BY NATHAN DOLE
Dragons renew rivalry with Golden Square
PRESSURE will be high as Sandhurst takes on fierce rival Golden Square in Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy action.
The showdown between the Dragons and Bulldogs starts at 2.20pm on the iconic Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Beaten just once this season, Sandhurst sits atop the ladder.
A seven-six record has Golden Square in fifth place.
When these clubs met in the split sixth round it was Sandhurst which marked a nine-goal win on Golden Square’s turf at Fur Life Oval to retain the Ron Best Memorial Shield.
Taking on the Dragons completes a tough two weeks for the Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square which played Gisborne last round.
Among the many crucial match-ups in Saturday’s contest will be the on-ball roles.
Sandhurst has ruckman Connor Sexton to team with captain Lachlan Tardrew, Lachie Hood and Alex Wharton at the centre ball-ups.
A huge plus for Golden Square is the return of co-captain and gun on-baller Tom Toma.
The Bulldogs’ centre square set-up will include Tanner Rayner in the ruck, talented youngster Macey Eaton and the hard-at-it Jordan Rosengren.
A Sandhurst attack which has the marking power of Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted and Lachlan Wright will test a Bulldogs’ defence led by Jon Coe, Zack Shelton and Hugh Freckleton.
Dragons’ co-coach Bryce Curnow will be back in action and able to play at centre half-back or centre half-forward.
Sandhurst’s defence includes Liam Ireland, Isaac Ruff and James Coghlan up against Kai Daniels, Tom Strauch and the skilful Ricky Monti.
Another crucial match will be further south at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the Bulldogs take on Eaglehawk.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne is on an 11-game winning streak.
The firepower in the Bulldogs’ forward line will be tough for the Hawks to hold across four quarters.
Key targets in Gisborne’s attack include Harry Luxmoore, Pat McKenna and Jack Scanlon, while Dylan Johnstone kicked five goals in last Saturday’s win at Golden Square.
Gisborne’s on-ball team of Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Jackson Cardillo and Brad Bernacki is arguably the best in the league.
Will be a massive test for Hawks’ ruckman Brayden Frost and on-ballers Billy Evans, Joel Mullen and possibly Kallen Geary in this contest.
Players to watch for the Travis Matheson-coached Hawks include Bailey Ilsley, Jack O’Shannessy and Jonty Neaves in attack, Thomas Bennett on a wing, and Clayton Holmes and Charlie Langford in defence.
Kangaroo Flat is up against a Strathfieldsaye Storm line-up stung by consecutive defeats.
The Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroos will have home-ground advantage at Dower Park for this match.
It’s another big test and crucial learning for Kangaroo Flat’s young team.
A high level of pressure and working hard to limit the space Storm has to work in will be crucial for Flat’s chances.
Key players for the Roos include captain Ethan Roberts, Luke Ellings, Toby Balcke, Harry Whitty, Jake Hywood, Xav Dingfelder-Hope and Angus Grant.
There is plenty of running power and skill in a Storm line-up coached by Luke Freeman.
Among the inclusions for Storm is Siologa Siu who has not played since the round six clash with Kangaroo Flat at Triple M Park.
Malik Gordon is also back after being on the sidelines since the round 11 win against Golden Square.
Talented youngster Jackson Jaidi-Leahy has played three matches for Bendigo Pioneers in Coates Talent League and returns to the Storm line-up.
Storm’s line-up bound for the Kangaroos ground includes Caleb Ernst, Shannon Geary, Tim Hosking and Riley Wilson.
Maryborough will be on home turf at Princes Park to take on South Bendigo.
The Magpies had the bye last round as South Bendigo was well-beaten by Sandhurst in the match for the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup.
Big test for a Maryborough defence led by Kya Lanfranchi, Aidan Medlyn, Alex Brown and Jack Shay against Bloods’ co-coaches Steven Stroobants and Isaiah Miller, the classy Brock Harvey and rising star Zavier Holmes.
A highlight will be in the centre where Maryborough co-coach Coby Perry takes on Anthony Zimmerman.
In attack the Magpies have co-coach Matt Johnston, Tom Myers and Kaian Constable.
Maryborough has Seb Collins, Josh Britten, Joel Swatton to take on Riley Walsh, Brody Haddow and Thomas Starr in the on-ball duels.
In round six South Bendigo beat the Pies by 184 points at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Maryborough will be determined to show it has improved markedly since its previous hit-out with the Bloods.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 346 per cent, 44 points; Gisborne 229, 44; Strathfieldsaye 147, 32; Eaglehawk 158, 28; Golden Square 134, 28; Castlemaine 106, 24; South Bendigo 60, 12; Kangaroo Flat 57, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
67 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
47 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
46 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
38 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
37 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
36 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
35 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
35 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
27 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
25 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
25 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
23 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
23 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
23 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
22 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
20 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
18 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
17 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
16 Bailey Isley, Eaglehawk.
16 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
16 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
15 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
15 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
15 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
15 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
14 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
14 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
13 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
13 Kalan Huntly, Castlemaine.
13 Ricky Monti, Golden Square.
13 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
12 Jack Lefroy, Kangaroo Flat.
12 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
11 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Matt Johnston, Maryborough.
11 Jake McLean, Sandhurst.
11 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
10 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Tanner Nally, Sandhurst.
10 Mitch Ronchieri, Eaglehawk.
10 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
10 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.