BY NATHAN DOLE
Strathfieldsaye breaks Gisborne’s streak
STRATHFIELDSAYE ended Gisborne’s winning streak on 12 matches as the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL marked the 16th round of senior footy action on Saturday.
The Storm surged to a 31-point lead by three quarter-time of the contest at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Four goals to two in the second quarter and then a tally of 5.3 to 3.1 in the third put the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye in control of the match.
Gisborne hit back to win the last, 22-14, but it was Storm which marked a 92-69 victory and showed it can be a strong challenger for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
Defeat ended Gisborne’s one-week stay at the top of the ladder.
Strathfieldsaye’s attack was led by Cooper Jones and Riley Wilson on four and three goals.
In the third game of his senior career, Hugh Behrens kicked two goals for Storm as Malik Gordon also chipped in with two majors.
The premiership-winning captain of ’22, Pat McKenna kicked three goals for Gisborne as Shane Clough and James Gray added two.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Tim Hosking, Caleb Sheahan, Ethan Featherby, Malik Gordon, Bode Stevens and Matt Harvey.
Macklan Lord, Flynn Lakey, Matt Merrett, Jake Normington, Pat McKenna and Braidon Blake were best for the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne.
Stung by defeat the previous round, Sandhurst charged to an 11-goal win on Eaglehawk’s turf at Canterbury Park.
The Dragons led 22-8 at quarter-time and then scored 4.5 to 2.1 in the second term.
A closely-fought third quarter went Sandhurst’s way, 28-19.
Five goals as it kept the Hawks to just one capped a 114-48 victory for the Dragons.
Fergus Greene increased his lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal by kicking six goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Cobi Maxted, Noah Walsh and Lachlan Wright on two.
Eaglehawk’s attack was led by Darcy Richards with four goals.
Cobi Maxted, Lachlan Tardrew, James Coghlan, Fergus Greene, co-coach Bryce Curnow and Connor Sexton were best for a Sandhurst team which has Ash Connick as non-playing co-coach.
Best for the Travis Matheson-coached Hawks were Clayton Holmes, Jonty Neaves, Sam O’Shannessy, Darcy Richards, Billy Evans and Joel Mullen.
Although Leigh ‘Joey’ Montagna’s on-field stint with Castlemaine was cut short by a quad injury, a big crowd watched the Magpies winning run keep rolling.
Leigh Montagna’s one-off appearance for Castlemaine was part of the Carlton Draught-backed Carlton Draft promotion to assist country clubs.
Montanga hurt his leg in the opening minute of the clash with Kangaroo Flat at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The St Kilda great returned to the field in a forward pocket, but from quarter-time watched on from the sidelines and mingled with the fans.
It was another ruthless performance by the Magpies.
Castlemaine led 40-19 at quarter-time and 76-39 by the long break.
Defences were on top in most of the third quarter as the Pies scored two goals and the Roos added 1.1.
The last term was one of Castlemaine’s best this season as it slammed on 9.8 and held the Roos to a tally of 2.3.
At the final siren the Magpies led 150-61.
Lists of best players and goalkickers for both teams were not supplied.
A tally of 54 scoring shots to just one was a sign of Golden Square’s dominance of its match with Maryborough at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
The Bulldogs led 41-nil at quarter-time and then slammed on 11 goals as it kept the Magpies scoreless in the second term.
Tom Toma, Jack Stewart and Harrison Kelly set up or finished off many of Golden Square’s attacking moves.
Maryborough finally goaled off the boot of Cobie Read in the final term.
A group of 13 goalkickers for the Bulldogs in the 194-6 victory was led by Jack Stewart, six; Tom Toma, five; Jack Sampson, four; Tanner Rayner, three; Tom Strauch, two.
Best for the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square included Terence Reeves, Jack Sampson and Jordan Rosengren.
Joel Swatton, co-coach Coby Perry, Kya Lanfranchi, Alex Brown, Tom Myers and Aidan Medlyn were best for a Maryborough team which has Matt Johnston as co-coach.
South Bendigo had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 301 per cent, 48 points; Gisborne 207, 48; Strathfieldsaye 153, 40; Golden Square 154, 36; Eaglehawk 129, 28; Castlemaine 114, 28; South Bendigo 71, 16; Kangaroo Flat 54, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 17 action, Gisborne will be back at Gardiner Reserve to take on Castlemaine.
Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye meet in a duel between first and third at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Maryborough will be home at Princes Park to play Eaglehawk.
South Bendigo takes on Golden Square at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Kangaroo Flat has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal, pending update from Castlemaine v Kangaroo Flat:
74 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
50 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
50 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
47 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
46 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
43 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
42 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
35 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
29 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
29 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
26 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
26 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
25 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
24 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
23 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
21 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
20 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
20 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
20 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
19 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
19 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
18 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
18 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
17 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
17 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
16 Bailey Ilsley, Eaglehawk.
16 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
15 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
14 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
14 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
13 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Kalan Huntly, Castlemaine.
13 Ricky Monti, Golden Square.
13 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
12 Matt Johnston, Maryborough.
12 Jack Lefroy, Kangaroo Flat.
12 Jake McLean, Sandhurst.
11 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Jack Sampson, Golden Square.
11 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
11 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
10 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Blake McGregor, Eaglehawk.
10 Tanner Nally, Sandhurst.
10 Mitch Ronchieri, Eaglehawk.
10 Tom Toma, Golden Square.