OPPONENTS in the 2009 AFL grand final, Gary Ablett jnr and Nick Dal Santo lock horns again this Saturday’s at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Oval.
Newbridge has brought in Ablett jnr through the Carlton Draft as Dal Santo was a late call-up to replace former Sydney and Geelong forward Gary Rohan.
The appearance of Ablett jnr and Dal Santo has generated plenty of excitement as Newbridge prepares to take on Bridgewater in the 10th round of Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
The “Bridge Battle” will start at 2.15pm.
Ablett jnr and Dal Santo bring more than 675 matches at the highest level to Riverside Park.
Brownlow medallist in 2009 and ’13, Ablett played 247 matches for Geelong and 110 for Gold Coast.
A remarkable career for the man dubbed “Little Master” included selection in the All-Australian team eight times, and a five-time winner of the Leigh Matthews Medal as the AFLPA Most Valuable Player.
A two-goal win for Geelong against the Saints in 2009 was the second of Ablett jnr’s premiership victories.
Newbridge is in sixth place on a four-five record and needs an upset victory to keep the heat on Macorna in the race to qualify for finals.
The Jayden Cordy-coached Newbridge has given Ablett jnr guernsey number 29.
Key players for the Maroons include Jon Coe in defence, Caleb Sanders, Jackson Eadon, Dylan Lloyd, Jed Zimmer, Zaidyn Richards and captain Kobe Friswell.
Dal Santo has strong links to Bendigo as he played for Sandhurst and Bendigo Pioneers on his journey to representing St Kilda in 260 matches, and then another 62 with North Melbourne.
Runner-up for the Brownlow medal in 2011 and third in 2005, Dal Santo was a three-time All-Australian.
Although it’s been several years since he played, Dal Santo’s footy nous will be a huge plus for Bridgewater.
Dal Santo’s run with the Saints included the ’09 grand final, the draw and replay of the 2010 decider against Collingwood.
Rohan being allocated seven points meant Bridgewater made a late change to its squad.
He will stay play a role assisting the Mean Machine’s coaching team.
Rohan played in the 2022 premiership win with Geelong.
Stung by a three-point loss at Macorna last Saturday, Bridgewater will be fired up.
Defeat pushed Bridgewater from top spot to the third rung.
Key players for the Mean Machine include Harry Conway, Luke Ellings, Josh Martyn, Oscar McKinley, Jack Neylon and Jack Symons.
Another big match will be at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park where the Bulldogs take on Inglewood.
It’s second against fourth.
The Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill won last Saturday’s match on Newbridge’s turf by five goals as Mitch Jorgensen, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Ben Knight and Mitch Dingwall were best.
A Bulldogs’ attack which has Baddeley-Kelly as main target will test the Blues.
Players to watch in the red, white and blue include Zach Alford, Harrison Goodes, Dylan Morison and Lachlan Sidebottom.
After a nil-three start the Jackson Hood-coached Inglewood is on a six-match winning streak.
The Blues marked their 150th anniversary celebrations by scoring a seven-goal win against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in a stand-alone match to kick off round nine.
In-form players for Inglewood include Bregon Cotchett, Liam Marciano, Daniel Godden and Lachlan Harris.
The Blues’ attack is led by Daniel Godden, Kai Cavallaro and Liam Marciano.
Fifth in its debut season in the Loddon Valley, Macorna’s back on home turf to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Fergus Payne-coached Tigers will be keen to build on the momentum from their 93-90 win against Bridgewater.
Key players for Macorna include Seb Erharter, full-forward Dimitri Fasoulis, Toby Whinfield, ruckman Matt Colak, rover Kieran Foley and Hunter Anset.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles scored a 50-point win at Calivil last Saturday as former Adelaide, Essendon and St Kilda forward Shaun McKernan kicked four goals.
McKernan was not named in the Eagles’ team this week.
A Maiden Gully YCW team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, will look to centreman Mitch Hill, wingman Isaac Neretlis, Daniel Russell, Josh Worsley, Luke Gray and Stacy Fiske to claim the points this time.
Calivil United is back home to take on Mitiamo.
The Sam Maher-coached Calivil United has not won since the 59-49 victory at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval in round one.
Best for the Demons against Maiden Gully YCW last Saturday were Josh Connolly, Jayden Manderson, Rhys Lourie and Tyler Rasmussen.
Calivil United’s team to tackle the Superoos includes Kade Blow, Sam Green, Jack Maher, Henry McCarthy, Zac Tickell and Brodie Wagner.
The Luke Lougoon-coached Mitiamo has sights on its second win of the season.
In-form players for the Roos include Zac Cruse, Jayden Matthews and Kobe Galvin.
Mitiamo’s squad includes Ryan Duncan, Bryce Laird, Kobe Galvin, Joey Mizzi and Zach Morrison.
It’s a big test for Bears Lagoon-Serpentine against the ladder-leading Marong.
The Bears have home-ground advantage at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Best for BLS at Inglewood the previous round were Callum Draper, coach Jake Wilkinson, Andy Gladman and Farran Priest.
The Bears’ squad includes Charlie Gadsden, Tyler Miles, Ross Turner and Corey Wanganeen.
Massive challenge for BLS especially in defence against the likes of Michael Bradbury and Shaun Knott.
A Marong line-up coached by James Flaherty includes Nathan Devanny, Jimmy Gadsden, David Johnstone, Noah McCaig, Richard Tibbett and Matt Willox.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 181 per cent, 32 points; Pyramid Hill 172, 32; Bridgewater 172, 28; Inglewood 142, 24; Macorna 102, 20; Newbridge 81, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 87, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 75, 8; Mitiamo 56, 4; Calivil United 41, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
51 Lachie Sharp, B.
46 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
33 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
27 Cooper Hale, Mar.
22 Farran Priest, BLS.
16 Mischa Fraillon, I; Oscar McKinley, B; Caleb Sanders, N.
15 Zach Alford, PH; Seb Erharter, Mac.; Seth Wright, Miti.
14 Bregon Cotchett, I; Brandon Dimech, N; Brad Matthews, Mar.
In the netball action……WITH three teams locked on 24 points the fight to claim a double chance in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball finals heats up in this Saturday’s 10th round of matches.
Match of the day features the fourth and second-placed Newbridge and Bridgewater at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
The Maroons and Mean Machine will play from 2.30pm.
Although Bridgewater goes into this match perched on the second rung it was Newbridge which won on Bridgewater’s court in the season opener by two goals.
In last Saturday’s play the Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge could not stop Pyramid Hill’s charge to a six-goal victory at Riverside Park.
Bridgewater scored a 34-goal win on Macorna’s court.
The Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Bridgewater will be determined to leave Newbridge with the premiership points.
A tough run for Bridgewater includes hosting Pyramid Hill in the 11th round and then playing at Inglewood a week later.
Four more A-grade matches on Saturday will start at 3pm.
Another important match will be at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park where the Bulldogs take on Inglewood.
It’s third against fourth as both teams are separated by just two per cent.
A brilliant start to Inglewood’s season began with a 48-44 win against Pyramid Hill at Centre State Scaffolding Oval in round one.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Inglewood has surged from winless runs in the ’24 and ’25 seasons to now be in serious contention for finals.
Inglewood marked 150th anniversary celebrations on June 6 by scoring a 57-42 win against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Runner-up last September, Pyramid Hill rolls into this match following a six-goal win at Newbridge.
The team in red, white and blue is coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney.
Unbeaten in its quest for a premiership hat-trick, Mitiamo makes its way to Calivil United Demons’ den in Calivil.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo won their latest clash with Marong at Jackal Oval in Malone Park by 28 goals.
Massive challenge for Calivil United against a skilful Superoos line-up which beat the Demons in the season opener by 43 goals.
The Annie Blow and Alex Ingram-coached Calivil United teamed well to win last Saturday’s match against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by 27 goals.
Macorna’s back on its court to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
In its first match in the Loddon Valley, Macorna played well to finish within seven goals of Maiden Gully YCW at Marist College Oval.
The Brooke Allison-coached Tigers will be striving for more consistency across every quarter to upset the Eagles this time.
A Maiden Gully YCW team coached by Christie Griffiths will be determined to bounce back to the winners’ list.
It’s the Bears against the Panthers as Bears Lagoon-Serpentine takes on Marong at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
The Erin Varker-coached BLS team worked hard to be within five goals of Marong in the first-round match at Jackal Oval.
The sixth-placed Panthers’ team coached by Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton will be determined to take the points and keep the heat on the Maroons and Blues in the race to the finals.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 193 per cent, 36 points; Bridgewater 151, 24; Pyramid Hill 116, 24; Newbridge 114, 24; Inglewood 103, 24; Marong 100, 20; Calivil United 87, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 65, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 60, 4; Macorna 53, 0.
Standings in Loddon Valley FNL netball after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 227 per cent, 36 points; Marong 154, 30; Newbridge 156, 28; Calivil United 112, 26; Pyramid Hill 102, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 91, 14; Mitiamo 81, 8; Inglewood 81, 8; Macorna 42, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 36, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 245 per cent, 36 points; Bridgewater 157, 32; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 106, 24; Calivil United 105, 20; Inglewood 103, 20; Marong 101, 18; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 86, 14; Pyramid Hill 80, 8; Macorna 79, 8; Mitiamo 35, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 212 per cent, 36 points; Newbridge 140, 28; Inglewood 117, 28; Calivil United 114, 24; Marong 122, 20; Mitiamo 100, 16; Pyramid Hill 107, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 83, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 52, 4; Macorna 30, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 372 per cent, 36 points ;Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 174, 32; Mitiamo 120, 28; Pyramid Hill 114, 24; Bridgewater 98, 20; Marong 85, 16; Macorna 51, 8; Inglewood 41, 8; Newbridge 33, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 404 per cent, 36 points; Calivil United 523, 32; Marong 266, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 174, 24; Bridgewater 92, 20; Mitiamo 40, 12; Inglewood 37, 8; Pyramid Hill 36, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 8.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 767 per cent, 36 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 357, 32; Mitiamo 177, 28; Newbridge 146, 24; Marong 101, 20; Bridgewater 70, 16; Inglewood 62, 12; Pyramid Hill 29, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 19, 4; Macorna 12, 0.