MARONG will be aiming to end Newbridge’s winning streak in Saturday’s seventh round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong will be wary of an opponent which has won four matches in a row and is on the ladder’s fourth rung.
Marong has home-ground advantage at Jackal Oval in Malone Park for the 2.15pm showdown.
Latest hit-out for Marong ended in a 51-point win against the Macorna Tigers in their den.
In-form players for the Panthers include Cooper Hale, Lachlan Lee, Jai Gretgrix and James Toomey.
An experienced core group of multiple premiership winners for Marong includes Michael Bradbury, Nathan Devanny, Jimmy Gadsden, Corey Gregg and Matt Willox.
After a nil-two start, Newbridge has struck back brilliantly to beat Mitiamo, 57 points; Calivil United, 48 points; Macorna, 32 points; and Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, 45 points.
The running power of Zebb Murrell, Jackson Eadon and Zaiyden Richards has played a big part in Newbridge’s success.
Key defender Jon Coe, captain Kobe Friswell, Will Copland, Dylan Lloyd and playing coach Jayden Cordy all have crucial roles in the Maroons’ quest to upset the Panthers.
It’s an important match for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Inglewood at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Eagles and Blues are seventh and fifth, but separated by just four points.
Although it’s in the Eagles’ nest, Inglewood will start as favourite.
The Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries-coached Eagles have been defeated the past two rounds by Bears Lagoon-Serpentine and Bridgewater.
Inglewood has racked up a hat-trick of victories.
After not playing last Saturday, Monfries returns to an Eagles line-up which includes Josh Worsley, Daniel Russell, Todd Delahey, Ed Crisp, Stacy Fiske and Zac Turner.
In-form players for the Jackson Hood-coached Inglewood include Bregon Cotchett, Daniel Godden, Charlie Aitken and Liam Marciano.
The Blues’ team for this contest includes Daniel Polack, Kai Cavallaro, Mischa Fraillon and Aaron Lister.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine faces a huge challenge against the ladder-leading Pyramid Hill.
The Bears have home-ground advantage at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve as they try to halt the Bulldogs’ run.
A two-four record has the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears in eighth place.
Best for the Bears in a 45-point loss on Newbridge’s turf at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park were Tyler Miles, Nathan Twigg, Ross Turner and Jaxon Addlem.
Limiting the impact Bulldogs’ full-forward Jhye Baddeley-Kelly has on this match will be crucial for the Bears.
Baddeley-Kelly kicked 14 goals in Pyramid Hill’s latest win against Mitiamo.
A formidable Bulldogs team coached by Jarrod Fitzpatrick includes Zach Alford, Isaac Brill, Mitch Dingwall, Gavin James, Ben Knight and Lachlan Sidebottom.
Mitiamo’s on its ground at John Forbes Oval to take on Bridgewater.
The Superoos are on the rebound from a 113-point loss at Pyramid Hill.
Mitiamo’s best against the Bulldogs at Mitchell Park were Jayden Matthews, Ryan Clark, Bryce Laird and Scott Baldwin.
A Superoos’ squad coached by Luke Lougoon includes Ryan Duncan, Brayden Baines, Zac Cruse and Seth Wright.
It’s a vastly different looking team for Bridgewater after a run of injuries in last Saturday’s win against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Among the outs for Bridgewater is coach and gun full-forward Lachie Sharp.
The Mean Machine’s best in an 87-point win at home against the Eagles were Jack Symons, Darcy Wood, Luke Ellings and Harry Conway.
It’s the Demons against the Tigers as Calivil United faces Macorna at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
The Sam Maher-coached Calivil United will be striving for a stronger start after it faced a 40-point deficit at quarter-time of last Saturday’s match in Inglewood.
Key match-ups for the Demons include Jayden Manderson at full-back against Dimitri Fasoulis, Ryan Strauch at centre half-back against Rivers Webb, and coach Sam Maher in the centre against Seb Erharter.
Other players to watch in the red and blue include Kade Blow, Fynn Clymo, Cody Thompson and Zac Tickell.
After a three-nil start to its debut season in the Loddon Valley, Macorna is now sixth on a three-three record.
The Fergus Payne-coached Tigers will be desperate to take the points from the den.
Key players in the yellow and black include ruckman Matt Colak, rover Kieran Foley, Hunter Anset, Fergus Bear, Toby Whinfield and Will Meharry.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Pyramid Hill 174 per cent, 20 points; Marong 173, 20; Bridgewater 166, 20; Newbridge 103, 16; Inglewood 114, 12; Macorna 98, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 93, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 88, 8; Calivil United 38, 4; Mitiamo 49, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
37 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
36 Lachie Sharp, B’water.
22 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
20 Cooper Hale, Mar.
16 Farran Priest, BLS; Oscar McKinley, B’water.
15 Caleb Sanders, N.
14 Brandon Dimech, N.
12 Mischa Fraillon, I; Tyler James, MGYCW; Brad Matthews, Mar.
11 Zac Alford, PH; Brent Arho, Miti.; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Noah McCaig, Mar.
10 Bregon Cotchett, I; Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Seb Erharter, Mac.
In the netball action…….THE showdown of top teams Mitiamo and Bridgewater highlights this Saturday’s seventh round of A-grade netball across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL competition.
Mitiamo has home-court advantage at John Forbes Oval as the Superoos face Bridgewater from 3pm.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos will start hot favourite to continue their unbeaten run in their quest for more premiership glory.
Mitiamo won last Saturday’s clash on Pyramid Hill’s court at Mitchell Park by 18 goals.
Confidence is high within the Bridgewater team.
The Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Mean Machine won its round six match at home against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by 50 goals.
Another big match on Saturday will be at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park where the Panthers take on Newbridge.
It’s fourth against third as both teams are locked on 16 premiership points.
The Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton-coached Marong won its latest hit-out at Macorna by 15 goals.
Newbridge doubled Bears Lagoon-Serpentine’s score in their round six showdown at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
The Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge netted a 62-31 victory against the Bears.
It’s the Bears against the Bulldogs as Bears Lagoon-Serpentine faces Pyramid Hill at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
A 31-goal loss at Newbridge kept the Erin Varker-coached Bears in eighth place.
Pyramid Hill will be determined to bounce back from its 18-goal loss to reigning premier, Mitiamo.
The Bulldogs are coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles faces Inglewood at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles face a test from the Blues who will be fighting to hold fifth place or perhaps climb higher on the ladder.
An Inglewood line-up coached by Dani O’Toole won last Saturday’s clash with Calivil United at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval by 14 goals.
Calivil United will bank win number three or Macorna will mark its first when the Demons and Tigers play at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
The Demons are jointly coached by Annie Blow and Alex Ingram.
In its debut season in the Loddon Valley, Macorna is coached by Brooke Allison.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 196 per cent, 24 points; Bridgewater 157, 16; Newbridge 113, 16; Marong 108, 16; Inglewood 94, 16; Pyramid Hill 100, 12; Calivil United 79, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 75, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 61, 4; Macorna 55, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 200 per cent, 24 points; Newbridge 181, 20; Marong 164, 18; Calivil United 114, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 86, 10; Pyramid Hill 80, 10; Mitiamo 82, 8; Inglewood 67, 4; Macorna 52, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 34, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 254 per cent, 24 points; Bridgewater 127, 20; Inglewood 111, 16; Calivil United 110, 16; Marong 98, 14; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 100, 12; Macorna 88, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 74, 6; Pyramid Hill 82, 4; Mitiamo 41, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 211 per cent, 24 points; Newbridge 156, 20; Inglewood 122, 20; Calivil United 105, 16; Marong 125, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 91, 12; Mitiamo 86, 8; Pyramid Hill 79, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 57, 4; Macorna 38, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 425 per cent, 24 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 196, 24; Bridgewater 134, 16; Mitiamo 116, 16; Pyramid Hill 96, 12; Marong 74, 12; Macorna 63, 8; Inglewood 42, 4; Newbridge 25, 4.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 441 per cent, 24 points; Calivil United 475, 20; Marong 314, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 267, 20; Bridgewater 99, 12; Inglewood 48, 8; Mitiamo 35, 8; Macorna 37, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 14, 4; Pyramid Hill 25, 0.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 1229 per cent, 24 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 494, 24; Marong 155, 20; Mitiamo 136, 16; Newbridge 117, 12; Bridgewater 84, 12; Inglewood 82, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 16, 4; Pyramid Hill 14, 0; Macorna 11, 0.