BRIDGEWATER broken Marong’s unbeaten record on home turf in Saturday’s 13th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater became the first team to beat Marong at Jackal Oval in Malone Park since 2022.
It was a superb effort by Bridgewater as the premier of the past three seasons had won 11 matches on the way to this showdown.
Bridgewater led 21-20 at quarter-time and 46-40 at half-time.
In the third term the Mean Machine clicked up a gear or two as it scored five goals to open a 25-point buffer going into the final term.
Led by a five-goal haul by Nic Naughton in a best afield performance, Bridgewater kicked on for a 99-70 victory.
Bridgewater showed it does not have to rely on Sharp to dominate in attack as he finished on two goals, along with Tyler Estrada.
Marong co-coach Kain Robins kicked five goals.
Best for Bridgewater were Nic Naughton, midfielders Luke Ellings and Jack Neylon, ruckman Jack Milligan, Harry Conway and Ben Derrick.
Robins was best for the Panthers along with Shannon Geary, Brodie Hartland, Ben Gregg, Matt Willox and Ryley Taylor.
The Panthers were also rocked by a knee injury to gun on-baller Jimmy Gadsden.
Marong has Paul Thomson as non-playing co-coach.
Pyramid Hill won every quarter in a 99-55 victory against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
A closely-fought term went the Bulldogs’ way, 14-13.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill outscored the Bears by 16 points to lead 54-37 by the long break.
Excellent defence by the Dogs kept BLS to just two points in the third as Pyramid Hill added 4.1.
Brad Ladson, half-forward Archie Hildebrandt and the skilful Mitch Langan played key roles as Pyramid Hill marked its 10th win of the season.
Ben Bisset led Pyramid’s attack on four goals as Mitch Dingwall and Ryan Semmel added two majors.
It was a vastly different looking forward line for the Bears who were without Josh Mellington, hamstring, and then had Farran Priest injure a calf in the warm-up.
James Bailey and Ross Turner booted three and two goals for the Bears.
Best for Pyramid Hill included Bailey George, Gavin James and Ben Knight.
Nathan Twigg, Jaxon Addlem, Tyler Miles, Ross Turner and Callum Draper were best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles held fifth place on the ladder after a hard-fought 17-point win on its turf at Marist College Oval against Mitiamo.
Although Mitiamo had more scoring shots, 20 to 17, the Superoos rued inaccuracy as they finished on 7.13 and the Eagles racked up 11.6.
Maiden Gully YCW led 20-16 at quarter-time and 33-27 by the main break.
It was an 11-point buffer for the Eagles going into the last quarter.
The final term was the highest-scoring of the contest as the Eagles booted five goals and Mitiamo added four.
At the final siren the Eagles led 72-55.
Todd Delahey led Maiden Gully YCW’attack on three goals as Tyler James and Mitchell Lines kicked two each.
Leading goalkickers for Mitiamo were Kobe Galvin and Zak Myers on two.
Best for the Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries-coached Eagles were ruckman Daniel Russell, Mitch Hill, Tyson Jackson, Antony Robins, Ed Crisp and Nathan Murley.
Lachlan Twigg, Dylan Marshman, Zach Morrison, Bryce Laird, coach Luke Lougoon and Cody Tuohey were Mitiamo’s best.
Inglewood dominated its home game against Newbridge at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Fergus Payne-coached Blues raced to a 38-15 lead by quarter-time and was up 69-29 by the long break.
With Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett and Thomas Kennedy winning plenty of contests, Inglewood kicked away for a 131-50 victory.
Liam Marciano and Kai Cavallaro led the Blues’ attack on four and three goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for Inglewood were Seb Erharter, Lachlan Harris, Callum March and Harry Veitch on two.
Brandon Dimech and coach Matt McArthur kicked two goals for Newbridge.
Best for Inglewood included Harry Veitch, Liam Marciano and Will Allen.
Newbridge’s best were Will Copland, Ben McKinley, Brodie Carr, Ricky Cathie, Caleb Sanders and Andrew Willett.
Calivil United had the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 207 per cent, 44 points; Pyramid Hill 209, 40; Bridgewater 159, 40; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 115, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 74, 22; Inglewood 113, 20; Newbridge 49, 8; Mitiamo 45, 8; Calivil United 42, 2.
Two great matches feature in next Saturday’s 14th round.
Bridgewater will be on home turf against Pyramid Hill in the clash of third and second.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine will play Marong at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Newbridge faces Calivil United at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
Mitiamo and Inglewood clash on the Superoos’ ground at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
70 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
59 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
48 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
47 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
36 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
32 Kain Robins, Marong.
27 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
25 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
22 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
21 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
20 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
18 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
18 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
17 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
17 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
16 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
15 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
15 Michael Bradbury, Marong.
15 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
14 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
13 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
12 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
12 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
12 Nic Naughton, Bridgewater.
11 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
11 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
11 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
11 Jed Zimmer, Newbridge.
10 Boden Alexander, Bridgewater.
10 Mitch Cheesman, Pyramid Hill.
10 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
10 Jack McCaig, Marong.