INGLEWOOD will be aiming for a sixth consecutive victory when it tackles Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in Saturday’start to round nine in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
It’s a big day at Centre State Scaffolding Oval in Inglewood as the Blues celebrate their 150th anniversary in stand-alone footy and netball contests.
The senior footy match starts at an earlier time of 1.45pm.
After a nil-three start to the season the Jackson Hood-coached Blues have fought their way back to now be fourth in a premiership race led by Bridgewater, Marong and Pyramid Hill.
Playing on home turf and before what’s likely to be a huge crowd will spur the Blues on.
The past two rounds the Blues have won at Newbridge by 70 points and in the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ nest at Marist College by 59 points.
In-form players for the Blues include the skilful Liam Marciano, Gabe Nevins, key forward Mischa Fraillon, Charlie Aitken and Bregon Cotchett.
Daniel Polack is an outstanding leader of a line-up that includes Kai Cavallaro, Charles Ingham, Tom Kennedy and Aaron Lister.
These two clubs met in last season’s elimination final.
Inglewood marked a 15-point victory on its run to the preliminary final where it was beaten by eventual premier, Marong by 61 points.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears have dropped to the eighth run in this season’s race.
A two-six record has BLS desperate to turn things around as it starts this round eight points behind the fifth and sixth-placed Macorna and Newbridge.
Latest defeat for the Bears was on Mitiamo’s turf at John Forbes Oval by 36 points.
Key players for Bears Lagoon-Serpentine include the experienced Tyler Miles and Ross Turner, Andy and Steve Gladman, and Miggy Podosky.
The Bears’ squad includes Jaxon Addlem, Aidan Brohm, Jarrod Starr, Tanner Rayner and Corey Wanganeen.
Round nine will be completed on June 13 from 2.15pm.
Newbridge will be on home turf at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval against Pyramid Hill.
Macorna meets Bridgewater in the Tigers’ den at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Marong meets Mitiamo at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Calivil United tackles Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ in the Demons’ den at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Bridgewater 187 per cent, 28 points; Marong 180, 28; Pyramid Hill 170, 28; Inglewood 139, 20; Macorna 102, 16; Newbridge 84, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 79, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 78, 8; Mitiamo 56, 4; Calivil United 39, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
44 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH; Lachie Sharp, B.
29 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
27 Cooper Hale, Mar.
18 Farran Priest, BLS.
16 Oscar McKinley, B; Caleb Sanders, N.
15 Mischa Fraillon, I; Seth Wright, Miti.
14 Zach Alford, PH; Brandon Dimech, N; Bregon Cotchett, I; Brad Matthews, Mar.
12 Seb Erharter, Mac.; Tyler James, MGYCW; Bryce Laird, Miti.; Noah McCaig, Mar.
In the netball action…….INGLEWOOD will be striving to regain its place in the top five of the Loddon Valley FNL’s A-grade netball ladder this Saturday.
It’s a big day for the Blues as they celebrate their 150th anniversary with stand-alone matches against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Winless the previous two seasons, Inglewood rolls into its clash with the Bears on a win-loss tally of five-three.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Blues will be keen to bounce back from last week’s 10-goal loss on Newbridge’s court at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park.
A superb start to Inglewood’s season began with home wins against Pyramid Hill, 48-44, and Marong, 60-50.
A shot at a hat-trick was denied by Bridgewater as the Mean Machine powered to a 64-31 victory on its court against the Blues in round three.
Next week and Inglewood was back on the winner’s list after a 30-goal triumph at home against Macorna.
The Blues were outplayed by reigning premier Mitiamo, 85-43 on the Superoos’ court at John Forbes Oval in round five.
Inglewood struck back for a 14-goal win against Calivil United at home the following week.
It was back-to-back wins after a 29-goal triumph in the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ nest at Marist College Oval.
Round eight featured Newbridge’s win against Inglewood in the clash of the Maroons and Blues.
A hallmark of Inglewood’s play in ’26 is its ability to rebound from defeat.
The Blues will be aiming to do so for a fourth time.
Massive test for Bears Lagoon-Serpentine which is eighth on a two-six record.
The Erin Varker-coached BLS beat Macorna in round three and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in round five.
The Bears also played well against Marong and Calivil United where the margins were five and two goals.
It’s been a tough run for Bears Lagoon-Serpentine the past three rounds as it has faced Newbridge, away; Pyramid Hill, home; and Mitiamo, away.
The Blues and Bears both have a proud history of team and individual success in what was the Loddon Valley Netball Association and now Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
First premier in the LVNA senior competition in 1956 was Inglewood.
The Blues claimed the premiership cup in ’77, ’81, ’87 and ’94.
Helen Ward was a five-time winner of the league’s A-grade fairest and best award.
The medal run for Ward began in ’75 and was followed by success in ’79, ’82, ’87 and ’93.
Other league medallists from Inglewood have been Mavis Price, Helen Watts, Rosalie Wilson, Melissa Ball and Janita Deary.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine had some dominant runs in the 60s and 70s.
The Bears were top team in ’60, ’61 and ’63, and achieved the hat-trick from ’74-’76.
Other premiership triumphs for BLS in the top grade were in ’78, ’80, ’84 and ’91.
League medallists for the Bears have been Leonie Doolan, Jeanette Ford, Jeanette Page, Monica Holland, Kerry Baber and Sarah Perry.
Round nine will be completed on June 20.
Match of the day will be Newbridge against Pyramid Hill from 3pm at Riverside Park.
Macorna hosts Bridgewater, Marong takes on Mitiamo at Jackal Oval in Malone Park, and Calivil United meets Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the clash of the Demons and Eagles at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 196 per cent, 32 per cent; Newbridge 117, 24; Bridgewater 143, 20; Pyramid Hill 116, 20; Marong 107, 20; Inglewood 100, 20; Calivil United 81, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 64, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 60, 4; Macorna 55, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after eight rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 210 per cent, 32 points; Marong 157, 26; Newbridge 156, 24; Calivil United 112, 22; Pyramid Hill 107, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 91, 14; Mitiamo 79, 12; Inglewood 67, 4; Macorna 47, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 36, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 237 per cent, 32 points; Bridgewater 150, 28; Calivil United 108, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 105, 20; Inglewood 99, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 88, 14; Marong 87, 14; Pyramid Hill 89, 8; Macorna 85, 8; Mitiamo 36, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 190 per cent, 32 points; Newbridge 144, 24; Inglewood 112, 24; Marong 128, 20; Calivil United 115, 20; Pyramid Hill 110, 12; Mitiamo 97, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 82, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 51, 4; Macorna 33, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 422 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 214, 32; Mitiamo 118, 24; Pyramid Hill 108, 20; Bridgewater 92, 16; Marong 87, 16; Macorna 49, 8; Newbridge 31, 8; Inglewood 41, 4.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 368 per cent, 32 points; Calivil United 584, 28; Marong 243, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 213, 24; Bridgewater 86, 16; Mitiamo 45, 12; Pyramid Hill 41, 8; Inglewood 35, 8; Macorna 31, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 19, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 1319 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 466, 32; Mitiamo 180 24; Newbridge 136, 20; Marong 109, 20; Bridgewater 62, 12; Inglewood 56, 8; Pyramid Hill 29, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 18, 4; Macorna 11, 0.