BY NATHAN DOLE
Dragons complete run in first place
SANDHURST capped a superb home-and-away series by finishing on top of the ladder after Saturday’s round 18 victory at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Dragons earned a rest for next weekend’s start to the finals series.
Sandhurst won all quarters in a 115-64 result against the Magpies.
The Dragons and Gisborne end the home-and-away series on identical win-loss records of 14-2, but Sandhurst claimed top spot as it was almost 61 per cent clear of the Bulldogs.
In Saturday’s match at Castlemaine it was the Dragons who led 33-20 at quarter-time.
The next two terms were when the ladder-leaders were in control for most of the contest.
As Sandhurst added five goals in the second term it kept the Magpies to a tally of 2.1.
Led by the play of captain and gun mid/on-baller Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst won the third term, 15-6, to hold a seven-goal lead going into the final quarter.
The last quarter of Castlemaine’s season was to be its best of the match as the Michael Hartley-coached Magpies scored 4.1 and the maroon and blue added 5.4.
Joel Wharton’s elusiveness and skill around goal was capped with a match-high five goals as Ron Best medal winner Fergus Greene booted four majors.
Other multiple goalkickers for Sandhurst were Lachie Hood, Cobi Maxted and Noah Walsh on two.
Castlemaine captain Bailey Henderson and Brad Keogh both kicked two goals.
Best for Sandhurst were Lachlan Tardrew, James Coghlan, Noah Walsh, Lachie Hood, Joel Wharton and Cooper Smith.
Castlemaine’s best were Declan Slingo, Zavier Murley, Michael Hartley, Riley Pedretti, Liam Wilkinson and Nicholas Woodman.
A seven-nine record was Castlemaine’s best result in many years as the Magpies climbed to the sixth rung in the premiership race.
A tally of 52 scoring shots to just four was a sign of Strathfieldsaye Storm’s dominance against Maryborough at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm led 35-1 at quarter-time and then slammed on eight goals in the second quarter.
An 87-point lead by the long break was up to 118 at a quarter to play.
Strathfieldsaye had 13 goalkickers in a 177-14 victory.
Leading goalkickers for Storm were Cooper Jones, four; Lachlan Gill, Charlie King, three; Hugh Behrens, Zach Charles, Caleb Ernst, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, and Siologa Siu, two.
Maryborough’s goalkickers were Josh Britten and Sean Davidson.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Darcy Mulquiny, Caleb Sheahan, Lachlan Gill, Bode Stevens, Shannon Geary and Daniel Clohesy.
In what was another tough season for Maryborough it was Kya Lanfranchi, Alex Brown, Joel Swatton, coach Coby Perry, Tom Myers and Josh Britten who were best.
Just if and where Maryborough plays in ’25 and beyond is yet to be decided.
Eaglehawk won every quarter on its way to a 137-85 victory against South Bendigo on the Borough’s turf at Canterbury Park.
The Hawks led 38-22 at quarter-time and then scored 2.5 to 2.3 in a low-scoring second term.
An 18-point lead for the Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk at half-time became 34 points at a quarter to play.
Led by the play of Jonty Neaves, Kallen Geary and Billy Evans, Eaglehawk tuned up for the elimination final in a 137-85 result.
Jack O’Shannessy led the Hawks attack on four goals as Kallen Geary and Jonty Neaves kicked three and Joel Mullen chipped in with two.
Bloods’ co-coach Steven Stroobants finished with a match-high five goals as Matt McNaughton kicked two.
The Borough’s best included Thomas Bennett, Joel Mullen and Marcus Angove.
Tait Poyser, Riley Walsh, Anthony Zimmerman, Matt McNaughton, Blake Poyser and Cody Brooks were best for the Steven Stroobants and Isaiah Miller-coached Bloods.
Gisborne warmed up for the qualifying final by scoring a 197-point victory on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Dower Park.
The Bulldogs raced to a 51-7 lead by quarter-time and the pressure did not ease up.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne slammed on nine goals in the second and another nine majors in the third term.
It was to be a disappointing finish to Kangaroo Flat’s season as the Bulldogs scored 11 goals in the last quarter.
At the final siren Gisborne led 37.14 (236) to 6.3 (39).
The brilliance of Pat McKenna was to the fore as he finished with eight goals.
Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett also capitalised on their team-mates dominance at clearances and through the midfield to score six goals each.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were stand-in captain Brad Bernacki and Dylan Johnstone, three; Seb Bell-Bartels, Braidon Blake and James Gray, two.
Kangaroo Flat’s attack was led by Aaron Melis on two as Lachlan Dalziel, Jack Lefroy, Tucker Thach and Harry Whitty added one each.
Best for Gisborne were Brad Bernacki, Flynn Lakey, Shane Clough, Braidon Blake, Pat McKenna and Matt Merrett.
The Kangaroos’ best were Jack Lefroy, Luke Ellings, Toby Roberts, Kyle Symons, Ethan Roberts and Campbell Smith.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 286 per cent, 56 points; Gisborne 225, 56; Strathfieldsaye 163, 44; Golden Square 159, 40; Eaglehawk 140, 36; Castlemaine 103, 28; South Bendigo 68, 16; Kangaroo Flat 50, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
Under-18s at 10.15am: Golden Square v Gisborne.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Sandhurst v Golden Square.
Seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination final at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
Under-18s at 10.15am: Castlemaine v Kangaroo Flat.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye.
Seniors at 2.20pm: Golden Square v Eaglehawk.
Final standings in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
80 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
57 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
54 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
52 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
50 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
47 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
47 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
43 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
31 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
30 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
30 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
30 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
28 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
27 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
25 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
25 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
24 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
23 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
23 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
23 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
21 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
21 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
21 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
19 Kalan Huntly, Castlemaine.
18 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
18 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
18 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
17 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
17 Bailey Ilsley, Eaglehawk.
17 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
17 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
16 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
16 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
16 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
15 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
14 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Jack Lefroy, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Jake McLean, Sandhurst.
13 Ricky Monti, Golden Square.
13 Jack Sampson, Golden Square.
12 Matt Johnston, Maryborough.
12 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
12 Tom Toma, Golden Square.
12 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
11 Kai Daniels, Golden Square.
11 Brody Haddow, South Bendigo.
11 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Anthony Zimmerman, South Bendigo.
10 Braidon Blake, Gisborne.
10 Ryan Bourke, Gisborne.
10 Blake McGregor, Eaglehawk.
10 Tanner Nally, Sandhurst.
10 Mitch Ronchieri, Eaglehawk.
League ladders:
Drummond Golf reserves:
Gisborne 275 per cent, 56 points; Sandhurst 228, 56; Golden Square 165, 44; Eaglehawk 99, 40; Strathfieldsaye 96, 36; Kangaroo Flat 86, 28; Castlemaine 46, 16; South Bendigo 24, 12.
Sportspower under-18s:
Sandhurst 424 per cent, 60 points; Golden Square 324, 60; Gisborne 232, 44; Castlemaine 85, 32; Kangaroo Flat 111, 30; Strathfieldsaye 62, 24; South Bendigo 66, 20; Eaglheawk 24, 8; Maryborough 32, 6.
Leading goalkickers:
Drummond Golf reserves:
36 Hayden Doricic, Gisborne.
20 Jakob Finch, Strathfieldsaye.
20 Ed Williams, Gisborne.
19 Jasper Stewart, Sandhurst.
18 Matthew Barake, Gisborne.
17 Tim Brooks, Kangaroo Flat.
16 Darcy Edmiston, Golden Square.
15 Luke Weber, Gisborne.
14 Jed Zimmer, Sandhurst.
14 Tommi Turner, Golden Square.
12 Tom Wood, Gisborne.
11 Riley Neaves, Eaglehawk.
11 Dean Norris, Golden Square.
10 Andrew Bennett, Eaglehawk.
10 Jed Lowndes, Kangaroo Flat.
10 James Vlaeminck, Sandhurst.
Sportspower under-18s:
48 Oscar Cail, Sandhurst.
44 James Wilkinson, Golden Square.
26 Lincoln McKern, Golden Square.
24 Xavier Grant, Golden Square.
23 Archie Eaton, Golden Square.
21 Chaz Holman, Castlemaine.
18 Charles Duke, Sandhurst.
18 Madden Guthrie, Sandhurst.
18 Lucas Hannon, Gisborne.
18 Logan Kilcullen, Sandhurst.
18 Raymond McNamara, Kangaroo Flat.
18 Daniel Noden, Sandhurst.
18 Jack Rutten, Gisborne.
16 Joseph Artavilla, Sandhurst.
16 Will Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Riley Leedham, Gisborne.
16 Marcus Trakosas, Gisborne.
16 Jye Zerafa, Gisborne.
15 Max Balcke, Kangaroo Flat.
14 Wilhem Mackay, Gisborne.
14 Aaron Nevins, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Robert Castiglia, Maryborough.
13 Jaxon Howard, Sandhurst.
13 Jack McMahon, Golden Square.
13 Oli Patton, South Bendigo.
13 Brady Stroud, South Bendigo.
12 Oliver Eaton, Golden Square.
12 Campbell Johns, Gisborne.
11 Jack English, Sandhurst.
11 Charlie Ozanne, Gisborne.
10 Lachlan Borchard, Sandhurst.
10 Harrison Bryant, Gisborne.
10 Mitchell McKnight, Castlemaine.
10 Archie Rixon, Castlemaine.