BY NATHAN DOLE
Golden Square readies for test against Gisborne
IT’S an all-Bulldogs showdown as Golden Square takes on Gisborne in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
Golden Square has home-ground advantage at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Match of the day will start at 2.20pm.
Despite many players leaving after last September’s premiership victory, Golden Square has racked up a win-loss tally of seven-five and sits fourth on the ladder.
When Square played at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve in round five it was the hosts which won by eight goals.
The Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square will be striving to snap Gisborne’s unbeaten streak of 10 matches.
Huge roles will be played by Tanner Rayner and Kai Daniels against Gisborne ruckman Braidon Blake.
The blue and gold has Jordan Rosengren, Ricky Monti, Terence Reeves and Macey Eaton to take on a Gisborne on-ball and midfield group led by Brad Bernacki, Flynn Lakey, Jackson Cardillo and Macklan Lord.
Golden Square co-captain Tom Toma starred last week, but was not named for this contest.
In defence, Square has Jon Coe, Zack Shelton and Hugh Freckleton up against Gisborne stars Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Zac Denahy.
At the other end of the ground, Bulldogs’ co-captain Jayden Burke, Jack Stewart and Tom Strauch lead an attack which will be opposed by Gisborne captain Jack Reaper, Jed Denahy and Zach Vescovi.
The Graeme Wright Memorial Cup will be up for grabs as South Bendigo takes on Sandhurst at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The match honours one of South Bendigo’s finest defenders who was later a senior coach and did so much for the development of the Bloods’ juniors.
For South Bendigo this match carries the most significance in the home-and-away series.
A Bloods line-up jointly coached by Steven Stroobants and Isaiah Miller will be primed to play well.
It’s been a tough season for South Bendigo, but it has already had the likes of captain Zac Hare, co-coach Isaiah Miller, gun forward Brock Harvey commit for next season.
Other re-signings for the red and white include Cody Brooks, Zavier Holmes, Will Keck, Zaydyn Lockwood, Wil McCaig, Tait Poyser and Brayden Torpey.
It’s another massive test for the Bloods who played at Gisborne last round and now take on the ladder-leading Sandhurst.
A key for the Bloods will the play of Anthony Zimmerman in the centre, Riley Walsh in the ruck, ruck-rover Brady Haddow, and Jasper Langley on a wing.
A powerful attack for Sandhurst is led by Fergus Greene and Cobi Maxted and has plenty of pace and skill at ground level.
Dragons’ captain Lachlan Tardrew just keeps on racking up possessions with his work-rate and skill level at an elite level.
Co-coaches Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow will not want to see a drop in intensity as the fight to be in the best 22 for finals starts to heat up.
Players to watch for the maroon and blue include Nick Stagg, Jake McLean, Alex and Joel Wharton, Lachlan Wright, and James Coghlan.
Strathfieldsaye faces Castlemaine in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Storm had the bye after a 10-goal loss at Eaglehawk in the 12th round.
The Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye now takes on a line-up fighting to stay in the race for a top-five finish and finals berth.
Castlemaine kept season hopes flickering by scoring a two-point win against Eaglehawk last Saturday.
An eight-three record has Storm in third place and playing on a ground where it is not beaten too often.
Storm’s line-up includes under-18s captain Hugh Behrens to play his first senior match.
Strathfieldsaye on-ballers Lachlan Gill, Daniel Clohesy and Bode Stevens set up plenty of scoring chances for the likes of James Schischka, Caleb Ernst, Abe Sheahan and Zach Charles.
A strong defence is led by Lachlan Ratcliffe, Patrick Blandford and Cooper Jones.
The Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine will be keen to bring the momentum of the hard-fought win against Eaglehawk to Storm territory.
Players to watch for Castlemaine include captain Bailey Henderson, Kalan Huntly, Zavier Murley, Ryan Eyre, Liam Wilkinson and Zac Greeves.
The two-way running by the likes of Callum McConachy, Brodie Byrne, Ashton Frankling, John Watson and Jack Chester will be crucial to the Magpies’ bid for another upset victory.
Eaglehawk will be on home turf at Canterbury Park to play Kangaroo Flat.
The Travis Matheson-coached Hawks will be keen to bounce back after a two-point loss at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The classy Kallen Geary is back for the Borough this round to play across half-back, midfield or possibly half-forward.
Co-captains Billy Evans and Joel Mullen have been in superb form all season for the Two Blues.
Other players to watch for Eaglehawk include ruckman Brayden Frost, Bailey Isley, Thomas Bennett, Jonty Neaves and Marcus Angove.
The Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroos were beaten by 51 points in the round five clash with Eaglehawk.
In wet conditions it will be the Roos’ ability to compete strongly at clearances that will be crucial.
Key players for Kangaroo Flat include Ethan Roberts, Jack Lefroy, Luke Ellings on a wing, Jack Leersen, ruckman Toby Balcke, Lachlan Dalziel and Harry Whitty.
Maryborough has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 329 per cent, 40 points; Gisborne 243, 40; Strathfieldsaye 155, 32; Golden Square 141, 28; Eaglehawk 145, 24; Castlemaine 103, 20; South Bendigo 65, 12; Kangaroo Flat 61, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
61 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
47 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
44 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
38 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
36 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
35 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
34 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
33 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
27 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
24 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
22 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
22 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
22 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
21 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
20 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
19 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
18 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
14 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
13 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
13 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
13 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
12 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
12 Jack Lefroy, Kangaroo Flat.
12 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
12 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
11 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
11 Bailey Ilsley, Eaglehawk.
11 Matt Johnston, Maryborough.
11 Ricky Monti, Golden Square.
11 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
11 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
10 Jake McLean, Sandhurst.
10 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
10 Mitch Ronchieri, Eaglehawk.
10 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
10 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
10 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.