on three goals as Gus Hay and Oliver Morris added two each.
The Magpies had seven goalkickers in a score of 7.15.
Best for Sandhurst were Oliver Stewart, Wil Pinniger, Fergus Greene, Oliver Morris, Matt Wilkinson and Cobi Maxted.
A Dragons’ team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, is third in the premiership race on a six-two record.
Castlemaine’s best were on-baller Dylan Landt, Jack Sutherland, Harrison Sheahan, Jaise Coleman, Rhys Jenkins and Michael Hartley.
Seven goals in the first quarter set up Gisborne’s win on Golden Square’s ground at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
Stung by a loss to Sandhurst at home the previous round, Gisborne made a flying start in the clash of the league’s two breed of Bulldog.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne scored the first six goals of the match as David Baynon and Dominic Sullivan slotted two each and Kobe Zerafa and Pat McKenna added one each.
Golden Square’s sole goal in the first term was off the boot of Isaac Corvo.
A second major by McKenna gave Gisborne a 47-8 lead at the first break.
Golden Square struck back in the early minutes of the second term with goals by Lachlan Humphrey and Tom Strauch.
A Ryan Bourke goal gave Gisborne a 29-point buffer.
The blue and gold answered with goals by Jordan Rosengren and Billy Buhagiar.
Final goal of the half was booted by Baynon as Gisborne led 64-36 at the long break.
Goals by Strauch and Jack McMahon lifted Golden Square’s hopes early in the third term.
Gisborne hit back through McKenna and Brad Bernacki.
McMahon’s second goal cut the deficit to 22 points going into the final term.
When McMahon goaled the blue and gold was within 15 points at 20 minutes to play.
A Bernacki major and then consecutive goals by Sullivan snuffed out Golden Square’s hopes.
Strauch and Jack Stewart capped fine teamwork with goals for Golden Square, but it was Gisborne which was up 97-75 at the final siren.
The Gisborne attack was led by Dominic Sullivan on four goals as David Baynon and Pat McKenna kicked three each and Brad Bernacki booted two.
Leading goalkickers for Golden Square were Jack McMahon and Tom Strauch on three each.
Best for Gisborne were ???
???? played well for a Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing.
Strathfieldsaye grabbed top spot on the ladder after a 76-point victory on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
Storm won the first term, 35-9, but the Kangaroos bounced back to win the second, 15-7.
An eight-goal blitz by Strathfieldsaye as it kept the Roos to just two behinds in the third term put the result beyond doubt.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm had surged to a 68-point lead going into the final term.
By the final siren Strathfieldsaye led 110-34.
Key forward James Schischka capped a great match with four goals for Strathfieldsaye as the classy Tyson McKenzie kicked three and Tyce Griffin added two.
Leading goalkicker for the Kangaroos was Mitch Collins on two.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Ethan Featherby, Daniel Clohesy, Riley Mulquiny, Tyson McKenzie, Tim Hosking and Tyce Griffin.
Jake Hywood, Mitch Collins, Aaron Nevins, Isaac Lowndes, Zach Bird and Max Johnson played well for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat.
Reigning premier, Eaglehawk regained its place in the five after a 218-point win on Broadford’s ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Hawks racked up a score of 32.32 (224) as Broadford booted two goals.
Eaglehawk slammed on eight goals in the first term, five in the second, and eight in the third.
Intensity at the contest and run by the Two Blues did not ease up as they scored 11 goals in the last to complete a 224-16 victory.
The Borough’s attack was led by Jack O’Shannessy and Ben Thompson with five goals apiece.
Deacon Marsh kicked four as Jack Donat, Joel Mullen and Oscar White booted three each and Lewin Davis and Jack Thompson added two.
On-baller Ben Thompson earned best afield honours as ruckman Callum Heath, Nick Hoare, wingman Oscar White, Tyh Evans and the hard-working Joel Mullen were among best for the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Hawks.
In a career spanning 319 matches for the club, Sam Thompson who is a reliable back pocket or half-back also went into attack to slot a goal.
Was a tough afternoon for Broadford in which Louis Thompson, captain Adam Miles, Riley Edwards, Jacob Street-Glasson, Charles Neilson and Oliver Lubeck were best.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 176 per cent, 28 points; South Bendigo 167, 28; Gisborne 173, 24; Sandhurst 162, 24; Eaglehawk 138, 16; Castlemaine 125, 12; Golden Square 97, 8; Kangaroo Flat 57, 4; Broadford 10, 0.
Next Saturday’s round 10 will be highlighted by a showdown of the ladder leaders, and rematch of last season’s grand finalists.
It’s first against second as Strathfieldsaye plays on South Bendigo’s turf at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington from 2.20pm.
Sandhurst takes on Eaglehawk in the rematch of the ’25 grand finalists at nearby Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Golden Square’s back on home turf at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street to play Castlemaine.
It’s the Kangaroos against the Bulldogs as Kangaroo Flat meets Gisborne at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
Broadford has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
31 Pat McKenna, Gis.
30 James Schischka, S’saye.
27 Michael Hartley, Cm.
25 Brock Harvey, SB.
19 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
18 Ben Thompson, Eh.
17 Nick Keogh, KF.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Fergus Greene, Sh.
14 Brody Haddow, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
13 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Alex Smith, SB; Tom Strauch, GS.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Archie Rixon, Cm; Jordan Rosengren, GS.
