BRIDGEWATER will be striving to deny Marong a fourth consecutive senior footy premiership on Saturday when they clash in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL grand final in Newbridge.
The Mean Machine and Panthers will fight for glory from 2.30pm at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
An eight-point by Bridgewater against Marong in the second semi-final at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve meant the Mean Machine earned a week’s rest.
The Mean Machine powered to a 120-76 win against Pyramid Hill in the qualifying final.
Marong struck back to win last Saturday’s preliminary final against Inglewood at Calivil by 61 points.
It was one-all in the home-and-away series between the grand finalists.
Marong scored a nine-goal win at Bridgewater in the fourth round.
A 13-match winning streak for Bridgewater includes the 99-70 victory in round 13 in the Panthrs’ den at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
There will be many crucial match-ups in the grand final.
The ‘X-factor’ for Bridgewater is coach Lachie Sharp who has already earnt the Harding Medal as league fairest and best, and also passed the century mark once again to be back-to-back winner in the goalkicking race.
A premiership medal is what Sharp will crave most.
Although Sharp is the number one target in attack, Bridgewater also has Oscar McKinley, Nic Naughton and Boden Alexander to cap off play with goals.
A powerful attack for Marong includes co-coach Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor, Michael Bradbury and Shaun Knott.
Players to watch for Bridgewater include captain Josh Martyn across half-back, Harry Conway, Luke Ellings, Darcy Wood, Jack Neylon, Harry Symons and Tyler Estrada.
There’s plenty in the Marong team who have featured in the premiership-winning hat-trick.
The Panthers have the experience of captain Nathan Devanny, Ben and Corey Gregg, Richard Tibbett, David Johnstone and Matt Willox.
Marong also bolstered its team by recruiting Shannon Geary, a multiple premiership-winning player with Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Bridgewater’s team:
B: Harry McKinley, Jack Merrin, Luke Ellings.
Hb: Jack Milligan, Jacob Ellings, Oscar McKinley.
C: Jack Neylon, Darcy Wood, Lachie Sharp.
Hf: Joel Green, Xavier Walsh, Alex Powell.
F: Nic Naughton, Josh Martyn, Ben Derrick.
Foll: Joseph Mayes, Harry Conway, Darcy Ferguson.
Inter: Tyler Estrada, Josh Roberts, Boden Alexander, Harry Symons.
Coach: Lachie Sharp.
Marong’s team:
B: Jai Gretgrix, Brodie Hartland, Shannon Geary.
Hb: Richard Tibbett, David Johnstone, Lachlan Frankel.
C: Todd Davies, Jimmy Gadsden, Jacob Ede.
Hf: Michael Bradbury, Shaun Knott, Ryley Taylor.
F: Nathan Devanny, Kain Robins, Jonty Davis.
Foll: Matt Willox, Lachlan Lee, Jack McCaig.
Inter: Ben Gregg, Corey Gregg, Nathan Walsh, Noah McCaig.
Bridgewater’s run to grand final:
Rd 1: d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 125-84 at Bridgewater.
Rd 2: d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, 110-64 at Marist College, Maiden Gully.
Rd 3: d Inglewood, 85-78 at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Rd 4: lt Marong, 65-119 at Bridgewater.
Rd 5: lt Pyramid Hill, 99-140 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 6: d Calivil United, 141-55 at Bridgewater.
Rd 7: d Newbridge, 144-43 at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
Rd 8: bye.
Rd 9: d Mitiamo, 120-42 at Bridgewater.
Rd 10: d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 127-71 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Rd 11: d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, 128-51 at Bridgewater.
Rd 12: d Inglewood, 121-37 at Bridgewater.
Rd 13: d Marong, 99-70 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 14: d Pyramid Hill, 111-55 at Bridgewater.
Rd 15: d Calivil United, 148-10 at Calivil.
Rd 16: d Newbridge, 146-14 at Bridgewater.
Rd 17: bye.
Rd 18: d Mitiamo, 204-46 at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo.
Qualifying final: d Pyramid Hill, 120-76 at Marist College, Maiden Gully.
Second semi-final: d Marong, 92-84 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Marong’s run to grand final:
Rd 1: d Inglewood, 68-61 at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Rd 2: d Pyramid Hill, 109-67 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 3: d Calivil United, 141-26 at Calivil.
Rd 4: d Bridgewater, 119-65 at Bridgewater.
Rd 5: d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 120-80 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 6: bye.
Rd 7: d Maiden Gully YCW, 107-55 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 8: d Mitiamo, 157-33 at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo.
Rd 9: d Newbridge, 110-26 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 10: d Inglewood, 93-66 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 11: d Pyramid Hill, 79-32 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 12: d Calivil United, 132-18 at Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 13: lt Bridgewater, 70-99 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 14: lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 67-79 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 15: bye.
Rd 16: d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, 54-5 at Marist College, Maiden Gully.
Rd 17: d Mitiamo, 149-44 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 18: d Newbridge, 173-33 at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
2nd semi-final: lt Bridgewater, 84-92 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Preliminary final: d Inglewood, 109-48 at Calvii.
In the reserves it will be Marong against Bridgewater from 12.30pm.
The unbeaten Panthers have won all three showdowns with the Mean Machine.
In round four, Marong won 91-24 on Bridgewater’s ground.
The 13th round clash ended in a 49-24 win for the Panthers in their den at Jackal Oval.
After a 38-31 win against Inglewood in the qualifying final, Bridgewater faced Marong in the second semi-final.
The Panthers won 57-15 to advance to the grand final.
Best for Marong in that match were James Toomey, Matt Grant, Declan Highgate, Gus Reade, Zack Turnbull and Max Lowery.
Bridgewater won last Saturday’s thrilling qualifying final with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine by two points.
The Bridgewater team for the grand final includes captain Jake Higgins, Mychael Bakere, Charlton Hindle, Zane Hoiles, James and Toby Naughton, Alex Pollock, and the athletic Oliver Muggleton.
Grand final day kicks off with the under-18s match between Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Marong at 10.30am.
The Eagles defied form and broke the Panthers unbeaten run in a 76-61 victory in the second semi-final.
A week earlier and Maiden Gully YCW won the qualifying final against Inglewood by 46 points.
In the home-and-away series Marong had beaten the Eagles by 55, 32 and 30 points.
The Panthers earnt a crack at premiership glory by winning the preliminary final against Inglewood by two goals.
Maiden Gully YCW’s squad for the grand finali includes co-captains Jett Beagley and Mitchell Lines, Xavier Cassells, Declan Downing, Noah Hadden, Lewis Pigdon and Daniel Vallance.
Best for the Panthers in the preliminary final were Wilhelm Thomson, Harry Roberts, Ray McNamara, Caled Dudderidge, Liam Henson and Rhys Hayden.
The Panthers were runner-up to East Loddon last September.