BY NATHAN DOLE
Storm fronts Dragons at QEO
A WEEK after toppling a ladder-leading opponent, Strathfieldsaye Storm will aim for déjà vu in Saturday’s 17th round and Bendigo Bank round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
Bendigo Bank are long-time supporters of the BFNL and can provide financial benefits directly to you Club which is as easy as letting the Bendigo Bank team know who your local Club is.
It’s third against first as Strathfieldsaye takes on Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
A fortnight ago Sandhurst was beaten on the iconic QEO by Golden Square.
As the Dragons won at Eaglehawk last round, Storm’s win against Gisborne meant Sandhurst reclaimed top spot.
When the Dragons and Storm met in round eight it was Sandhurst which broke clear in the final term to score a 25-point win at Triple M Park.
It will again be a huge test for Strathfieldsaye’s defence against a Sandhurst attack led by Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted and Lachlan Wright.
They will be up against Lachlan Ratcliffe, Patrick Blandford and Ben Lester.
Key to Storm’s chances will be be winning and control of the footy through the midfield and on-ball duels.
Storm will look to ruckman Tim Hosking, Lachlan Gill, Daniel Clohesy and Matt Harvey to win their share of centre clearances and also to not allow the Dragons an easy run to their forward 50.
A talented on-ball division for Sandhurst includes Connor Sexton, Lachlan Tardrew, Nick Stagg and Noah Walsh.
A Dragons’ defence that includes Liam Ireland, Bryce Curnow, Isaac Ruff and Harrison Free is up against Cooper Jones, Malik Gordon, Riley Wilson and Zach Charles.
Another big match will be at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the Bulldogs take on Castlemaine.
A win for Gisborne will end Castlemaine’s quest to climb into the top five and a finals appearance.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne is on the rebound from just its second defeat of the season.
Gisborne was on a 12-match winning streak rolling into last round.
A Bulldogs attack that includes Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy and Dylan Johnstone is capable of many goals and quickly.
Players to watch in the red, white and blue include centreman Brad Bernacki, ruckman Braidon Blake, the skilful Matt Merrett, and Jed Denahy and Zac Vescovi in defence.
Seb Bell-Bartels is in for his first senior game of the season.
A hat-trick of wins which included beating Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye is a sign of Castlemaine’s dramatic improvement from recent years.
The Michael Hartley-coached Magpies dominated in an 89-point win at home against Kangaroo Flat at Camp Reserve last Saturday.
Pressure and stakes are much higher for the Pies this time.
Hartley kicked seven goals against the Roos for a season tally of 42.
Key players for the Magpies include captain Bailey Henderson, Kalan Huntly, Zavier Murley, Declan Slingo, Zac Greeves, John Watson and Liam Wilkinson.
South Bendigo will be on home turf at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington to take on Golden Square.
Huge test for the Bloods against a Bulldogs’ line-up which has shown it has plenty of scoring options and skill.
The Bloods had the bye last round after scoring a 155-point victory at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
Bloods’ co-coach Steven Stroobants and the talented Brock Harvey kicked 10 and 12 goals.
Will be a much tougher ask against a Golden Square defence that has Jon Coe playing his 200th match for the club.
Recruited from Tatura, Coe was a key cog in the premiership success of 2013 and ’23.
A four-time inter-league representative, Coe also played for Victoria Country in 2014.
The key defender was runner-up in the Bulldogs’ champion player award on two occasions.
On Saturday it will be Coe, Jayden Burke, Tom Toma, Jack Stewart, Jordan Rosengren and Harrison Burke who will be determined the streak by the Brad Eaton-coached team keeps rolling.
The Bloods will rely greatly on the play of Brody Haddow, co-coach Isaiah Miller, Blake and Tait Poyser, Anthony Zimmerman, Riley Walsh, Zavier Holmes and Thomas Starr to win a quarter or more.
Maryborough will be on home turf at Princes Park against Eaglehawk.
It’s the final home game the Magpies will play.
Co-coaches Coby Perry and Matt Johnston have done an incredible job to keep spirits high and the will of Maryborough’s team to compete.
Key players for the Magpies include Kya Lanfranchi, Joel Swatton, Seb Collins, Aidan Medlyn and Ash Humphrey.
The Skinner name has featured at Maryborough for many years.
On Saturday it will be Jack Skinner lining up on a wing for his first senior game.
The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk will be keen to bounce back to the winners’ list.
Although Billy Evans is not playing, Eaglehawk has plenty of strength on every line.
Joel Mullen has played superb footy all season.
Other players to watch for the Hawks are Bailey Ilsley, Jonty Neaves, Kallen Geary, Cam McGlashan and Sam O’Shannessy.
Darcy Richards will be keen to play well where his footy career kicked off many years ago.
Kangaroo Flat has 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.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
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 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
42 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
29 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
29 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
29 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
26 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
25 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
25 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
24 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
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 Kalan Huntly, Castlemaine.
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 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
14 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
14 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
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.