Bloods mark another vital win against Sandhurst
SOUTH Bendigo again responded to big-game pressure to score a nine-point victory against Sandhurst in Saturday’s 12th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.
The QEO co-tenants renewed their fierce rivalry in a game that had big repercussions on their finals aspirations.
South Bendigo went into the match in fifth place and a win clear of Sandhurst.
The Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods led 31-29 at quarter-time and 49-39 by half-time.
Sandhurst struck back to win a high-scoring third quarter, 33-25.
A six-goal haul by Brock Harvey proved to be major difference as he led the Bloods to a 100-91 victory in a best afield performance.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red and white were Kaiden Antonowicz and Alex Smith on two.
Sandhurst’s attack was led by young guns Cobi Maxted, four, and Jasper Stewart, three.
Best for the Bloods were Brock Harvey, Alex Smith, Isaiah Miller, Michael Herlihy, Zac Hare and Liam Byrne.
Sandhurst’s best were Hamish Hosking, Tanner Nally, Zach Pallpratt, Cobi Maxted, Jeremy Rodi and Lachie Hood.
It was another hard-fought win for Strathfieldsaye on Kyneton’s turf.
Storm led 34-14 at quarter-time and 54-35 at the long break.
The Paul Chapman-coached Tigers won the third term, 16-9, but Storm had the answers in the last to mark an 83-66 victory.
The in-form James Schischka kicked three goals for Storm as gun forward Lachlan Sharp made a welcome return to Storm’s attack and booted three majors.
Kyneton’s Rhys Magin hit the 50-goal mark in a match-high tally of four.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Callum McCarty, Jake Moorhead, Ben Lester, Mitch Hallinan, Jake Hall and James Schischka.
James Gaff, Dean Bartrop, James Orr, Harrison Huntley, Guy Dickson and Steven Georgiou played well for the Tigers.
Eaglehawk dominated the second half of its clash with Kangaroo Flat at Canterbury Park.
The young Roos did well to be within five points of the Hawks at quarter-time, and by 15 at the long break.
The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk upped its play at stoppages and into the forward 50m arc as it scored 4.3 to nil in the crucial third quarter.
Led by the play of Joel Mullen, Noah Wheeler and Billy Evans, Eaglehawk slammed on 6.3 to 1.4 in the final term to mark a 119-48 victory.
Liam Marciano and Noah Wheeler kicked three goals apiece for Eaglehawk.
The Roos’ attack was led by Jack Barras on three.
Best for Eaglehawk included Lewin Davis, Brady Rowles and Ben Thompson.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Sam Barnes, Bryce Franzini, Jake Hywood, Ethan Roberts, Campbell Smith and Jack Barras.
Despite several of its star forwards being unavailable, Gisborne hit the 21-goal mark at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs won 137-20, but it was a much improved performance by the Don Moran-coached Magpies who scored just two points at Gisborne in Anzac Round on April 23.
Harry Thomas was the star in Gisborne’s victory as he kicked seven goals.
Sam Graham and Jake Normington, three; Dan Davie and Thomas Fraser, two, were Gisborne’s other multiple goalkickers.
The Magpies’ goals were kicked by Bailey Henderson, Tommy Horne and Angus Mayes.
Gisborne’s best were Seb Bell-Bartels, Flynn Lakey, Matthew Panuccio, Harry Thomas, Sam Graham and Macklan Lord.
Bailey Henderson, Jack Chester, Tommy Horne, John Watson, Kaleb McBride and Riley Pedretti played well for the Magpies.
A 10-goal haul by Golden Square star Joel Brett at Maryborough has given him a significant lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker.
Golden Square led 73-3 at half-time of the clash on the Borough’s turf at Princes Park.
A formidable Bulldogs’ attack capitalised on the team’s dominance at centre breaks, through the midfield and from half-back.
Brett booted 10 goals in a best on ground performance as Jayden Burke, five; and Jack Hickman, three, also did well in the 50m arc in a 192-29 victory.
Best for the Christian Carter-coached Golden Square included Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Jack Hickman, Ryan Hartley, Jayden Burke and Matt Compston.
Brady Neill, Tom Myers, Dylan Harberger, Patrick Chard, Jadyen Hooper and Aidan Hare worked hard for the Rick Andrews-coached Magpies.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 257 per cent, 44 points; Strathfieldsaye 176, 40; Golden Square 271, 36; Kyneton 118, 28; South Bendigo 95, 28; Eaglehawk 113, 24; Sandhurst 124, 20; Kangaroo Flat 51, 12; Castlemaine 35, 8; Maryborough 28, 0.
Leaders in the race for the Ron Best Medal goalkicking award:
63 Joel Brett, GS.
50 Rhys Magin, Kyn.
40 Jayden Burke, GS.
34 Brock Harvey, SB.
33 Pat McKenna, Gis.; James Schischka, S’saye.
32 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
29 Josh Kemp, Gis.
26 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB.
25 Darcy Richards, Eh.
24 Cameron Manuel, Kyn.
23 Lachlan Sharp, S’saye; Braydon Vaz, GS.
22 Joel Wharton, Sh; Lachy Wilson, KF.
21 Matt Thornton, Sh.
18 Liam Marciano, Eh; Matt Merrett, Gis.
16 Chris Freeman, Mb; Kallen Geary, S’saye.
A highlight of Saturday’s 13th round will be the showdown between fourth and fifth as Kyneton makes the trek to Queen Elizabeth Oval to play South Bendigo.
Golden Square and Eaglehawk do battle in the Bulldogs’ kennel at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst clash on the Kangaroos’ ground at Dower Park.
Strathfieldsaye and Castlemaine meet on Storm’s turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Gisborne takes on Maryborough at Gardiner Reserve.
Written by Nathan Dole.
