-By Nathan Dole
GISBORNE broke Sandhurst’s winning streak in Saturday’s sixth round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo Bendigo FNL senior footy.
There was a minute’s silence before the match as the senior footballers and A-grade netballers lined up to honour Adam Selwood who was an under-18s premiership player for Sandhurst.
Selwood kicked on to be a premiership winner at the highest level with West Coast Eagles.
The Dragons and Bulldogs were in hot form rolling into Saturday’s contest.
Sandhurst had not been beaten since last September’s second semi-final when the Gisborne marked a 23-point victory at the QEO.
A fortnight later and Sandhurst defeated Gisborne by four points to claim the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
There had been several changes to both line-ups for Saturday’s rematch of the ’24 grand finalists at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Gisborne made a great start to lead 21-9 at quarter-time.
The Dragons fired up to win the second, 22-14.
Quarter three was to be one of Gisborne’s best of the season.
The Bulldogs scored 6.1 and kept the maroon and blue to a tally of 2.4.
Faced with a 25-point deficit at the start of the final quarter, Sandhurst charged back to be within seven points after Lachlan Wright, Tom Campbell and Cooper Smith were on target.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne replied with consecutive goals.
Sandhurst co-coach Bryce Curnow kicked the final goal of the contest as Gisborne marked an 85-73 victory.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by the classy Pat McKenna on five goals as eight team-mates were also on target.
Leading goalkickers for Sandhurst were Tom Campbell and Hugh Schmetzer on two.
Joint recipients of the Michelsen Medal last season, Gisborne ruckman Braidon Blake and ruck-rover Brad Bernacki played key roles in the win.
The Bulldogs’ best included Pat McKenna, Jack Reaper, Shane Clough and Jed Denahy.
Best for Sandhurst were Liam Ireland, Hugh Schmetzer, Lachlan Wright, Cobi Maxted, Lachie Hood and Lachlan Tardrew who also claimed Michelsen Medal honours last season and is joint coach of the Dragons this season.
An eight-goal blitz in the first quarter set up Eaglehawk’s big victory at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Two Blues charged to a 51-7 lead by quarter-time and then added five goals straight as the Magpies added 2.2 in the second.
Eaglehawk’s pressure did not let up as it won the third quarter, 37-8.
The final term was to be Castlemaine’s best.
A high-scoring finish to the contest included six goals by the Magpies and another four by Eaglehawk.
At the siren the Hawks led 144-65.
Co-coach Clayton Holmes continued his superb run with eight goals in a best afield performance as Jack O’Shannessy added four majors.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Borough were Mitchell Ronchieri, three; and Billy Evans and Jack Thomson with two.
Leading goalkickers for Castlemaine were Kalan Huntly and John Watson, three; and Josh Eyre two.
Best for Eaglehawk were Clayton Holmes, captain Billy Evans, Joel Budarick, Ben Thompson, Brayden Frost and Joel Mullen.
A five-one record has an Eaglehawk team which has Travis Matheson as non-playing co-coach in second place.
Best for the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine were Hunter Staples, Callum McConachy, Josh Eyre, Kalan Huntly, Will Moran and John Watson.
Six goals to one in the opening quarter was the foundation of South Bendigo’s win on Golden Square’s turf in Wade Street.
The Bloods led 39-9 at the first break and then won the second term, 20-8.
The return of ruckman/forward Mac Cameron and brilliant small forward Steven Stroobants from injury and suspension respectively was a huge plus for South Bendigo.
Both kicked five goals as the Bloods won 139-53.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red and white were Kaiden Antonowicz on four and Brock Harvey with two against his former club.
Golden Square captain Jayden Burke kicked five goals on a tough afternoon for the blue and gold.
Best for South Bendigo were on-baller Brody Haddow, co-coach Jack Fallon, Mac Cameron, Jesse Collins, Anthony Zimmerman and Steven Stroobants.
The Bloods have Kerang’s multiple premiership-winning coach Troy Coates as co-coach.
Best for the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square were Terence Reeves, Jayden Burke, Luke Holt, Harrison Kelly, Jake Maher and Daniel Keating.
Strathfieldsaye Storm climbed to the fifth rung after a 75-point win on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Dower Park.
A closely-fought first half ended with Storm up, 34-14.
Strathfieldsaye had 14 scoring shots to the Roos tally of four in the opening two quarters.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm won the third, 29-14, and then slammed on eight goals as it kept the Roos to a tally of 2.1 in the final term.
Cooper Jones capped a great match with five goals as the in-form Bode Stevens booted three in a 116-45 victory.
Storm also had Patrick Blandford chip in with two majors.
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by captain Ethan Roberts and Nick Lang on two each.
Best for Storm were Bode Stevens, Riley Wilson, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Jake Moorhead, Charlie and George Simpson.
Daniel Stagg, Ethan Roberts, Xavier Coghill, Aaron Melis, Josh Leersen and Luke Stagg played well for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 226 per cent, 20 points; Eaglehawk 204, 20; Gisborne 142, 20; South Bendigo 112, 16; Strathfieldsaye 100, 8; Castlemaine 74, 8; Golden Square 61, 4; Kangaroo Flat 28, 0.
Indigenous Round will be played next Saturday.
It’s second against first as Eaglehawk takes on Sandhurst in the Borough’s Canterbury Park from 2.20pm.
South Bendigo faces Kangaroo Flat at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
It’s the battle of the Bulldogs as Gisborne hosts Golden Square at Gardiner Reserve.
Another big match will be at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane where Storm takes on Castlemaine.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
19 Kaiden Antonowicz, South Bendigo.
18 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
16 Tom Campbell, Sandhurst.
16 Clayton Holmes, Eaglehawk.
16 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
13 Hugh Schmetzer, Sandhurst.
12 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
10 Billy Evans, Eaglehawk.
10 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
10 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
9 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
9 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
9 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
9 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
9 Bode Stevens, Strathfieldsaye.
8 Josh Eyre, Castlemaine.
8 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 Thomas Werner, Gisborne.
7 Tyh Evans, Eaglehawk.
7 James Gray, Gisborne.
7 Nick Lang, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
7 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
7 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
6 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
6 Jack Fallon, South Bendigo.
6 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
6 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
6 John Watson, Castlemaine.
6 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.