BY NATHAN DOLE
Magpies aiming to end season on a high
BOTH tribes of Magpies in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL will be aiming to end their ’24 season on a high in Saturday’s 18th round.
Castlemaine will be on home turf at Camp Reserve to take on Sandhurst, while Maryborough makes its way to Strathfieldsaye Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
It’s been a season of contrasting fortunes for the Magpies.
A seven-eight record has the Michael Hartley-coached Castlemaine in sixth place.
Key players in the rise include Hartley who has capped his first season of coaching by kicking 42 goals and also had stints in the ruck.
It’s been a dramatic improvement on recent seasons for the Magpies who until a week ago were in the running for a top-five finish.
Defeat at Gisborne ended those hopes, but there is still plenty for Castlemaine to play for.
The Magpies face a massive challenge against the ladder-leading Sandhurst, but a win for the black and white could push the Dragons from top spot and into a qualifying final.
The ability of Castlemaine’s midfield and on-ballers to win contests and not allow the Dragons an easy run to the forward 50m arc will be crucial.
Captain Bailey Henderson has had an outstanding season for Castlemaine and will again play a key role, along with Kalan Huntly, Zavier Murley, John Watson, Ben McConachy, Brad Keogh and Liam Wilkinson.
The development of youngsters such as Ashton Frankling and Ethan Hein is also important in Castlemaine’s progress.
Standards for the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst are always at a high level.
The Dragons will again bring a high level of intensity to this match.
Captain and gun mid/on-baller Lachlan Tardrew sets a great example for his Sandhurst team-mates.
In attack Fergus Greene has kicked 76 goals to be a runaway leader in the race for the Ron Best Medal.
Other players to watch for the Dragons include Noah Walsh, Jake McLean, Zach Pallpratt, Cooper Smith, James Coghlan, Nick Stagg and Joel Wharton.
It will be an emotional day for Maryborough players and supporters at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park.
Just what Maryborough does beyond this season is still unclear.
Magpies’ coach Coby Perry has racked up 40-plus possessions in almost half of the games he has played.
It’s a young team which faces a huge challenge every game, but never gives up.
Last week’s performance against Eaglehawk was one of the Magpies’ best of the year.
Creating and capitalising on scoring chances is a constant battle.
Key players for Maryborough include Joel Swatton, Ash Humphrey, Aidan Medlyn, Tom Myers, Seb Collins and Kya Lanfranchi.
Victory will put Strathfieldsaye back in third place and into a qualifying final.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm has plenty of running power and skill.
He may be in the twilight of his career, but Shannon Geary had a 35-possession game against Sandhurst last Saturday.
Other players to watch for Storm include Daniel Clohesy, Caleb Ernst, Abe and Caleb Sheahan, Lachlan Gill, Lachlan Ratcliffe and Cooper Jones.
Storm will be without defender Patrick Blandford who lodged an early guilty plea and accepted a one-match ban for rough conduct.
Eaglehawk will be back on home turf at Canterbury Park to take on South Bendigo.
Hawks’ co-captain Billy Evans is back to play a midfield and on-ball role and team up with co-captain Joel Mullen, Kallen Geary and Kyen Burrill-Grinton.
After a 50-possession game last round, Ben Thompson will be a player the Bloods target.
The Thompson brothers, Ben, Jack and Sam had a combined possession tally of 114 at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
Rising star Bailey Ilsley is in top form and will play a key role in the ruck or closer to goal for the Travis Matheson-coached Hawks.
An attack that includes Darcy Richards, Jack O’Shannessy and Cam McGlashan will be tough to hold across four quarters.
Big roles will again be played by South Bendigo on-ballers Brody Haddow and Anthony Zimmerman.
The Bloods are again without classy forward Brock Harvey, so a lot of the goalkicking responsibility goes to co-coach Steven Stroobants.
Midfielder Wil McCaig returns for his first game since injuring a hamstring in the 13th round at Gisborne.
Another inclusion for South Bendigo is Regan Harvey.
Big test for a Bloods’ team that includes co-coach Isaiah Miller, Zac Sims, Zavier Holmes and Thomas Starr.
Kangaroo Flat completes its season with a home game at Dower Park against Gisborne.
The Michael Ellings-coached Kangaroos will be desperate to bring a high level of pressure to one of the league’s best teams.
A premiership player with Gisborne in ’22, Luke Ellings is one of the Roos’ most consistent players in his first season at Kangaroo Flat.
The Roos welcome back Jack Lefroy who has represented Carlton in the past three VFL rounds.
Other key players for Kangaroo Flat are captain Ethan Roberts, Harry Whitty, Kyle Symons, Jake Hywood, Lachlan Dalziel and Daniel Stagg.
Gisborne’s on-ball crew of Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Brad Bernacki and Jackson Cardillo is one of the competition’s best.
In attack the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs have Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore, Dylan Johnstone and Zac Denahy.
Jack Scanlon also returns after missing the past two rounds.
He strengthens a team that includes Liam Spear, Seb Bell-Bartels, Matt Merrett and Zav Vescovi.
Golden Square has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 296 per cent, 52 points; Gisborne 208, 52; Golden Square 159, 40; Strathfieldsaye 147, 40; Eaglehawk 138, 32; Castlemaine 108, 28; South Bendigo 69, 16; Kangaroo Flat 54, 12; Maryborough 14, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
76 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
51 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
50 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
47 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
47 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
47 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
46 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
42 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
30 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
29 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
29 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
27 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
26 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
25 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
24 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
23 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
22 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
21 Jordan Rosengren, Golden Square.
20 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
20 Dylan Johnstone, Gisborne.
20 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
19 Kalan Huntly, Castlemaine.
19 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
18 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
17 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
17 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
16 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
16 Bailey Ilsley, Eaglehawk.
16 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
16 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
16 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
16 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.
15 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
14 Luke Ellings, Kangaroo Flat.
14 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
14 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
13 Jake McLean, Sandhurst.
13 Ricky Monti, Golden Square.
13 Jack Sampson, Golden Square.
12 Zach Charles, Strathfieldsaye.
12 Matt Johnston, Maryborough.
12 Jack Lefroy, Kangaroo Flat.
12 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
12 Tom Toma, Golden Square.
12 Matt Wilkinson, Sandhurst.
11 Brody Haddow, South Bendigo.
11 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Cooper Jones, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Blake McGregor, Eaglehawk.
10 Tanner Nally, Sandhurst.
10 Mitch Ronchieri, Eaglehawk.
10 Anthony Zimmerman, South Bendigo.