MARONG’S run at a fourth consecutive Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy premiership has kept rolling after Saturday’s preliminary final win against Inglewood.
Heat was on the Kain Robins and Paul Thomson-coached Marong against an Inglewood team which had beaten Bears-Lagoon Serpentine and Pyramid Hill in the first two weeks of the finals series.
The Panthers and Blues fought to qualify for the grand final as they clashed at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
It was a hot start by Marong as it slammed on seven goals in the first quarter.
By break one the Panthers were up 47-7.
The Fergus Payne-coached Blues fought back brilliantly to score 5.5 in the second as Marong added 3.2.
By half-time Marong led 67-42.
Defences controlled a lot of the third quarter.
Marong added just two goals, but just as importantly it’s back six ensured the Blues would add four behinds.
By three quarter-time Marong led 82-46.
The Panthers scored another four goals in the last to complete a 109-48 victory.
Lachlan Lee and Kain Robins led the attack with three goals each as Shaun Knott, Kyle Manley and Ryley Taylor kicked two each.
The Panthers also had Michael Bradbury, captain Nathan Devanny, Ben Gregg and Jimmy Gadsden slot a goal.
Inglewood’s leading goalkicker was Lachlan Harris with two as Jordan Leach, Liam Marciano, Keelan Payne and Daniel Polack added one each.
Best for Marong were Lachlan Lee, Shannon Geary, Kyle Manley, Michael Bradbury, Todd Davies and Lachlan Frankel.
Inglewood’s best were Harry Veitch, Gabe Nevins, Jackson Hood, Josh Whittle, Tynan Hywood and Tom Kennedy.
It was a thrilling finish to the reserves preliminary final between Bridgewater and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Mean Machine clinched a 40-38 victory against the Bears.
Bridgewater led 26-8 at half-time, but BLS dominated the third quarter.
As the Bears scored 3.5 in the third they kept Bridgewater scoreless to lead 31-26 at the last change.
The Mean Machine won the final term, 14-7, to keep premiership hopes alive.
Alex Pollock led Bridgewater’s attack on two goals as Michael Brooks, Jeremy Campbell, Brad Holt and Declan Maher add one.
Miggy Podosky kicked a match-high three goals for the Bears as Jayden Gladman and Darcy Poulter were also on target.
Bridgewater’s best were James and Toby Naughton, Mychael Baker, Jay Bowen, Declan Maher and Alex Pollock.
Darcy Poulter, Orion Downing, Kalem Paxton, Thomas Clarke, Miggy Podosky and Tom Hawker played well for the Bears.
In the under-18s competition it was Marong which marked a 60-48 win against Inglewood.
The Panthers raced to a 20-3 lead by quarter-time and were up 33-13 by the long break.
An evenly-fought third term went Marong’s way, 20-14.
Inglewood fired up to score three goals in the last, but the Panthers’ tally of 1.1 ensured they would be in front, 60-48 at the siren.
Goalkickers for Marong were Caleb Dudderidge, three; Ray McNamara, two; Jake Gribble, Riley Kleehammer, Cooper Murphy and Wilhelm Thompson.
Inglewood’s goalkickers were Kyle McClellan, Ryiley and Tyler Murphy, Mitch Pickering and Ryder Smith.
Best for Marong were Wilhelm Thompson, Harry Roberts, Ray McNamara, Caleb Dudderidge, Liam Henson and Rhys Hayden.
Harrison Noble, Willem Schepers, Evan McCoy, Tyler Murphy, Jamie Penrose and Morgan Lonza played well for the Blues.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge:
Under-18s at 10.30am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Marong.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Marong v Bridgewater.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Bridgewater v Marong.