BY NATHAN DOLE
Double chance at stake on Serpentine turf
THIRD place and a double chance at senior footy finals time is at stake when Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Bridgewater in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Bears have home-ground advantage at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve for a crucial match which starts at 2.15pm.
In the premiership race the Bears and Mean Machine are locked on 36 points, but Bridgewater holds third spot as it’s more than 16 per cent clear of BLS.
When these clubs met in round five it was the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater which won 90-64.
Bridgewater will be keen to bounce back after a 47-point loss at home to Pyramid Hill last round.
A Bridgewater attack that includes Lachlan Sharp, Josh Martyn, Harry Conway and Andy Collins will be tough for the Bears to hold across four quarters.
Other key players for the Mean Machine include Boden Alexander, Lee Coghlan, Zane Hoiles, Jack Neylon and Tyler Estrada.
After lodging an early guilty plea, Ben Irvine is clear to play for Bridgewater after being reprimanded for striking.
Although they are without gun forward Josh Mellington following surgery to repair a hamstring injury, the Bears have played terrific footy.
Last Saturday the Bears were within 10 points of Marong at the final siren.
Key players for BLS include Tyler Miles, Charlie Gadsden, Andy Gladman, coach Jake Wilkinson, Justin Laird, Farran Priest, Ross Turner and Nathan Twigg.
Inglewood is four points and significant percentage behind the fifth-placed Newbridge.
A win for the Fergus Payne-coached Blues against Maiden Gully YCW at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval will be crucial.
When these clubs met in round five the Blues won 124-68 on Maiden Gully YCW’s turf at Marist College Oval.
Although it’s eighth on no premiership points, Maiden Gully YCW has marked three wins.
The Eagles were docked 12 points before the season started for not fielding an under-18s team.
As the Eagles had the bye last round, Inglewood was outpointed by Newbridge.
Inglewood welcomes back talented big man Will Allen for his first match since round nine against Marong.
Key players for the Blues include Daniel Polack, Keelan Payne, Tom Kennedy, Luke Matheson, Cody Stobaus and Lachlan Ford.
An Eagles line-up jointly coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, won its most recent hit-out against Mitiamo by 57 points.
Maiden Gully YCW’s team for this round includes captain Josh Worsley, Todd Delaney, Ed Crisp, Bryce Franzini, Thomas Pridgeon, Mitch Whitham, Josiah Farrer and Ryan Strauch.
The in-form Pyramid Hill is back on its turf at Mitchell Park to take on Mitiamo.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs have teamed brilliantly the past two rounds to beat Marong and Bridgewater.
A strong attack for Pyramid Hill includes Zach Alford, Bailey Scott, Braidy Dickens and Jesse Sheahan.
The red, white and blue is likely to have Ben Knight, Seb Relouw, Damon Hemphill, Jack Timmins and Steven Gunther win plenty of the footy.
Despite a winless run the will of Mitiamo’s players to keep improving has impressed coach Jon Varcoe.
The Superoos’ team to take on the Bulldogs includes Eli Spiers in the ruck, Zach Morrison as ruck-rover, Luke Lougoon and Bryce Laird playing from a half-back flank, Ryan Duncan, Brayden Baines and Kobe Galvin in attack.
Marong will be back at East West Oval in Malone Park to take on Calivil United.
Been a testing fortnight for the Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers who were beaten at Pyramid Hill but hit back to win a hard-fought clash on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine’s turf.
The Panthers will be without Kain Robins, but still have plenty of goalkicking power through the likes of Ryley Taylor, Ryan Wellington, Jack and Noah McCaig.
Huge plus for Marong is the return of ruckman Michael Bradbury for his first match since round four against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Panthers also have the running power and skill of Nathan Devanny, Ben Gregg, Jimmy and Will Gadsden.
Calivil United played well to beat Mitiamo by 50 points last Saturday at John Forbes Oval.
The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons will need Ben Baker, Jack and Sam Maher, Rhys Lourie, Sam Green, Hamish McGregor and Jacob Mulquiny to lead the way in applying plenty of pressure on the powerful Panthers team.
Newbridge has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 310 per cent, 44 points; Pyramid Hill 248, 36; Bridgewater 186, 36; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 170, 36; Newbridge 68, 16; Calivil United 60, 16; Inglewood 51, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 43, 0; Mitiamo 34, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
103 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
93 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
45 Kain Robins, Marong.
37 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
37 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
31 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
23 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
23 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
23 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
23 Noah McCaig, Marong.
22 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
22 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
21 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
19 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
17 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
15 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
14 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
13 Harry Conway, Bridgewater.
13 Jack Neylon, Bridgewater.
13 Andrew Padbury, Newbridge.
12 Lachlan Lee, Marong.
12 Jack McCaig, Marong.
12 Declan Phyland, Maiden Gully YCW.
12 Seb Relouw, Pyramid Hill.
12 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.
11 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
11 Damon Hemphill, Pyramid Hill.
11 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
10 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Alex Lloyd, Mitiamo.
10 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
10 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.