By Nathan Dole
FIRST-ROUND winners, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine and Newbridge meet in Saturday’s second round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
The Bears and Maroons will clash at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve from 2.15pm.
In round one on April 1 it was the Justin Laird-coached Bears who fought on for a 13-point win at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.
Laird and Andrew Gladman kicked three goals apiece and will be key targets again.
Other key players for BLS include Kyal Zass at centre half-back, Louis Mott, Harry Gadsden, Darcy Poulter, Josh Taig, Jeremy Hancock and Steve Gladman.
The new-look coaching set-up of Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing, at Newbridge marked a confidence-lifting three-goal win on Calivil United’s turf.
Gale led the Maroons attack on four goals to be among the best.
Newbridge’s squad for this match includes William Copland, Angus Fortune, Matt Giri, Aidan Moore, Tyler McLeod and David Romer.
After cooling their heels the past two Saturdays, Pyramid Hill marks its season start at Calivil.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs have a powerful attack that includes Bailey George, Seb Relouw and Steve Gunther.
Brilliant rover Billy Micevski played superb football to earn the Harding Medal as the league’s fairest and best last season.
Other players to watch for the Bulldogs include ruckman Adrian Holland, ruck-rover Declan Slingo, Zach Alford, Gavin James and Dylan Morison.
It’s a massive test for the Anthony Dennis-coached Calivil United.
The Demons’ best in round one were Henry Miller, Rhys Lourie, Justin Hynes and Jack Maher.
There is likely to be plenty of heat on a Calivil United defence that includes Jake Lawry, Mitch Avard and Blair Richards.
Other key players for the red and blue are Jordan Lea, Thomas Piazza and Walter Miller.
It will be a big day of flag unfurling at Marong’s Malone Park as the Panthers mark the senior, reserves and under-18s premierships of 2022.
On-field the Panthers tackle Inglewood.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Marong was ruthless in a 128-1 victory against Maiden Gully YCW under the Marist College Oval lights in round one.
Brandyn Grenfell kicked eight goals in that contest and looms as a big threat to Inglewood’s defence, along with Matt Riordan and Kain Robins.
A formidable line-up includes Jacob Ede, Jimmy Gadsden, Ben Gregg, Jack McCaig and Richard Tibbett.
The Darrell Billett-coached Inglewood worked extremely hard, but rued inaccuracy in an 11.17 (83) to 14.12 (96) loss to Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the first round.
Best for the Blues in that contest were Alex Lowe, Luke Matheson, Charlie McGaw and Sam Polack.
Inglewood’s work at centre clearances and stoppages will be vital to halt the supply to Marong’s attack.
Other key players for the Blues include Fergus and Keelan Payne, captain Nathan Angelino, Bregon Cotchett, Traiton Kendal and Cody Stobaus.
Bridgewater will be confident of consecutive wins when it hosts Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Jay McDonald-coached Eagles will be determined to make a strong response.
The task will not be easy against a Bridgewater line-up which had captain Josh Martyn kick 12 goals on Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
In-form players for the Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine included Tyler Estrada, Aaron Gauci, Charlton Hindle, Harry McKinley and Darcy Wood.
Five days after racing at the Stawell Gift in Central Park, Oliver Muggleton was named as ruck-rover in Bridgewater’s team.
Other players to watch for the Machine include Harry Donegan, Emile Pavlich and Sam Dewar.
The Eagles’ best against Marong were Tyler Miles, Josh Worsley, Jay McDonald, and Mitch Dean.
Mitiamo has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 12,800 per cent, 4 points; Bridgewater 405, 4; Newbridge 136, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 115, 4; Inglewood 86, 0; Calivil United 73, 0; Mitiamo 24, 0; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 0.7, 0; Pyramid Hill 0, 0.