MARONG bounced back from defeat and in doing so broke Bridgewater’s unbeaten run in Saturday’s fifth round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong was back at Jackal Oval in Malone Park after being stung by a 47-point loss to Pyramid Hill in the Michael Herrick Memorial match.
Marong coach James Flaherty and the selectors stuck with the same 22 players who had been outpointed by the Bulldogs.
Bridgewater led 32-24 at quarter-time and 61-51 by the main break.
The Panthers won a closely-fought third term, 19-14.
Marong then slammed on seven goals in the last and kept the Mean Machine to a tally of three goals.
By the final siren Marong led 117-96.
Cooper Hale led Marong’s attack on four goals as Shaun Knott and Noah McCaig added three each.
Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp slotted four goals as Oscar McKinley and Mitch Patten chipped in with three each.
Best for Marong were Jimmy Gadsden, David Johnstone, Jai Gretgrix, Brodie Hartland, Lachlan Lee and Noah McCaig.
Bridgewater’s best were Joseph Mayes, Lachie Sharp, Jack Merrin, Jack Neylon, Charlie Gibson and Ben Derrick.
Inglewood scored a 51-point victory on Mitiamo’s ground at John Forbes Oval.
The Blues were up 87-36 when play was called off after 2 ½ quarters when Mitiamo’s Joey Mizzi who had been his team’s best injured his neck.
Play was delayed by more than 30 minutes as paramedics made their way to the ground.
Under AFL Victoria rules Inglewood was declared the winner as more than half the game had been played.
It was a promising start by the Luke Lougoon-coached Mitiamo as it scored four goals in the opening quarter to be within five points of the Blues at the first break.
The Jackson Hood-coached Inglewood then took control in the second.
As Inglewood scored six goals it kept the Superoos to a major.
Inglewood led 68-30 at the long break and had scored another three goals in the third when play was halted.
Tyler Murphy led the Blues’ attack on three goals as Bregon Cotchett added two.
Leading goalkicker for Mitiamo was Brent Arho on two.
Best for Inglewood were Bregon Cotchett, Liam Marciano, Charlie Aitken, Tynan Hywood, Tyler Murphy and Ben Morgan.
Mitiamo’s best were Joey Mizzi, Bryce Laird, Zak Myers, Ben Arho, Seth Wright and Ryan Duncan.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine dominated the last quarter to seal a 20-point win against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries-coached Eagles took it right up to the Bears as they led 25-17 at quarter-time and 45-33 by the break long.
The Bears clawed their way back to be within three points going into the last quarter.
Inspired by the play of Llogan Mayman, Charlie Gadsden and Nathan Twigg the BLS line-up scored five goals and kept the Eagles to a major in the final term.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears marked a 94-74 victory in which Farran Priest slotted three goals and Tom Hawker added two.
Maiden Gully YCW’s attack was led by Tyler James and Todd Delahey on four and three goals.
Best for the Bears included Farran Priest, Ross Turner and Steve Gladman.
Isaac Neretlis, Anthony Robins, Tye Bedford, Lewis Pigdon, Daniel Russell and Mitch Whitham were best for the Eagles.
It’s a hat-trick of wins for Newbridge after the Maroons outpointed Macorna, 80-47 in the Tigers’ den at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
After starting the season with losses by 100 and 67 points, Newbridge has struck back to beat Mitiamo, Calivil United and Macorna.
Noah Hill led Newbridge’s attack on three goals as Brandon Dimech and Caleb Sanders kicked two each.
Dimitri Fasoulis slotted a match-high four goals for Macorna.
Best for the Jayden Cordy-coached Newbridge were key defender Jon Coe, Noah Hill, Brandon Dimech, Dylan Lloyd, Blake Wells and Jack McInerney.
Macorna’s best were Sam Whinfield, Hunter Anset, Tom Ebbage, Kieran Foley, Josh Whittle and Will Canham.
A 12-goal haul by Jhye Baddeley-Kelly highlighted Pyramid Hill’s big win at Calivil.
The Demons had home-ground advantage in Calivil, but it was Pyramid Hill which raced to a 40-7 lead by quarter-time.
The Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs added six goals in the second and another five in the third term to hold a 75-point lead going into the final term.
Calivil United worked hard to score seven goals in the second half, but it was the team in red, white and blue which powered to a 156-64 victory.
Baddeley-Kelly capped off brilliant teamwork with 12 goals as Lachlan Sidebottom slotted four and Zach Alford, Levi Moss and Will Quinlivan added two each.
Calivil United’s attack was led by Liam Stephens with three goals as Will Cole added two.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Isaac Brill, Levi Moss, James Sala, Lachlan Sidebottom and Zach Alford.
Cody Thompson, Kade Blow, Liam Stephens, Sam Green, Will Cole and Jayden Manderson were best for the Sam Maher-coached Demons.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 171 per cent, 16 points; Pyramid Hill 152, 16; Bridgewater 151, 16; Macorna 112, 12; Newbridge 92, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 111, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 96, 8; Inglewood 90, 8; Calivil United 41, 4; Mitiamo 54, 0.
In next Saturday’s sixth round, Macorna meets Marong in the clash of the Tigers and Panthers at Macorna from 2.15pm.
Newbridge takes on Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
Pyramid Hill’s on home turf at Mitchell Park to play Mitiamo.
Bridgewater’s on the rebound from defeat as it tackles Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Inglewood and Calivil United clash on the Blues’ turf at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
30 Lachie Sharp, B’water.
23 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
22 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
16 Oscar McKinley, B’water.
15 Caleb Sanders, New.
14 Brandon Dimech, New.; Cooper Hale, Mar.
13 Farran Priest, BLS.
11 Brent Arho, Miti.; Tyler James, MGYCW.
10 Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Mischa Fraillon, I’wood; Mitch Hill, MGYCW.
9 Zach Alford, PH; Brad Matthews, Mar.; Noah McCaig, Mar.
8 Luke Gray, MGYCW; Henry McCarthy, CU; Angus Monfries, MGYCW; Mitch Patten, B’water.
7 Seb Erharter, Mac.; Kieran Foley, Mac.; Bryce Laird, Miti.
In the netball…..FANS witnessed exciting finishes in three of the A-grade netball matches in Saturday’s fifth round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
Margins of one, two and six goals had players, coaches and spectators on edge at Serpentine, Marong and Calivil United.
A goal separated Bears Lagoon-Serpentine and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at the end of their match at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Erin Varker-coached Bears clawed their way to a 40-39 win against the Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles.
At Marong’s Jackal Oval it was Bridgewater which took the points in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park.
When the final siren sounded it was Bridgewater which was up 49-47.
The Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Bridgewater is second in the premiership race.
A Marong team jointly coached by Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton will be determined to rebound at Macorna next round.
Calivil United put up a great fight against Pyramid Hill at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
The Annie Blow and Alex Ingram-coached Calivil United poured in 53 goals, but Pyramid Hill held a six-goal buffer at the end of the match.
Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney have teamed up to coach Pyramid Hill which is third on the ladder.
Although it was at home, Macorna could not halt Newbridge’s charge to victory.
The Brooke Allison-coached Macorna faced another big challenge against an opponent in the top five.
At the final whistle the Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge led 42-22.
Reigning champion Mitiamo was too strong for Inglewood at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo marked one of its best performances of the season as it racked up 85 goals.
Defeat by 42 goals pushed the Dani O’Toole-coached Inglewood from the second rung to the sixth.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 213 per cent, 20 points; Bridgewater 141, 12; Pyramid Hill 108, 12; Marong 103, 12; Newbridge 101, 12; Inglewood 88, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 82, 8; Calivil United 79, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 69, 4; Macorna 53, 0.
The rematch of ’25 grand finalists, Pyramid Hill and Mitiamo highlights next Saturday’s sixth round.
The Bulldogs and Superoos will play at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park from 3pm.
Newbridge returns to Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park to host Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Inglewood faces Calivil United on the Blues’ court at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
It’s the Tigers against the Panthers as Macorna and Marong clash at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Bridgewater plays Maiden Gully YCW Eagles on Bridgewater’s court.
Loddon Valley FNL netball, round five scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 23 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 51, Marong 51 lt Bridgewater 72, Calivil United 53 d Pyramid Hill 35, Macorna 28 lt Newbridge 48, Mitiamo 41 d Inglewood 34.
B-grade:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 44 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 42, Marong 37 lt Bridgewater 50, Calivil United 60 d Pyramid Hill 28, Macorna 27 lt Newbridge 54, Mitiamo 34 lt Inglewood 54.
B-reserve:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 18 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 34, Marong 41 lt Bridgewater 58, Calivil United 44 d Pyramid Hill 43, Mitiamo 28 lt Inglewood 30, Macorna v Newbridge not supplied.
17-and-under:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine forfeit to Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, Marong 37 lt Bridgewater 49, Calivil United 73 d Pyramid Hill 33, Macorna 31 d Newbridge 15, Mitiamo 54 d Inglewood 20.
15-and-under:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 7 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 50, Marong 57 d Bridgewater 23, Calivil United 101 d Pyramid Hill 8, Macorna 4 lt Newbridge 60, Mitiamo 36 d Inglewood 28.
13-and-under:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 6 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 73, Marong 24 d Bridgewater 15, Calivil United 80 d Pyramid Hill 1, Macorna 5 lt Newbridge 43, Mitiamo 33 d Inglewood 20.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after five rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 204 per cent, 20 points; Newbridge 135, 16; Marong 147, 14; Calivil United 126, 14; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 97, 10; Mitiamo 83, 8; Pyramid Hill 72, 6; Inglewood 65, 4; Macorna 58, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 38, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 266 per cent, 20 points; Bridgewater 125, 16; Inglewood 120, 16; Calivil United 108, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 107, 12; Marong 96, 10; Macorna 88, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 80, 6; Pyramid Hill 71, 0; Mitiamo 40, 0.
B-reserve, pending Macorna v Newbridge result:
Bridgewater 192 per cent, 20 points; Inglewood 119, 16; Calivil United 110, 16; Newbridge 125, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 117, 12; Marong 106, 8; Mitiamo 81, 4; Pyramid Hill 76, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 61, 4; Macorna 45, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 358 per cent, 20 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 212, 16; Bridgewater 181, 16; Mitiamo 115, 12; Pyramid Hill 98, 12; Macorna 64, 8; Marong 61, 8; Inglewood 55, 4; Newbridge 25, 0.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 395 per cent, 20 points; Calivil United 428, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 312, 16; Marong 286, 16; Bridgewater 111, 12; Inglewood 63, 8; Macorna 44, 4; Mitiamo 29, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 14, 4; Pyramid Hill 19, 0.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 1055 per cent, 20 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 510, 20; Marong 128, 16; Bridgewater 126, 12; Mitiamo 120, 12; Inglewood 125, 8; Newbridge 99, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 13, 4; Pyramid Hill 13, 0; Macorna 12, 0.