EAGLEHAWK charges into a qualifying final showdown with Strathfieldsaye Storm in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals series.
It’s a break in tradition as the league has switched week one of the finals away from Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Storm and Hawks will do battle from 2.20pm at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the clubs.
A great start by the Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye included a 69-62 victory on Eaglehawk’s turf at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park in the fifth round.
The Hawks dominated the return match in the 14th round at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
An Eaglehawk line-up coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, racked up a score of 13.25 (103) and kept Storm to a season-low 35 points.
A Storm defence led by co-captain Lachlan Ratcliffe, Kya Lanfranchi, Ben Lester and Patrick Blandford faces a huge task against Bailey Ilsley, Jacquin Mifsud, co-coach Clayton Holmes and Nick Blandford.
Major factor will be control at centre ball-ups, stoppages and through the centre.
Strathfieldsaye has Jed Brereton in the ruck to team with co-captain Daniel Clohesy, Riley Mulquiny and Jaidi Jackson-Leahy.
The Hawks’ on-ball group of Callum Heath, Ben Thompson, Joel Mullen and captain Billy Evans is one of the league’s strongest.
Key forward James Schishcka has kicked 68 goals for Storm and will be a key target along with Zach Charles, Drew Lloyd and Tyson McKenzie.
A Borough defence led by Jonty Neaves, James Schischka, Dylan Hanley and Sam Thompson just gets the job done week-by-week.
The winner meets Sandhurst in the second semi-final on September 5 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
On Sunday it will be Gisborne and South Bendigo fighting to stay in the race for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup when they play at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane from 2.20pm.
It’s also one-all in this season’s meetings between the Bulldogs and Bloods.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, scored a 91-81 victory in round two on its turf at Harry Trott Oval.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne marked a nine-goal win against the red and white at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval at Gardiner Reserve in the 11th round.
Bound to play from Ballarat from the ’27 season, Gisborne’s coaches and players will be determined the run in Bendigo’s senior footy action rolls on through September.
Key players for Gisborne include Pat McKenna who has kicked 78 goals in 14 matches to earn the Ron Best Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker.
A talented attack for Gisborne includes Harry Luxmoore, Shane Clough, Dominic Sullivan and Matt Merrett.
They will be be up against Alex Davis, Nathan Horbury, Will Allen, Thomas Brereton and co-coach Jack Fallon.
Centre breaks are crucial on the big ground.
Gisborne has Lucas Carnell in the ruck to team with Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone and Adam Brancatisano against Zaydyn Lockwood, Coen Harker, Josh Nitschke and Jake Rusbridge.
Bulldogs’ captain and full-back Zach Vescovi is likely to start on James Frawley, a premiership winner with Hawthorn.
Injury has restricted Frawley to just four games for the Bloods in which he has kicked 13 goals.
A lot of Gisborne’s planning will have gone in to how to curb the play of Brock Harvey who leads the Bloods’ attack on 61 goals.
Other targets for South Bendigo include Callum Crisp, Sam Langley and Alex Smith-Ralph as Brody Haddow, Wil McCaig and Jack English look to swoop on chances.
The Bulldogs’ defence includes Jed Denahy, Will Elliott, Frank Schipano and Harry Thomas.
In the Drummond Golf reserves, Eaglehawk faces Sandhurst in Saturday’s qualifying final from 12.15pm.
The Dragons won the Easter Saturday match in Eaglehawk by 17 points.
Eaglehawk hit back for a 60-33 win against the maroon and blue at the QEO in the 10th round.
The Hawks’ attack is led by Sam Dean and Ryan Wellington on 24 and 22 goals.
Key targets for the Dragons are Daniel Noden and James Vlaeminck.
An Eaglehawk team captained by Ethan Hanley includes Cahal Blandthorn, Jakeb Hanley, Cory Jacobs, Blake McGregor and Jaxon Vroom.
Sandhurst will look to Jonty Davis, Gus Hay, Finlay Lockhart, Patrick O’Farrell, Shannon Tardrew and Fraser Walsh to lead the charge to victory.
The winner meets South Bendigo in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it’s Strathfieldsaye and Kangaroo Flat fighting to avoid elimination.
Storm starts as favourite after wins against the Roos by 57 points in round nine, and by 28 points at Triple M Park last Saturday.
Players to watch for Strathfieldsaye include captain Rhys Zera, Jai Featherby, Declan Lowther, Marco Mentha, Nate Rodda, George Simpson, Jordan Wilson and Alex Wingrave.
The Roos’ squad to face Storm includes brilliant on-baller and seniors captain Ethan Roberts who was sidelined for a lot of this season because of injury.
Kangaroo Flat is bolstered by the inclusion of Mitch Rovers who had played seven of eight matches in the seniors until injured.
A dual premiership-winning player with Mount Pleasant, Rovers returned via the reserves in the 14th round, played seniors the next week, did not play in the 16th, and was in the reserves for round 17.
Kangaroo Flat’s team for Sunday’s clash includes Mitch Holt, Jade Mayes, Toby Roberts, Ben Savy, Tucker Thach, and Jarryd and Matt Wiegard.
It’s Sandhurst against South Bendigo in the Sportspower under-18s qualifying final.
The Dragons and Bloods will clash from 10.15am in Kennington.
Both teams have a 13-3 record.
The Bloods won the round six match at Harry Trott Oval by 50 points.
Sandhurst dominated the round 15 match on the QEO to mark an 83-30 victory.
Dragons’ gun forward Miller Armstrong has kicked 50 goals and key figure in an attack that includes Carter Reid, Jaxon Kelly and Patrick McNamara.
The Sandhurst squad includes Hudson Banfield, Charlie Bombardieri, Maurice and Miller Nihill, Duncan Strahan and Kingston Uerata.
Bloods’ captain Anthony Gray has kicked 46 goals and marked his senior debut against Golden Square in the seventh round.
Players to watch in the red and white include Logan Howell, Zavier Ralphs, Max Kornmann, Lachlan Magee, Harry Warne and Hamish Worme.
The Dragons or Bloods will meet Strathfieldsaye in the second semi-final.
The under-18s elimination final on Sunday features Castlemaine and Golden Square from 10.15am at Triple M Park.
The Magpies and Bulldogs played two exciting contests in the home-and-away series.
Castlemaine won 61-58 on its turf at Camp Reserve on Good Friday.
The round 10 match at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street ended in a 43-39 win for the blue and gold.
A Castlemaine team co-captained by Oscar Giddings and Ben Jardine includes Jack Archer who has kicked 43 goals, Flynn Bruce, Max Matheson, Brian Shafik-Eid, Zach Thompson and Charlie Waters.
Golden Square’s squad which is captained by Logan Wilson includes Bentley Geary, Will Pike, Jake Rosa, Alex Ryan, Mehtaab Sandhu, Mack Skinner and Tyler Wescott.
Schedule for 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 Sunday’s elimination finals at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane:
Sportspower under-18s at 10.15am: Castlemaine v Golden Square.
Drummond Golf reserves at 12.15pm: Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.
In the netball action…….A FIERCE on-court rivalry between Sandhurst and Gisborne plays out in Saturday’s start to the A-grade finals series in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.
The Dragons and Bulldogs will meet in the qualifying final at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
First pass in the big clash between two clubs which have featured in many great finals across 20 years will be at 3.20pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between Sandhurst and Gisborne who ended the home-and-away series on win-loss tallies of 13-3.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst scored a 44-40 victory in the eighth round on Gisborne’s court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
Scores were identical, but flipped as the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne took the points from Queen Elizabeth Oval in the 17th round.
The Sandhurst team is Shae Clifford, Sophie James (Shoebridge), Claire McGee, Heath Oliver, Kelsey Ralph, Rebecca Smith, Ruby Turner, Harriet Whiteacre, Darcy Williams, and Meg Williams.
Key players for Gisborne include co-captains Kirby Elliott and Charlee Kemp, Amity Drayton and Torie Skrijel.
The team in red, white and blue also has Charlee Duff-Tytler, Emerson Lakey, Emily Miles and Tilly Shepherd to take to the court.
An unbeaten Kangaroo Flat awaits to face Gisborne or Sandhurst in the second semi-final on September 5.
A Kangaroos’ team coached by Jayden Cowling is chasing back-to-back premierships.
On Sunday it will be South Bendigo and Eaglehawk fighting to stay in the premiership race when they contest the elimination final at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The showdown between the Bloods and Hawks will start at 3.20pm.
These teams met on Anzac Day where the Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo won 58-52 under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Next time around was in the 13th round where the Janelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk marked its best performance of the home-and-away series.
The Hawks swooped for a 75-60 victory at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park.
South Bendigo has the experience and on-court leadership of co-captains Steph Greene and Gabe Richards, and Steph MacCallum as vice-captain.
The Bloods’ squad includes Carissa Brook, Kyla Byrne, Isabel Coutts, Tegan Elliston, Eliza Hynes, Gabby Moore, Sarah Nash, and Andrea Wilson.
On the sideines South Bendigo has the experience of assistant coach Mel Dillon to draw on.
A superb coaching career for Janelle Hobbs across the Bendigo FNL includes stints with Kangaroo Flat, South Bendigo, and now Eaglehawk.
Players to watch for the Two Blues include Ella Flavell, Sienna Hobbs, Allira Holmes and Chloe Langley.
Eaglehawk is also represented by Gracie Berryman, Kate Clow, Briella Gibbs, Morgan Keating, Rani Madden and Mia McCrann-Peters.
In the A-reserve competition it will be South Bendigo against Gisborne in the qualifying final from 2pm.
A South Bendigo team coached by Lauren Bowles and Amanda Walters completed the home-and-away series on a 12-2 record.
The Kayleen Elliott-coached Gisborne has a nine-five record.
Both contests in the run to the finals were incredibly close.
South Bendigo scored a 50-46 victory in the round two match at Harry Trott Oval.
In round 11 the Bloods fought on to net a 55-52 win at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
South Bendigo is led by captain Sarah Nash and co vice-captains Katelyn Parry and Olivia Treloar.
Also in the Bloods’ squad are Kira Baldwin, Lauren Bowles, Carissa Brook, Shelley DeAraugo, Remi Kuhne, Olivia Mason and Avy Morrissey.
Gisborne has Eloise Rodda as captain to team with Charlotte Crook, Nirvana Martin and Emily McDonald.
The Bulldogs are also represented by Alexandra Russ, Reece Sutton, Dasha Taylor, Hannah Weier and Demi Young.
The winner will meet Kangaroo Flat in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it will be Sandhurst against Eaglehawk in the A-reserve elimination final.
Play at Triple M Park will start at 2pm.
The Tamara Gilchrist and Gabriella Greene-coached Sandhurst has a nine-rive record.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Paige Combridge has had six wins, a draw, seven losses in its run to grab fifth place.
Sandhurst won both duels with Eaglehawk in the home-and-away series by 10 goals both times.
The Dragons won 50-40 in the first round at C and M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
It was 54-44 the way of the Dragons at the end of the round 10 clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Sandhurst’s team is Reese Gilchrist, Maggie Keating, Tess Keating, Lila Kelly, Diana Napoleon, Alexis Phillips, Neve Pinner, Lucy Sherriff and Katherine Winwood.
The squad from Eaglehawk is Macey Brereton, Imogen Brown, Kate Clow, Charli Crawford, Montana Davies, Briella Gibbs, Darcey Lloyd, Rani Madden, Abbey McLean, Sophie McLean and Josie Walsh.
It will be South Bendigo against Strathfieldsaye in the B-grade qualifying final.
Play starts at 12.40pm.
The Bloods and Storm roll into the finals on 12-4 record.
In round one it was the Marita Eddy and Shannyn Keely-coached South Bendigo which charged to a 44-29 victory on Strathfieldsaye’s court at Triple M Park.
The Jo Artavilla and Carlie Brennan-coached Storm struck back for a 49-39 victory on South Bendigo’s court at Harry Trott Oval in the 10th round.
Players to watch for South Bendigo include captain Danni Fallon, vice-captain Allana Swatton, Paige Campbell and Matilda Osborne.
The Bloods have Bella Eddy, Holly Giddings, Amanda Hollis, Shannyn Keely, Casey Mitchell, Eliza Richmond, Phoebe Van Huemen and Amanda Walters in their squad.
Storm’s line-up includes Chiara Artavilla, Maeve Cass, Imogen Currie and Makayle Dole.
Strathfieldsaye will also Sienna Eddy, Olivia Erwin, Macey Murphy, Macey O’Shea and Ella Pitson take to the court.
The winner meets Gisborne in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it will be Kangaroo Flat against Sandhurst in the elimination final.
A record of 11 wins, four defeats and a draw by the Chelsea Sartori and Kate Newman-coached Kangaroo Flat includes defeating Sandhurst both times.
The Roos won the round five match on the QEO court by 10 goals.
It was seven-goal margin as the Kangaroos claimed a 44-37 victory at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park in the 14th round.
The Sophie James and Rebecca Smith-coached Sandhurst has an eight-eight record rolling into Sunday’s match.
Kangaroo Flat’s squad is Isabella Allen, Taylah Collins, Lily Dickson, Molly Drum, Darcie Fry, Zali Hocking, Gemma Roberts, Alex Rusbridge and Claudia Shelton.
The Sandhurst squad is Erica Dalrymple-Monro, Lucia Dyer, Sophie Giles, Tess Mills, Meg Pearce, Ava Perez, Sahara Rodda, Milla Sherriff, Bridget Turner and Ruby Walsh.
In B-reserve, Gisborne and South Bendigo meet in Saturday’s qualifying final at 11.20am.
The Shelley Farrugia-coached Gisborne has a record of 13 wins, one draw, two defeats.
South Bendigo ended the home-and-away series in third place with an 11-3 record.
The Sarah Dennis and Katie Richmond-coached South Bendigo played in a 46-all draw at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve in round 11.
The Bulldogs won the round two match with the red and white at Harry Trott Oval by 13 goals.
Gisborne’s squad captained by Caytlyn Walker is Holly Brewer, Macey Drayton, Shelley Farrugia, Sapphy McCarthy, Bec Merrett, Lily Prater and Bridget Salter.
The Bloods have Caitlyn Bowe and Montana Pinchbeck as co-captains.
South Bendigo’s squad is Jorja Brown, Sunny Childs, Sarah Dennis, Simone Edgley, Laura Power, Ariana Ralph, Kirsanda Shepherd, Mia Smith and Emma Tomlins.
The winner meets Kangaroo Flat in the second semi-final.
Strathfieldsaye faces Sandhurst in the B-reserve elimination final from 11.20am.
The Jo Artavilla and Charlie Brennan-coached Strathfieldsaye has a record of 10 wins, five losses, and a draw.
Sandhurst has a nine-seven record.
In round seven the Jarileey Scholtes-coached Sandhurst scored a 46-42 win against Storm at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Storm struck back to claim a 48-44 victory against the Dragons in the 16th round at Triple M Park.
Strathfieldsaye’s squad is Bridget Abe, Jazna Austin, Chelsea Crapper, Lana Marsh, Charli McInerney, Renn Minne, Ella O’Gorman, Madison Poke and Mackenzie Strawbridge.
Sandhurst will be represented in this match by Laila Day, Tahli Gilchrist, Abbey Howard, Tarryn Knights, Isabella Kulhe, Ella Maxted, Tahlia Maxted, Abbey McCarthy, Brooke McClelland, Annie Palmer and Jarileey Scholtes.
The 17-and-under qualifying final featues Golden Square against Strathfieldsaye from 10am.
A Golden Square team coached by Jody Richards has a 13-3 record.
The Fiona Schubert and Julie Fennell-coached Storm has a 12-4 tally.
When these teams met in round eight it was Storm which surged to a 54-45 win at Triple M Park.
A top contest in round 17 at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street ended up 40-38 in favour of Golden Square.
The Golden Square squad is Anya Basilewsky, Rehmi Burke, Rachael Flood, Ginger Hay, Scout Hayes, Juliet Hogan, Grace Mulqueen, Mackenzie Trotter, Lily Wise and Corey Woods.
Strathfieldsaye will be represented by Lexi Arundell, Lexie Fennell, Chella Fitzgerald, Rania Jackson-Leahy, Sophie McDermott, Dempsey McDonnell, Ady Neilson, Eden Pollard and Chloe Tweed.
The Bulldogs or Storm will face Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
Eaglehawk and South Bendigo will contest the 17-and-under elimination final.
The Janelle Hobbs and Paige Combridge-coached Eaglehawk has an 8-7 record and one draw.
A South Bendigo team coached by Lauren Bowles and Gabe Richards is on an eight-eight tally.
When these teams met on Anzac Day it was the Hawks who soared to a 48-40 win at the QEO.
The round 13 match at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park ended in a 55-34 win for the Two Blues.
Eaglehawk’s squad is Lily Ancrum, Imogen Brown, Alexis Coates, Zara Crapper, Piper Farmer, Lexi Jones, Charli McQueen, Ashleigh Medhurst, D’Lilah Shatwell and Alyssa Wardell.
The Bloods’ line-up includes Macey Pinner as captain, Amalie Blanchard, Remy Kearns, Peyton Lakey and Jessica Leed.
Also in the red and white will be Sophie Mahony, Lily McKee, Harper Milroy, Mannon Milroy, Rosie Sheldrick, Mia Smith and Mahli Stone.
In the 15-and-under competition, Golden Square meets South Bendigo in the qualifying final at 8.40am on Saturday.
A 10-2 run by the Clare Hope and Shari McPherson-coached Golden Square includes wins against South Bendigo by 25 and 22 goals.
The winner meets Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
A strong squad for Golden Square is Daisy Costello, Milla Dalton, Regan Hay, Ava Hope, Indie Kramer, Alice McIntosh, Scarlett Ramsey, Maddison Ryan, Marlie Skinner, Thea Tobin, Ella Tyrrell and Livi Warfe.
The Rox Hayes-coached South Bendigo has Bella Cail as captain to team with Laila Cail, Indie Colley, Lily Diss, Emily Dullard and Eily Ellis-Fedke.
The Bloods will also be represented by Lily Hearps, Ivy Pinner, Ruby Polson, Harper Smith and Perry Westley.
On Sunday it will be Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye vying to stay in the race.
The Abbey McLean and Gracie Berryman has a six-six record.
It’s a four-eight tally for the Fiona Schubert and Makayle Dole-coached Strathfieldsaye.
The Hawks and Storm have played out two thrillers.
Eaglehawk won 41-39 at Canterbury Park in round five.
The Borough scored a 36-35 victory on Storm’s court in the 14th round at Triple M Park.
Eaglehawk’s squad is Nevaeh Coates, Lacey Ermel, Chelsea Korp, Willow Michielsen, Ruby Miller, Charlotte Morrissey, Lana Medhurst, Maggie Pollock, Olive Rhoden and Izzy Whelan.
Storm’s squad is Mia Behrens, Adeline Bennallack, Arie Dean, Molly Doherty, Cammie Fitzgerald, Alice Fraser, Adaysha Giles, Ava Green, Emma Hietbrink, Lily McMaster and Ella Schubert.
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.