BY NATHAN DOLE
Golden Square’s young guns stand up to Hawks
THE young guns in Golden Square’s line-up played key roles in a hard-fought win against Eaglehawk in Saturday’s 10th round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
Playing on home turf at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street, Golden Square led 20-15 at quarter-time.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs then turned up the heat to score 3.2 as it kept the Hawks to a tally of three behinds in the second quarter.
Eaglehawk hit back strongly in the third term.
The Borough responded with three goals as the Dogs added one.
Golden Square led 47-39 going into the last term.
With key defender Jon Coe in great form the blue and gold held the Hawks to a goal in the last as the Dogs did plenty of attacking.
At the final siren Golden Square led 59-45.
Jack Stewart capped another great match with three goals for the Bulldogs as Tom Strauch kicked two.
The Hawks’ attack was led by Joel Mulleen and Jonty Neaves on two each.
Best for the Bulldogs included Macey Eaton and Kai Daniels who have also excelled on the basketball court.
Lachlan Humphrey, Hugh Freckleton and Tom Strauch were also among Golden Square’s best.
Joel Mullen, Oscar Madden, Billy Evans, Dylan Hanley, Bailey Ilsley and Clayton Holmes were best for the Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk.
A nine-goal haul by Castlemaine coach Michael Hartley spearheaded Castlemaine to a 176-29 victory at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
Castlemaine led 28-7 at quarter-time and then slammed on 13 goals in the second.
With Hartley capitalising on the Magpies’ dominance through midfield and at stoppages, Castlemaine kicked away.
Jackson Hood booted four goals as Ryan Eyre and captain Bailey Henderson added three each.
Magpies’ co-coach Matt Johnston kicked four goals.
Best for Castlemaine were Michael Hartley, Ryan Eyre, Zavier Murley, Bailey Henderson, Ben McConachy and Jackson Hood.
Alex Brown, co-coach Coby Perry, key defender Kya Lanfranchi, Joel Swatton, Seb Collins and Beau Trahar were Maryborough’s best.
A nine-goal blitz in the second quarter set up Strathfieldsaye’s big win against South Bendigo at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
The Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye led 34-18 at quarter-time and then slammed on 9.2 to 1.2 in the second term.
A 64-point lead at the break became 84 at a quarter to go.
South Bendigo worked hard to win the final term, 21-19, but it was Storm which took the points in a 138-56 result.
The in-form James Schischka kicked five goals as Abe Sheahan added four.
Other multiple goalkickers were Caleb Ernst, three; Zach Charles and Darcy Mulquiny, two.
South Bendigo co-coach Steven Stroobants booted a match-high six goals.
Storm’s best were Cooper Jones, Darcy Mulquiny, Ethan Featherby, Caleb Ernst, Matt Harvey and James Schischka.
Anthony Zimmerman, Riley Walsh, Brody Haddow, Alex Smith, Steven Stroobants and Cody Brooks were best for a Bloods line-up jointly coached by Isaiah Miller.
Seven goals capped one of Cobi Maxted’s best matches for Sandhurst as the Dragons beat Kangaroo Flat by 114 points at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons led 46-13 at quarter-time and then scored another seven goals in the second to lead 89-28 at the long break.
An attack led by Maxted and Fergus Greene, five, capitalised on the Dragons’ superb teamwork.
Tanner Nally kicked four goals and Cooper Smith added two as Sandhurst won 152-38.
There were no multiple goalkickers for the Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroo Flat.
Best for Sandhurst were Cobi Maxted, Lachlan Tardrew, Alex Wharton, Liam Ireland, Lachie Hood and Cooper Smith.
Luke Ellings, Lachlan Dalziel, Connor Lee, Jack Lefroy, Kyle Symons and Daniel Stagg played well for the Kangaroos.
Gisborne had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 328 per cent, 36 points; Gisborne 233, 28; Strathfieldsaye 176, 28; Eaglehawk 141, 20; Golden Square 124, 20; Castlemaine 105, 12; South Bendigo 71, 8; Kangaroo Flat 53, 8; Maryborough 13, 0.
It’s second against first as Gisborne hosts Sandhurst at Gardiner Reserve in next Saturday’s round 11 clash from 2.20pm.
The rivalry between Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square will be renewed at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Kangaroo Flat will be back home at Dower Park to play Maryborough.
Castlemaine clashes with South Bendigo in the Magpies’ nest at Camp Reserve.
Eaglehawk has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
52 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
43 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
33 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
32 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
29 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
28 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
25 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
23 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
22 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
21 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
19 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
18 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
18 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
17 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
17 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
14 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
13 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
12 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
12 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
12 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
11 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
11 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
10 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
10 Mitchell Ronchieri, Golden Square.
10 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
10 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.