A RECORD-WINNING margin of 359 points meant Eaglehawk grabbed the double chance at finals-time after Saturday’s 18th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The Hawks’ eyed a percentage-lifting win against Broadford at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park to soar above Gisborne to the third rung.
It was a remarkable performance by Eaglehawk against a vastly inexperienced Broadford which had to make plenty of changes after flu swept through the club.
On field it was Eaglehawk which racked up 84 scoring shots to nil.
Eaglehawk’s score of 55.29 (359) surpassed the mark of 54.23 (347) set by Sandhurst in a 333-point victory on Maryborough’s turf at Princes Park in round four of the 2024 season.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, almost hit the century mark in the opening term as it scored 15.9 (99).
Intensity and pressure did not ease up as the Two Blues kicked 12 goals in the second, 12 in the third, and 16 in the last.
Jacquin Mifsud and Clayton Holmes kicked 11 and 10 goals as Nick Thompson slotted nine.
Other multiple goalkickers were Ben Thompson and Oscar White, four; Lewin Davis, Billy Evans and Callum Heath, three; Jack Donat and Joel Mullen, two.
Best for Eaglehawk were ruckman Callum Heath, Oscar White, Joel Mullen, Nick Hoare, Jacquin Mifsud and Nick Thompson.
Broadford’s best were Louis Thompson, Oliver Lubeck, CJ Brill, Jarrah Younger, Taiten Thomas and David Hussey.
Was an incredibly difficult day for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford which had many players unavailable because of illness and injury.
To clinch the coveted double chance has Eaglehawk poised for another strong challenge at back-to-back premierships.
The Hawks make their way to Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street for next Saturday’s qualifying final against Strathfieldsaye.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye completed the home-and-away series with an 86-victory on its turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane against Kangaroo Flat.
Storm was close to full-strength with forwards Jed Brereton and Drew Lloyd back to team up with James Schischka and Zach Charles.
Strathfieldsaye raced to a 40-7 lead by quarter-time and then scored four goals in the second.
A strong defensive effort kept the Kangaroos to a goal in the first half as Storm was up 70-9 at the long break.
It was a closely-fought third term which went Strathfieldsaye’s way, 13-8.
James Schischka capped a superb match with seven goals in the 110-24 victory as Drew Lloyd slotted four and Pat Blake, Jed Brereton, Zach Charles and Aydan Hand kicked one each.
Goalkickers for the Kangaroos were Jack Bell, Isaac Lowndes and Luke Stagg.
Storm’s best were Daniel Clohesy, Ben Lester, James Schischka, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Zach Charles and Hugh Behrens.
Jake Hywood, Angus Macpherson, Aaron Nevins, Max Johnson, Zach Rouse and Josh Leersen were Kangaroo Flat’s best.
Strathfieldsaye will now prepare to tackle Eaglehawk in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Was a disappointing result for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat which had played well the previous two rounds to beat Golden Square and also pushed South Bendigo.
Two of the league’s greatest rivals, Gisborne and Golden Square met for the final time at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
The Bulldogs trophy is always keenly played for.
Gisborne led 13-4 at quarter-time and then scored 4.1 in the second as Golden Square racked up 1.6 in the opening half.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne had surged to a six-goal lead going into the final term.
A Harry Luxmoore goal put Gisborne up by 52 points at 19 minutes to play.
From there it was Golden Square which dominated play to score six of the last seven goals in what was Brad Eaton’s final match in a three-season stint as non-playing co-coach.
When the final siren sounded Gisborne led 86-65, but it had dropped to the fourth rung and an elimination final after Eaglehawk’s massive win.
Four goals by Pat McKenna lifted his season tally to 78 as he claimed the Ron Best Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker.
Other multiple goalkickers for Gisborne were Shane Clough with three and Harry Luxmoore on two.
The Golden Square attack was led by Archie Eaton and Isaac Corvo on three and two goals.
Best for Gisborne were Brad Bernacki, Frank Schipano, Lucas Hannon, Dylan Johnstone, Flynn Lakey and Pat McKenna.
Golden Square’s best were Tom Strauch, Lachlan Monti, Lachlan Humphrey, Bailey Warfe, Macey Eaton and Lewis Ritchie.
Although it had top spot and a week’s rest sewn up, Sandhurst did not take it easy on Castlemaine’s turf at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
The Dragons led 29-1 at quarter-time and 68-3 by the long break.
As Sandhurst scored 19 goals in the opening three terms it put in a brilliant defensive performance to limit the Magpies to a tally of five behinds.
Closest term was the last in which the Dragons kicked 5.2 and the Magpies fought on to score four goals.
At the final siren a Sandhurst team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, led 158-29.
The strong-marking Cobi Maxted kicked a match-high seven goals as mid/on-baller Dayten Uerata slotted four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Eamon Austin, three; Gus Hay, Hugh Schmetzer and Cooper Smith, two.
Castlemaine’s goalkickers were Jacob Bauer, Michael Hartley, Archie Rixon and Bodhi Robinson.
Best for the Dragons were the classy Dayten Uerata, captain Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson, Cobi Maxted, Connor Sexton and Wilson Butler.
Castlemaine’s best were Darby Semmens, Harper Kneebone, Jack Sutherland, Jacob Bauer, Kalan Huntly and Harrison Sheahan.
The Darby Henderson-coached Castlemaine ended the season in sixth place on a 6-10 record.
South Bendigo had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after the 18th and final round in the home-and-away series:
Sandhurst 197 per cent, 56 points; Strathfieldsaye 162, 48; Eaglehawk 195, 44; Gisborne 180, 44; South Bendigo 147, 44; Castlemaine 106, 24; Golden Square 96, 16; Kangaroo Flat 58, 12; Broadford 9, 0.
Schedule for next Saturday’s qualifying finals at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
Drummond Golf reserves at 12.15pm: Eaglehawk v Sandhurst.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk.
Schedule for next Sunday’s elimination finals at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Castlemaine v Golden Square.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.
Final standings in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
78 Pat McKenna, Gis.
68 James Schischka, S’saye.
61 Brock Harvey, SB.
37 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
36 Michael Hartley, Cm.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
32 Nick Thompson, Eh.
31 Jacquin Mifsud, Eh.
30 Ben Thompson, Eh.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
22 Oliver Morris, Sh; Oscar White, Eh.
21 Brody Haddow, SB.
20 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Nick Lang, KF; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
19 Pat Blake, S’saye; Jack McMahon, GS.
18 Zach Charles, S’saye; Bailey Henderson, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Jack Donat, Eh; Archie Eaton, GS; James Gray, Gis.; Jack Stewart, GS.
15 Kalan Huntly, Cm; Archie Rixon, Cm; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
In the netball action……..KANGAROO Flat has marked consecutive seasons with an unbeaten run across A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL home-and-away series.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos scored a 43-goal victory in last Saturday’s round 18 match on Strathfieldsaye Storm’s court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
A tally of 81 goals pushed Kangaroo Flat’s season mark to 1033 as it hones in on a second semi-final showdown with Gisborne or Sandhurst on September 5 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Day one of the finals series will be Saturday’s qualifying finals at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Gisborne and Sandhurst will contest the A-grade clash at the home of South Bendigo FNC from 3.20pm.
The Bulldogs and Dragons netted emphatic wins in the 18th round.
Gisborne played its final Bendigo FNL match at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
The clash of the Bulldogs went the way of the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne, 58-19.
Was a daunting task for the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square in its last hit-out of the ’26 season.
Sandhurst scored a 77-31 win on Castlemaine’s court at The Railway Hotel in Camp Reserve.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst will be determined to show it learnt plenty from its four-goal loss to Gisborne on the QEO court in the 17th round.
A young Castlemaine team coached by Vanessa Saunders ends the season with 1 ½ wins.
Eaglehawk warmed up for another finals campaign by scoring a 67-25 win at home against Broadford at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Was a tough debut season for the Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford which netted its first premiership points in a 37-all draw with Castlemaine on the Kangaroos’ court at Harley Hammond Reserve in the 17th round.
The Janelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk will now prepare to meet South Bendigo in next Sunday’s elimination final at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo had the bye on the eve of the finals.
It’s one-all in this season’s showdowns between the Bloods and Hawks.
South Bendigo won the Anzac Day match under the QEO lights by six goals, but the Hawks stunned the Bloods in a 75-60 victory in round 13 on the Canterbury Park court.
Final standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball after the 18th and final round in the home-and-away series:
Kangaroo Flat 196 per cent, 64 points; Gisborne 182, 52; Sandhurst 171, 52; South Bendigo 120, 36; Eaglehawk 106, 32; Strathfieldsaye 86, 28; Golden Square 88, 16; Castlemaine 46, 6; Broadford 30, 2.
Bendigo FNL netball, round 18 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 65 d Golden Square 31, Strathfieldsaye 35 lt Kangaroo Flat 51, Castlemaine 35 lt Sandhurst 71, Eaglehawk bye, South Bendigo bye.
B-grade:
Gisborne 54 d Golden Square 24, Strathfieldsaye 31 lt Kangaroo Flat 32, Castlemaine 36 lt Sandhurst 55, Eaglehawk 44 d Broadford 34, South Bendigo bye.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 68 d Golden Square 21, Strathfieldsaye 35 lt Kangaroo Flat 44, Castlemaine 31 lt Sandhurst 74, Eaglehawk 58 d Broadford 21, South Bendigo bye.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 29 lt Golden Square 44, Strathfieldsaye 69 d Kangaroo Flat 33, Castlemaine 24 lt Sandhurst 68, Eaglehawk 74 d Broadford 18, South Bendigo bye.
15-and-under:
Strathfieldsaye 43 d Kangaroo Flat 34, Castlemaine 27 lt Sandhurst 82, Eaglehawk bye, Golden Square bye, South Bendigo bye.
Ladders after the 18th and final round in the home-and-away series:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 148 per cent, 50 points; South Bendigo 147, 48; Gisborne 140, 36; Sandhurst 113, 36; Eaglehawk 97, 26; Strathfieldsaye 75, 12; Golden Square 64, 8; Castlemaine 59, 8.
B-grade:
Gisborne 216 per cent, 64 points; South Bendigo 132, 48; Strathfieldsaye 125, 48; Kangaroo Flat 126, 46; Sandhurst 114, 32; Golden Square 81, 20; Eaglehawk 88, 18; Broadford 61, 12; Castlemaine 44, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 175 per cent, 60 points; Gisborne 184, 54; South Bendigo 142, 48; Strathfieldsaye 129, 42; Sandhurst 122, 36; Eaglehawk 97, 24; Golden Square 87, 16; Castlemaine 53, 4; Broadford 26, 4.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 187 per cent, 56 points; Golden Square 162, 52; Strathfieldsaye 163, 48; Eaglehawk 104, 34; South Bendigo 98, 32; Kangaroo Flat 109, 30; Gisborne 115, 28; Castlemaine 50, 8; Broadford 27, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 309 per cent, 48 points; Golden Square 193, 40; South Bendigo 101, 32; Eaglehawk 86, 24; Strathfieldsaye 84, 16; Kangaroo Flat 57, 8; Castlemaine 35, 0.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington:
15-and-under at 8.40am: Golden Square v South Bendigo.
17-and-under at 10am: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Gisborne v South Bendigo.
B-grade at 12.40pm: South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye.
A-reserve at 2pm: South Bendigo v Gisborne.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
15-and-under at 8.40am: Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye.
17-and-under at 10am: Eaglehawk v South Bendigo.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.
A-reserve at 2pm: Sandhurst v Eaglehawk.
A-grade at 3.20pm: South Bendigo v Eaglehawk.