BY NATHAN DOLE
St Kilda great a Magpie for a day
ST KILDA legend Leigh ‘Joey’ Montagna will inject 287 games of AFL experience into Castlemaine’s team for this Saturday’s round 16 action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
Montagna will play for Castlemaine as part of the Carlton Draught-backed Carlton Draft promotion.
A big crowd is expected to roll up at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve as the in-form Magpies take on Kangaroo Flat from 2.20pm.
Wins in its past two hit-outs against Eaglehawk, home, and Strathfieldsaye, away, has kept the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine in the hunt for a finals berth.
The Magpies start this round a win and significant percentage behind the fifth-placed Eaglehawk.
A hat-trick of victories has not been achieved by a Castlemaine team for many years.
That’s among the goals as it takes on the Kangaroos.
A dual All-Australian who played in three AFL grand finals across two seasons, Montagna is likely to start in attack for Castlemaine.
The Magpies also have the marking power of Hartley and Zac Greeves in the forward 50m arc.
Driving forces in Castlemaine’s winning run include Brodie Byrne, captain Bailey Henderson, Kalan Huntly, Callum McConachy, Zavier Murley, Harrison Sheahan, Declan Slingo and Liam Wilkinson.
Massive test for the Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroo Flat to halt Castlemaine’s run.
The Kangaroos will look to captain Ethan Roberts, Luke Ellings, Harry Whitty, Daniel and Luke Stagg, Jack Leersen, Toby Roberts and Corey Ash to fire up for this contest.
Two other big games will be played at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park and Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Strathfieldsaye Storm takes on a Gisborne line-up which is on a 12-game winning streak and moved to top of the ladder.
When these clubs met in round seven the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne marked a 28-point win on its turf at Gardiner Reserve.
There are plenty of crucial match-ups between Storm and the Bulldogs this time.
The Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye has Tim Hosking, Lachlan Gill, Daniel Clohesy and Bode Stevens to oppose Braidon Blake, Jackson Cardillo, Flynn Lakey and Brad Bernacki at centre ball-ups.
In defence, Storm has Lachlan Ratcliffe, Patrick Blandford, Ben Lester and Shannon Geary to take on Harry Luxmoore, Pat McKenna, Zac Denahy and Matt Merrett.
Kicking enough goals to challenge the visitors will be a huge task for Storm.
Key targets in Strathfieldsaye’s attack are Malik Gordon, Zach Charles and Riley Wilson.
Will not be easy against a tight-knit Dogs’ defence led by Jack Reaper, Zac Vescovi and Jed Denahy.
Eaglehawk tackles Sandhurst on the Borough’s turf at Canterbury Park.
The Travis Matheson-coached Hawks are up against an opponent on the rebound from just its second defeat of the season.
A 7-6 record has the Hawks in fifth place, but they marked a 10-goal win at home against Strathfieldsaye in the 12th round.
The play of Hawks’ on-ballers Billy Evans and Joel Mullen will be crucial to their team’s chances.
Huge plus for the Borough is the return of Charlie Langford to defence, and Ben Thompson.
Both were injured in the loss at Castlemaine in round 13.
Other key players for Eaglehawk include ruckman Brayden Frost, Bailey Ilsley and Jack O’Shannessy in attack, Kallen Geary, Jonty Neaves and Clayton Holmes.
Limiting the impact Sandhurst captain and gun on-baller/mid Lachlan Tardrew has on the match will be a priority for the Two Blues.
A talented Dragons’ team coached by Ash Connick, non-playing, and Bryce Curnow, playing, includes Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted, Joel Wharton and Lachlan Wright in attack.
The classy Noah Walsh will play his first match since round five, and Cooper Smith also returns for the maroon and blue.
Bendigo Pioneers captain Dayten Uerata will also mark his first senior match for the Dragons this season.
The in-form Golden Square will play Maryborough at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs played superb footy to beat Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval last round.
Tom Toma’s return to an on-ball role with Golden Square is a huge plus for younger team-mates such as Kai Daniels, Macey Eaton, Harrison Kelly and ruckman Tanner Rayner.
Key players for the blue and gold include Harrison and Jayden Burke, Jordan Rosengren, Jack Stewart, Jack Coe, Ricky Monti and Tom Strauch.
Another huge challenge for a young Maryborough team jointly coached by Coby Perry and Matt Johnston.
No matter who his opponent will be, Perry is capable of winning plenty of the footy.
His hard-at-it approach inspires team-mates.
Maryborough has Seb Collins in the ruck, Kya Lanfranchi, Alex Brown and Aidan Medlyn leading the defence.
A key will be the Magpies’ play through midfield and around the ground.
Not allowing the Bulldogs easy transition from defence to attack will be a goal for the likes of Joel Swatton, Cobie Read, Ash Humphrey and Mitch McClure.
The Magpies also have Tom Myers in for his fifth senior game of the season.
South Bendigo has 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.
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.