BY NATHAN DOLE
Golden Square marks best victory of season
GOLDEN Square showed it will be a danger at senior footy finals time as it upset Sandhurst in Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
It was a completely different looking Golden Square team which returned to Queen Elizabeth Oval for the first time since last September’s grand final win against Sandhurst.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs started well to lead 27-25 at quarter-time.
In the second it was the Dragons who took control and scored 4.2 as it kept the blue and gold to a tally of 1.3.
Quarter three was dominated by Golden Square.
Square’s dominance at stoppages was a highlight and the attack capitalised on many scoring chances.
As the Dogs slammed on six goals the Dragons added just one.
It was a remarkable turnaround as the Bulldogs turned a 15-point deficit at half-time into a 13-point lead going into the final term.
As the Bulldogs added 2.4 in the last the defence worked hard to hold the Dragons to a goal.
After playing a midfield or on-ball role for most of the season, Jordan Rosengren led Golden Square’s attack on four goals in an 89-68 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were co-captain Tom Toma on three and Zac Wescott with two.
The Dragons’ attack was led by Cobi Maxted and Nick Stagg on two.
High-leaping and athletic ruckman/forward Kai Daniels continued his great form to be best on ground for Golden Square.
Others to star for the Bulldogs were Harrison Burke in defence, Tom Toma, Tom Strauch, Hugh Freckleton and Jordan Rosengren.
Best for the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst were Caleb Connick, Lachlan Tardrew, Jack Keating, Darcy Mills, Matt Wilkinson and Jake McLean.
A seven-goal blitz in the first quarter set up Gisborne’s victory against Eaglehawk at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne charged to a 47-14 lead by quarter-time.
The Bulldogs won the next two terms, 21-9 and 33-19.
Eaglehawk fought on to outscore Gisborne in the last, 32-25.
At the final siren Gisborne led 126-74 and in the process jumped to top of the ladder following Sandhurst’s defeat to Golden Square.
In-form forward Harry Luxmoore kicked four goals for Gisborne as Pat McKenna added three.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Braidon Blake, James Gray and Matt Merrett on two.
Eaglehawk’s attack was led by Kyen Burrill-Grinton, Joel Mullen, Jack O’Shannessy and Darcy Richards with two each.
Best for Gisborne were Flynn Lakey, Harry Luxmoore, Jackson Cardillo, Zac Vescovi, Pat McKenna and Brad Bernacki.
Billy Evans, Joel Mullen, Kyen Burrill-Grinton, Jack O’Shannessy, Cam McGlashan and Brayden Frost were best for the Travis Matheson-coached Hawks.
Strathfieldsaye scored a 15-goal win on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Dower Park.
After consecutive defeats the Luke Freeman-coached Storm made a flying start to this contest.
Storm surged to a 44-9 lead by quarter-time.
Strathfieldsaye’s run did not let up as it scored 5.4 to 1.3 in the second.
Storm won the next quarter, 31-16.
The classy Copper Jones finished with a match-high five goals as Storm kicked away for a 141-50 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for Strathfieldsaye were Riley Mulquiny and Riley Wilson, three; Hugh Behrens and Tim Hosking, two.
The Roos’ attack was led by Harry Whitty on four.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Lachlan Gill, Daniel Clohesy, Cooper Jones, Shannon Geary, Tim Hosking and Ethan Featherby.
Lachlan Dalziel, Campbell Smith, Luke Ellings, Dion Symons, Jake Hywood and Corey Ash played well for the Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroos.
Just as they had done earlier in the season, Brock Harvey and Steven Stroobants dominated in South Bendigo’s attack against Maryborough.
Harvey kicked 12 goals and Stroobants booted 10 as the Bloods surged to a 203-48 victory on Maryborough’s turf at Princes Park.
The Bloods led 38-8 at quarter-time and then scored 9.3 to 2.2 in the second.
Nine goals in the third were followed by eight goals in the last.
Although it was Harvey and Stroobants who capped off most moves, South Bendigo also had Aidan Avery chip in with three goals as Matt McNaughton kicked two.
Austin Long booted two goals for Maryborough.
Best for the Bloods were Brody Haddow, Cody Brooks, Darcy Backway, Anthony Zimmerman, Steven Stroobants and Brock Harvey.
Joel Swatton, co-coach Coby Perry, Seb Collins, Alex Brown, Beau Trahar and Kya Lanfranchi were best for a Maryborough team which has Matt Johnston as co-coach.
Castlemaine had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 223 per cent, 48 points; Sandhurst 306, 44; Strathfieldsaye 155, 36; Golden Square 133, 32; Eaglehawk 142, 28; Castlemaine 106, 24; South Bendigo 71, 16; Kangaroo Flat 56, 12; Maryborough 15, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 16 action, Strathfieldsaye takes on Gisborne at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Castlemaine’s line-up will be bolstered by the inclusion of St Kilda great Leigh ‘Joey’ Montagna through the Carlton Draft as the Magpies take on Kangaroo Flat at Camp Reserve.
Eaglehawk tackles Sandhurst on the Borough’s turf at Canterbury Park.
The in-form Golden Square will play Maryborough at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
South Bendigo has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
68 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
50 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
49 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
47 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
47 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
40 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
36 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
35 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
28 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
27 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
26 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
26 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
24 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
23 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
23 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
20 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
19 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
19 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
18 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
18 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
17 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
17 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
17 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
16 Bailey Ilsley, Eaglehawk.
16 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
16 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
14 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
14 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
14 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
13 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
13 Kalan Huntly, Castlemaine.
13 Ricky Monti, Golden Square.
13 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
12 Matt Johnston, Maryborough.
12 Jack Lefroy, Kangaroo Flat.
11 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
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 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.