BY NATHAN DOLE
Bridgewater fights to avoid hat-trick of defeats
BRIDGEWATER will be fighting to avoid a hat-trick of defeats when it tackles Marong in this Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy action.
Although it has home-ground advantage, Bridgewater faces a huge task against the reigning premier.
When the Mean Machine and Marong met in round six it was the Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers who kicked away for a 113-57 result on their turf at East West Oval in Malone Park.
Beaten by Pyramid Hill and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the past fortnight, Bridgewater will be determined to regain plenty of confidence and show it’s a serious contender for the premiership flag.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater has a strong attack led by century goalkicker and assistant coach Lachlan Sharp, Lee Coghlan, Andy Collins and Lee Coghlan.
Biggest challenge will be in defence where Jake Rusbridge, Zane Hoiles, Joseph Mayes and Harry McKinley are up against a quality Panthers forward line.
Marong won its latest hit-out at home against Calivil United by 93 points.
Brilliant forward Kain Robins returns to the Panthers line-up and is part of a powerful attack that includes Ryley Taylor, Ryan Wellington, Jack and Noah McCaig.
Players to watch for the Panthers include ruckman Michael Bradbury, Ben and Corey Gregg, Nathan Devanny in the centre, and key defenders Matt Willox and Brodie Hartland.
Calivil United takes on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Massive test for the Anthony Dennis-coached Calivil United to upset the in-form Bears and climb to the fourth rung should Newbridge be beaten by Maiden Gully YCW.
In round six the Bears beat the Demons by 80 points.
Chances of a Calivil United victory will rely greatly on the play of co-captains Sam Green and Sam Maher, Darcy Thompson, Lewis Fisher, Justin Hynes, Rhys Lourie and Evan Ritchie.
A 10-3 record has the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears in third place.
The Bears marked an 83-point win against Bridgewater at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve last round.
Players to watch in the purple and gold include captain Charlie Gadsden, Andy Gladman, Justin Laird, Tyler Miles, James Rippingale, Farran Priest and Ross Turner.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles clash with Newbridge at Marist College Oval.
The Eagles claimed their first premiership points of the season in a one-point win at Inglewood last Saturday.
It was Maiden Gully YCW’s fourth win of ’24, but the Eagles were docked 12 points before the season kicked off for not fielding an under-18s team.
An Eagles line-up coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, will be determined to keep the winning run rolling.
Back in round six it was Newbridge which dominated on its turf at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval to win by 88 points.
Key match-ups for the Eagles this time include Jayden Magnusson at full-back against Chris Dixon, Thomas Pridgeon in the centre against Tyler Constable, and Adam Pollock in the ruck opposed to Ricky Cathie.
Other key players for Maiden Gully YCW are captain Josh Worsley, Todd Delaney, Bryce Franzini, Ed Crisp and Ryan Strauch.
The Sam Gale and Daniel Smith-coached Newbridge has captain Will Daly, Caleb Sanders, Tyler McLeod, Ben McKinley, Caleb Argus and Ed Aujard winning plenty of contests.
Mitiamo is on its turf at John Forbes Oval to take on Inglewood.
The Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos were within 21 points of the Blues at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval in round six.
Mitiamo’s line-up to play the Blues includes captain Luke Lougoon, Josh Diss, Brayden Baines, Zach Morrison, Kobe Galvin, Liam Shiell, Jackson Falls and Zak Myers.
A Blues’ line-up coached by Fergus Payne must win to keep the heat on the fifth and sixth-placed Newbridge and Calivil United.
The Inglewood line-up bound for Mitiamo includes Daniel and Sam Polack, Tom Kennedy, Tarran Kilcullen, Lachlan Ford, Jack Nevins and Jed Rouse.
Pyramid Hill has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 322 per cent, 48 points; Pyramid Hill 268, 40; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 179, 40; Bridgewater 166, 36; Newbridge 68, 16; Calivil United 55, 16; Inglewood 53, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 45, 4; Mitiamo 32, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
104 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
93 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
45 Kain Robins, Marong.
43 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
37 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
35 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
32 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
25 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
23 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
23 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
23 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
23 Noah McCaig, Marong.
23 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
19 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
18 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
18 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
16 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
14 Lachlan Lee, Marong.
14 Jack Neylon, Bridgewater.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
13 Harry Conway, Bridgewater.
13 Damon Hemphill, Pyramid Hill.
13 Andrew Padbury, Newbridge.
12 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
12 Jack McCaig, Marong.
12 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
12 Declan Phyland, Maiden Gully YCW.
12 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
12 Seb Relouw, Pyramid Hill.
12 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.
11 Bailey George, Pyramid Hill.
10 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
10 Alex Lloyd, Mitiamo.
10 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
10 James Rippingale, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.