Memories motivate many as finals begin
MEMORIES from a year ago will spur on all footy teams across this weekend’s Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL qualifying and elimination finals.
For some it’s another big step toward claiming an elusive premiership, hitting back from last season’s defeats, or breaking a long-running finals drought.
Action kicks off with Saturday’s qualifying finals at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
In the seniors it will be Bridgewater against Pyramid Hill from 2.15pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s showdowns.
On an 11-match winning streak the Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater finished the home-and-away series in second place on a 14-2 record.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill won a high-scoring round five clash on its Mitchell Park turf with Bridgewater by 41 points.
Zach Alford and Ben Bisset kicked five goals as Ryan Semmel booted three in the 140-99 victory.
The Bulldogs had Xavier Emmerson and Harrison Goodes slot two goals each.
Sharp kicked a match-high seven goals for Bridgewater as Oscar McKinley kicked five.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Brodie Carroll, Zach Alford, Archie Hildebrandt and Bailey George.
Best for the Mean Machine were Darcy Ferguson, Jack Neylon, Oscar McKinley and Alex Powell.
When they met in round 14 at Bridgewater it was the Mean Machine which motored to a 111-55 victory.
McKinley kicked six goals as Boden Alexander, Nic Naughton and Lachie Sharp added three each.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Ryan Semmel on two.
Best for Bridgewater were Harry McKinley, Jack Merrin, Josh Martyn and Jack Milligan.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Archie Hildebrandt, Kai Daniels, Bailey George and Jess Budarick.
There’s plenty of big-game experience in both teams.
Bridgewater has co-captain Josh Martyn in defence, Luke Ellings in on an-ball or midfield role, as well as the run and skill of Tyler Estrada, Boden Alexander and Ben Derrick.
Targets in the Mean Machine’s attack include Sharp, Oscar McKinley, Nic Naughton and Oliver Watt.
PH
Key players for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill include ruckman Kai Daniels, Bailey George, Mitch Langan, Gavin James, Brad Ladson and Dylan Morison.
Recruited from Mount Pleasant, Ben Bisset has led the Pyramid Hill attack on 70 goals.
Other key contributors in the forward line include Harrison Goodes, Ryan Semmel, Zach Alford and Ben Knight.
The winner of the Bridgewater and Pyramid Hill showdown will meet Marong in the second semi-final on August 23 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Marong Panthers are chasing a fourth premiership in a row.
On Sunday it will be Bears-Lagoon Serpentine and Inglewood fighting to stay in the premiership race.
The Bears and Blues will contest the elimination final from 2.15pm at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears have won both showdowns with the Blues by 10 and 31 points.
Inglewood has not won a senior footy final since 2003.
Huge plus for the Blues is the return of coach Fergus Payne, assistant coach Jackson Hood, and vice-captain Daniel Polack for this contest.
In round two BLS won 90-80 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Luke Crawford and Farran Priest kicked four goals each for the purple and gold.
Inglewood’s attack was led by Seb Erharter on six as Kai Cavallaro kicked two.
Best for the Bears were Farran Priest, Callum Draper, Andy Gladman and Nathan Twigg.
Inglewood’s best were Bregon Cotchett, Seb Erharter, Tom Kennedy and Luke Matheson.
The Bears marked a 71-40 victory at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval in the 11th round.
Farran Priest again troubled the Blues’ defence to finish on seven goals.
Best for the Bears were Tyler Miles, Josh Taig, Farran Priest and Jaxon Addlem.
Inglewood’s best were Luke Matheson, Josh Whittle, Bregon Cotchett and Liam Marciano.
Among the many key match-ups for Inglewood will be at full-back against Josh Mellington who has kicked 92 goals in 11 matches, but has not played the Blues this season.
The Blues’ line-up includes Seb Erharter who has kicked 59 goals.
Players to watch in Inglewood’s attack include Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett and Liam Marciano.
The Blues will also look for big games from Gabe and Jack Nevins, Keelan Payne and Lachlan Ford.
In the reserves competition, Bridgewater will face Inglewood in Saturday’s qualifying final at 12.30pm at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
This season’s showdowns stand at one-all.
The Blues marked a 69-28 win on their turf at Inglewood in round three.
Next time around it was the Mean Machine which outplayed the Blues, 101-24 at Bridgewater in the 12th round.
A 13-3 record meant Bridgewater rolled into the finals in second place.
Inglewood has a 12-4 record.
Both face a huge challenge in trying to deny the unbeaten Marong getting its hands on the premiership cup.
On Sunday it will be Pyramid Hill against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the reserves elimination final at Mitiamo.
The fourth-placed Pyramid Hill, 9-7, will start favourite against the Bears, 8-8.
In round four the Bulldogs won 58-32 in the Bears’ den.
The round 13 clash ended in a 56-26 victory for Pyramid Hill at Mitchell Park.
First of the finals matches will be the under-18 qualifying final between Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Inglewood from 10.40am on Saturday at Marist College Oval.
The Eagles won all three clashes with the Blues in the run to the finals.
In round four the Eagles won 88-57 at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
The round eight match on Inglewood’s turf at Centre State Scaffolding Oval ended in a 93-44 win for the Eagles.
The qualifying finalists met in round 17 at Marist College where the Eagles fought on for a 51-48 victory.
After finishing on top on a 13-2 record, Marong will meet Saturday’s winner in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it will be East Loddon against Pyramid Hill in the elimination final at Mitiamo from 10.40am.
East Loddon achieved a hat-trick of wins against the Bulldogs in the home-and-away series.
The Rams won 128-16 at Serpentine in round four and followed up with a 92-31 victory at Mitiamo in the 12th round.
Most recent meeting was in round 17 where East Loddon outplayed the Bulldogs, 115-14 at Calivil.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Marist College Oval, Maiden Gully:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Inglewood.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Bridgewater v Inglewood.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo:
Under-18s at 10.40m: East Loddon v Pyramid Hill.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Pyramid Hill v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Bears Lagoon-Serpentine v Inglewood.