BY NATHAN DOLE
BRIDGEWATER responded to the heat from the Calivil United Demons to mark another victory in Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy action.
Down 18-29 at half-time, Bridgewater lifted its intensity and run in the third quarter to score 4.6 to 2.0.
A seven-point lead for the Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine at the start of the final term was 10 at the end as it added 4.2 to 3.5.
Jeremy Campbell led Bridgewater’s attack on four goals as Brayden Stepien added two.
Multiple goalkickers for Calivil United were Ben Baker, three; Lachlan Brook and coach Anthony Dennis with two.
Bridgewater’s best were Charlton Hindle, Darcy Wood, James Naughton, Oliver Muggleton, Ayden McDowell and Nic Naughton.
Jack Maher, Cody Thompson, Mitch Avard, Hamish Wall, Ben Baker and Jake Lawry played well for the Demons.
Newbridge won a closely-fought contest with Maiden Gully YCW at Beck Legal Riverside Oval.
The Maroons led 13-10 at quarter-time on home turf before the Eagles added four goals and held Newbridge to a tally of 2.2 in the second.
The Sam Gale and Daniel Smith-coached Newbridge turned a seven-point deficit at half-time into a 14-point lead by the last change after it added 4.5 to 1.2 in the third.
Led by the play of Tyler McLeod, Sam Gale and William Copland, Newbridge marked a 10.72 (72) to 9.7 (61) victory.
Newbridge’s attack was led by Chris Dixon, four; and Jack Murray, two.
Leading goalkickers for the Eagles were Daniel Bice, Caleb Flood, coach Jay McDonald, and Tyler Miles on two.
Best for Newbridge included Caleb Sanders, Will Daly and Dylan Stevens.
Brandon Dimech, Cooper Hale, Tyler Miles, Sam Keneally, Josh Worsley and William Noden were best for the Eagles.
Pyramid Hill dominated its home game against Mitiamo at Mitchell Park.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs led 34-9 at quarter-time and 78-22 by the long break.
Jesse Sheahan went on to kick eight goals and Will Perryman added five as Pyramid Hill won 25.10 (160) to 7.7 (49).
Mitiamo’s attack was led by Brayden Baines, three, and Ross Turner, two goals.
Best for the Bulldogs were Declan Slingo, Brodie Carroll, Jesse Sheahan, Thomas Hetherington, Lachlan Sidebottom and Bryden Morison.
Zac Morrison, Dylan Clohesy, Luke Lougoon, Ross Turner, Brayden Baines and Tom Campbell were best for the Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos.
Marong fans will have to wait a couple of weeks for Brandyn Grenfell to reach the 100-goal mark after he was held to five in the Panthers clash at Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The clash between first and third at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve was dominated by the unbeaten Marong.
As it’s regularly done, Marong made a flying start to the contest.
The Panthers led 46-8 at quarter-time and then slammed on 8.2 to 1.1 in the second.
An 81-point lead at half-time was up to 113 by the last change.
Grenfell and Kyle Manley both kicked five goals apiece for Marong as Nathan Devanny added three in the 156-26 result.
Grenfell has kicked 99 goals this season.
Best for the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong were Kyle Manley, Richard Tibbett, captain Corey Gregg, Ryley Taylor, Jacob Ede and Michael Bradbury.
Bears’ coach Justin Laird was best along with Aidan Brohm, Bailey Harrison, Ryan Prendergast, Anthony Lewin and Jeremy Hancock.
Inglewood had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 589 per cent, 56 points; Pyramid Hill 181, 44; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 113, 36; Inglewood 104, 28; Bridgewater 85, 28; Mitiamo 56, 16; Newbridge 48, 16; Calivil United 53, 8; Maiden Gully YCW 50, 8.
In next Saturday’s round 16 action, Bridgewater is at home to tackle Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Calivil United and Mitiamo meet in the Demons’ den at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Newbridge and Inglewood clash at Newbridge’s Beck Legal Riverside Oval.
Pyramid Hill plays Maiden Gully YCW at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Marong has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
99 Brandyn Grenfell, Marong.
45 Kain Robins, Marong.
39 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
38 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
34 Matt Riordan, Marong.
30 Charlie McGaw, Inglewood.
29 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
29 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
29 Jay Reynolds, Mitiamo.
26 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
25 Will Perryman, Pyramid Hill.
24 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
24 Bailey George, Pyramid Hill.
22 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
20 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
20 Jack McCaig, Marong.
19 James Bailey, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Andrew Cussen, Mitiamo.
19 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
18 Sam Dorevitch, Inglewood.
18 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
16 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
16 Brandon Dimech, Maiden Gully YCW.
15 Thomas Brennan, Pyramid Hill.
15 Kyle Manley, Marong.
15 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.