PYRAMID Hill faces a big test against Marong in Saturday’s 13th round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
The Bulldogs will be on their turf at Mitchell Park for a 2.15pm showdown with the league’s premiers of the past four seasons.
Earlier in the season Pyramid Hill outran and outworked Marong at Jackal Oval in Malone Park to win the Michael Herrick Memorial Match by 47 points.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong rolls into Pyramid Hill riding an eight-match winning streak.
As Pyramid Hill fought on to win at Maiden Gully by two points last Saturday the Panthers marked a 15-goal win against Calivil United.
Key match-ups for Pyramid Hill include Zach Alford in the centre against Marong captain Nathan Devanny, Cameron Ross in the ruck against Matt Willox, and Lachie Nicholson at centre half-back against Michael Bradbury.
A Bulldogs’ attack led by Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and former GWS ruckman/forward Tom Downie will test Panthers’ defenders Brodie Hartland and Jacob Ede.
Pyramid Hill coach Jarrod Fitzpatrick was named at full-back to take on Cooper Hale.
A Bulldogs’ defence which includes Isaac Brill, Jayden Dick and Ryan McGhie faces a huge challenge against Max Balcke, Max Lowery and Ryley Taylor.
Another big match will be at Macorna where the Tigers take on Inglewood.
It’s fourth against fifth.
The Fergus Payne-coached Macorna played in another dramatic contest last Saturday where it won on Bears Lagoon-Serpentine’s ground by a point.
Inglewood will be determined to bounce back from a 117-point loss to Bridgewater.
Back in round five the Jackson Hood-coached Inglewood beat Macorna by 46 points.
An important contest will be in the centre where Tigers’ gun recruit Seb Erharter takes on former team-mate Liam Maricano.
In the on-ball duels Macorna has Fergus Bear, Sam Whinfield and Kieran Foley to team up against Tom Kennedy, James Bennett and Matt Rowe.
The Tigers have Dimitri Fasoulis, Hunter Anset and John Officer to cap off attacking moves.
Inglewood will need big games from key defenders Will Allen and Luke Matheson.
Blues’ forwards Kai Cavallaro, Charlie Aitken and Daniel Polack meet a Tigers’ defence led by Logan Gibson, Toby Whinfield and Xavier Wishart.
Mitiamo is back on its turf at John Forbes Oval to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Luke Lougoon-coached Superoos face an opponent smarting after Pyramid Hill clinched victory with the final kick of the match last round.
An Eagles’ team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, starts this round in sixth place, a win and eight per cent adrift of Inglewood.
Players to watch for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles include Ed Crisp, Todd Delahey, Stacy Fiske, Mitch Hill, Lewis Pigdon, Daniel Russell, and Josh Worsley.
Mitiamo’s best at Newbridge last round were Zac Morrison, Lenny Cook, Ryan Duncan, Scott Baldwin, Zak Myers and Jacob Cassells.
The Superoos will be without Anthony Huismann who was given a one-match ban after an early guilty plea to striking.
Seventh in the race, Newbridge can also top-five hopes alive by winning at Calivil.
The Jayden Cordy-coached Maroons beat Calivil United in round four by eight goals.
Newbridge returned to the winner’s list in a 106-57 result at home against Mitiamo last Saturday.
The Maroons’ squad includes Jon Coe, Kobe Friswell, Dylan Lloyd, Zebb Murrell, Zaiyden Richards, and Caleb Sanders.
Being outscored by seven goals in the opening quarter meant Calivil United faced a huge task on Marong’s ground last round.
A positive for the Sam Maher-coached Demons was scoring six goals in the final term.
Best for the Demons in the Panthers’ den were Henry McCarthy, Cody Thompson, Sam Green, Kade Blowe, Liam Stephens and Zac Tickell.
A red-hot Bridgewater is back home to play Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Mean Machine coach and Harding medallist Lachie Sharp is well on track to mark a century of goals for the third season in a row.
Sharp starts this match on 76 goals.
In-form players for the Mean Machine include Harry Conway, Luke Ellings and Charlie Gibson.
Bridgewater has brought in the athletic Oliver Muggleton for his first senior match of the season to team up with the likes of Jack Neylon, Tyler Estrada and Nic Naughton.
The Bears fell just short in a superb final quarter fightback at home against Macorna last Saturday.
Best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears against the Tigers were captain Charlie Gadsden, Tyler Miles, Callum Draper, James Bailey, Steve Gladman and Nathan Twigg.
The BLS squad includes Darcy Hawker, Tanner Rayner and Charlie Whitsed.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 178 per cent, 44 points; Bridgewater 185, 40; Pyramid Hill 137, 40; Macorna 113, 28; Inglewood 104, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 20; Newbridge 82, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 83, 12; Calivil United 46, 8; Mitiamo 54, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
76 Lachie Sharp, B.
60 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
43 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
34 Cooper Hale, Mar.
29 Oscar McKinley, B; Farran Priest, BLS.
24 Henry McCarthy, CU.
23 Mischa Fraillon, I.
20 Seb Erharter, Mac.
19 Shaun Knott, Mar.; Seth Wright, Miti.
18 Caleb Sanders, N.
17 Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Angus Monfries, MGYCW.
16 Zach Alford, PH; Noah McCaig, Mar.; Mitch Pickering, I.
15 Michael Bradbury, Mar.
In the netball…….SEPARATED by two points, Pyramid Hill and Marong meet in this Saturday’s 13th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Bulldogs and Panthers will play at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park from 3pm.
Pyramid Hill rolls into this contest in sixth place, but just two points behind the fourth-placed Marong.
When these teams met in round four it was Marong which claimed a 54-50 victory on its court at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
The Panthers and Bulldogs take winning form into this clash.
Marong won last Saturday’s home game against Calivil United by nine goals as Pyramid Hill won on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ home at Marist College Oval by 28 goals.
The Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton-coached Marong face a tough assignment on Pyramid Hill’s court.
Defeat would make it tough for Pyramid Hill to again qualify for finals after being runner-up last season.
The Bulldogs’ squad is coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney.
The league’s top three will start favourites.
Unbeaten in its quest for a premiership hat-trick, Mitiamo will be back on its court at John Forbes Oval to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos won last Saturday’s match at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval by 33 goals.
Massive challenge for the Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles as they try to bounce back from a 28-goal loss to Pyramid Hill.
It’s the Demons against the Maroons as Calivil United hosts Newbridge.
Both teams were beaten in the 12th round.
Calivil United was outpointed by Marong as Newbridge took on the powerful Mitiamo line-up.
Highlight of the season for the Annie Blow and Alex Ingram-coached Calivil United was the 49-46 victory on Newbridge’s court at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in round four.
A Maroons’ team coached by Hayley Martiniello will be determined to avoid another upset defeat.
Macorna will be back at home to play Inglewood.
The Brooke Allison-coached Macorna went agonisingly close to a first victory last Saturday.
A great contest on Bears Lagoon-Serpentine’s court at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve ended in a 31-30 win for the Bears against the Tigers.
Inglewood will be fired up after a 33-goal loss at home to Bridgewater.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Blues defeated the yellow and black by 30 goals in the fourth round.
After achieving a long-awaited victory Bears Lagoon-Serpentine makes its way to Bridgewater.
The Erin Varker-coached Bears will be primed to raise the pressure from the first centre pass until the past play in the game.
A Bridgewater team coached by Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy was in hot form at Inglewood last Saturday and will be determined to build the momentum.
The Mean Machine powered to a 69-19 victory in the Bears’ den earlier in the season.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 192 per cent, 48 points; Bridgewater 148, 32; Newbridge 117, 32; Marong 104, 30; Inglewood 97, 30; Pyramid Hill 113, 28; Calivil United 87, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 68, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 63, 8; Macorna 52, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after 12 rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 206 per cent, 48 points; Marong 166, 42; Newbridge 134, 36; Calivil United 119, 34; Pyramid Hill 98, 22; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 22; Mitiamo 80, 16; Inglewood 75, 8; Macorna 51, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 37, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 239 per cent, 48 points; Bridgewater 143, 40; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 32; Marong 112, 30; Calivil United 109, 28; Inglewood 101, 24; Macorna 88, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 82, 14; Pyramid Hill 78, 8; Mitiamo 34, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 183 per cent, 44 points; Newbridge 129, 36; Calivil United 125, 36; Inglewood 116, 36; Marong 118, 24; Mitiamo 110, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 98, 20; Pyramid Hill 95, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 56, 8; Macorna 32, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 308 per cent, 48 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 179, 44; Mitiamo 127, 36; Bridgewater 119, 32; Pyramid Hill 110, 28; Marong 94, 24; Macorna 50, 12; Inglewood 41, 8; Newbridge 33, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 412 per cent, 48 points; Calivil United 526, 44; Marong 257, 36; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 168, 32; Bridgewater 90, 28; Mitiamo 34, 16; Pyramid Hill 42, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 20, 12; Inglewood 37, 8; Macorna 35, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 800 per cent, 48 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 395, 44; Mitiamo 152, 36; Newbridge 119, 28; Marong 98, 28; Bridgewater 81, 24; Inglewood 56, 12; Pyramid Hill 33, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 24, 8; Macorna 13, 0.