THE clash between Bridgewater and Marong highlights this Saturday’s 14th round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
Bridgewater has home-ground advantage when it tackles the reigning premiers from 2.15pm.
It’s second against first in the premiership race.
When these clubs met in round five it was the James Flaherty-coached Marong which beat the Mean Machine by 21 points at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Latest hit-out for Bridgewater ended in a 100-point win at home against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Marong marked a 32-point victory in last Saturday’s match at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
A Bridgewater attack led by coach Lachie Sharp who has kicked 87 goals will test Marong’s defence.
The Mean Machine’s forward line includes Oscar McKinley, Nic Naughton and Mitch Patten.
Huge roles will be played by Marong defenders Brodie Hartland, Billy Stewart, Jacob Ede and Richard Tibbett.
In the on-ball duels Bridgewater has Oliver Watt to team up with Harry Conway and Jack Neylon against Matt Willox, David Johnstone and Jimmy Gadsden.
A Bridgewater defence led by Joseph Mayes, Jack Merrin and Jacob Ellings is up against Michael Bradbury, Ryley Taylor and Cooper Hale.
In the centre the skilful Luke Ellings faces Marong captain Nathan Devanny.
Another important match will be at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park where the Maroons take on Macorna.
It’s seventh against fourth.
In round five the Jayden Cordy-coached Newbridge won at Macorna by 32 points.
A Macorna line-up coached by Fergus Payne is on the rebound from a 31-point loss to Inglewood.
Newbridge stayed in the hunt for a top-five finish as it won last Saturday’s away game against Calivil United by 41 points.
Key players for Newbridge include Jackson Hufer at full-back, Caleb Sanders, Chris Dixon and Zebb Murrell in attack, Ricky Cathie and Kobe Friswell as ruckman and ruck-rover.
In the centre it will be Jon Coe up against Seb Erharter.
The Tigers will look to full-forward Dimitri Fasoulis, Matt Colak, Ryan Dee, Toby Whinfield, Kieran Foley and Jackson Hall to lead the way to victory.
Stung by its third loss of the season, Pyramid Hill is back home at Mitchell Park to take on Calivil United.
The Bulldogs raced to a 15-goal win at Calivil in round five.
Key players for the Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill include Ben Knight, Zach Alford, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Harrison Goodes, Dylan Morison, Jett Hird, and Jayden Dick.
Among the changes was Jamarson Tewhata recalled for his first senior game since round nine.
Calivil United may battle to contain the Bulldogs’ run across four quarters.
Key players for the Sam Maher-coached Demons include Henry McCarthy, Rhys Lourie, Tyler Rasmussen, Ryan Strauch, Sam Green, Zac Tickell and Jack Maher.
Victorious in four of their past five matches, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles will be on home turf at Marist College Oval against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
An Eagles’ team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, starts this round a win and less than eight per cent behind the fourth and fifth-placed Macorna and Inglewood.
The Eagles must keep winning to stay a chance of qualifying for finals.
In round five the Bears beat the Eagles by 20 points at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Best for the Eagles in a 55-point win at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval last Saturday were Mitch Hill, Daniel Russell, Tahlan Brook and Tye Bedford.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears were outpointed at Bridgewater.
In-form players for BLS include Charlie Gadsden, Tyler Miles, Tanner Rayner and Nathan Twigg.
Inglewood will be back on its turf at Centre State Scaffolding Oval to play Mitiamo.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues worked hard for an 88-57 win at Macorna last round.
Inglewood’s squad to face the Superoos includes Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett, Tom Kennedy, Tarran Kilcullen, Gabe Nevins, and Daniel Polack.
It’s been a tough run for the Luke Lougoon-coached Mitiamo whose sole victory was a 106-70 result against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at John Forbes Oval in Indigenous Round.
Best for the Superoos against the Eagles last Saturday were Joey Mizzi, Zach Morrison, Seth Wright and Ryan Clark.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 178 per cent, 48 points; Bridgewater 194, 44; Pyramid Hill 130, 40; Macorna 109, 28; Inglewood 107, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 24; Newbridge 87, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 77, 12; Calivil United 46, 8; Mitiamo 53, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
87 Lachie Sharp, B.
61 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
44 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
37 Cooper Hale, Mar.
31 Farran Priest, BLS.
29 Oscar McKinley, B.
25 Henry McCarthy, CU.
23 Mischa Fraillon, I.
21 Seb Erharter, Mac.
19 Shaun Knott, Mar.; Seth Wright, Miti.
18 Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Caleb Sanders, N.
17 Michael Bradbury, Mar.; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Angus Monfries, MGYCW.
In the netball……..SECOND and fourth in the A-grade netball race, Bridgewater and Marong meet in this Saturday’s 14th round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
Bridgewater has home-court advantage as it takes on Marong from 3pm.
Just two goals separated these teams when they met in round five.
A Bridgewater team coached by Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy scored a 49-47 win on Marong’s court at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
Both take winning form into this contest.
The Mean Machine powered to a 55-goal win at home against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine last Saturday as Marong fought for a 41-40 victory at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton-coached Panthers have been unbeaten their past four games.
It’s fifth against first as Inglewood hosts Mitiamo at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Dani O’Toole-coached won at Macorna last round by 16 goals as Mitiamo beat Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by 34 goals.
Massive test for the Blues against the unbeaten reigning premier which won the round five clash at John Forbes Oval by 42 goals.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo has passed the 60-goal mark in 12 of 13 matches this season.
Pyramid Hill stays on its court at Mitchell Park to play Calivil United.
Runner-up last season, Pyramid Hill is six points behind the fifth-placed Inglewood.
The Bulldogs defeated the Demons by six goals in round five.
A Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney must win this contest.
The Annie Blow and Alex Ingram-coached Calivil United was beaten in last Saturday’s match at Newbridge by 19 goals.
The in-form Newbridge is back at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park to play Macorna.
A Newbridge team coached by Hayley Martiniello has plenty of attacking flair.
Another big test for the Brooke Allison-coached Macorna in the club’s first season in the Loddon Valley competition.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles will be on their court at Marist College Oval to play Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Just a goal separated these teams in round five as the Erin Varker-coached Bears won 40-39.
An Eagles’ team coached by Christie Griffiths will be determined to net its third win of the season.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 194 per cent, 52 points; Bridgewater 157, 36; Newbridge 119, 36; Marong 104, 34; Inglewood 100, 34; Pyramid Hill 112, 28; Calivil United 85, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 64, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 61, 8; Macorna 52, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after 13 rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 219 per cent, 52 points; Marong 163, 46; Newbridge 136, 40; Calivil United 114, 34; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 102, 26; Pyramid Hill 96, 22; Mitiamo 77, 16; Macorna 54, 12; Inglewood 76, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 35, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 239 per cent, 52 points; Bridgewater 144, 44; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 112, 36; Marong 113, 34; Inglewood 105, 28; Calivil United 101, 28; Macorna 85, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 81, 14; Pyramid Hill 78, 8; Mitiamo 33, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 191 per cent, 48 points; Calivil United 124, 40; Inglewood 123, 40; Newbridge 125, 36; Marong 120, 28; Mitiamo 111, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 20; Pyramid Hill 93, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 53, 8; Macorna 32, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 322 per cent, 52 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 176, 48; Mitiamo 121, 36; Bridgewater 119, 36; Pyramid Hill 110, 32; Marong 94, 24; Macorna 53, 16; Inglewood 42, 8; Newbridge 31, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 369 per cent, 52 points; Calivil United 447, 44; Marong 274, 40; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 178, 36; Bridgewater 97, 32; Mitiamo 34, 16; Inglewood 39.9, 12; Pyramid Hill 39.1, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 21, 12; Macorna 37, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 804 per cent, 52 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 346, 48; Mitiamo 144, 36; Marong 104, 32; Newbridge 104, 28; Bridgewater 89, 28; Inglewood 61, 16; Pyramid Hill 34, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 23, 8; Macorna 13, 0.