BY NATHAN DOLE
Sandhurst marks emotional victory
SANDHURST marked an emotional victory on Strathfieldsaye’s turf in Saturday’s eighth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
“Do It For Danny” was the theme for Sandhurst after the passing of club legend Danny Ellis during the week.
The Dragons also mourned the passing of long-time supporter Judith Hall who would have been rapt with the performance of “her boys” as this season’s unbeaten run kept rolling.
Sandhurst and Storm played out one of the games of the season as the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye took it right up to the ladder leaders.
At quarter-time the Dragons led 32-26.
Another evenly fought second quarter went Sandhurst’s way, 22-21.
Just a goal separated the teams going into the final term.
A Dragons line-up jointly coached by Ash Connick, non-playing, and Bryce Curnow, playing, was able to kick clear.
The red-hot Sandhurst slammed on six straight goals as Storm added 2.5.
Fergus Greene increased his lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal by kicking seven goals to be among the Dragons’ best.
Other multiple goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Tanner Nally, three; and Oscar Perez, two.
Storm’s attack was led by Lachlan Gill, Matt Harvey, James Schischka and Bode Stevens with two each.
Best on ground honours went to brilliant midfielder/on-baller Lachlan Tardrew as Cobi Maxted, Fergus Greene, Nick Stagg, Tanner Nally and Jake McLean led Sandhurst’s charge to victory.
Cooper Jones, Caleb Ernst, Ben Lester, Charlie King, Zach Charles and Matt Harvey were Strathfieldsaye’s best.
Gisborne kicked away in the last quarter at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve to beat the Magpies by 41 points.
Goalkicking accuracy played a big part in the Castlemaine been within a point of the Bulldogs at half-time.
The Michael Hartley-coached Magpies scored 6.2 in the first hour as the visitors missed several chances to be on 5.9 at the break.
In the third the Bulldogs scored four straight goals as the Pies added 2.1.
A two-goal buffer for the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne became almost seven by the end of the contest after the Dogs scored six straight goals in the final term.
Brad Bernacki kicked four goals and was among the Bulldogs best.
Other multiple goalkickers for Gisborne were Zac Denahy, three; Pat McKenna and Harry Thomas, two.
Castlemaine’s attack was led by Michael Hartley, Bailey Henderson and Kalan Huntly on two.
Top ruckman Braidon Blake was best afield for Gisborne along with Bernacki, Jackson Cardillo, Patrick Trotta, Pat McKenna and Jake Normington.
Best for the Magpies were Liam Wilkinson, Darby Semmens, Matt Filo, Ryan Eyre, Declan Slingo and John Watson.
Golden Square answered a strong challenge from South Bendigo to mark a 32-point victory at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
The Brad Eaton-coached Golden Square led 16-15 at quarter-time.
In the second the Bulldogs seized control to score 5.3 to 2.2.
South Bendigo struck back in the third.
As the Bloods added 3.1 the Dogs’ radar was askew as they added 1.7.
Golden Square did plenty of attacking across the final 30 minutes.
Led by the play of Jack Stewart, Macey Eaton and Tom Strauch it was the Dogs who scored 5.6 in the last as the Bloods scored three goals.
A tally of 33 scoring shots was a sign of the Dogs’ dominance in a 98-66 victory.
Jack Stewart was superb in attack as he kicked six goals and Tom Strauch booted four.
Bulldogs’ captain Jayden Burke added two majors.
Only multiple goalkicker for the Bloods was co-coach Steven Stroobants on two.
Best for the Dogs included Ricky Monti, Harrison Burke and Lachlan Humphrey.
South Bendigo’s best were Brody Haddow, teenager Zaydyn Lockwood, Anthony Zimmerman, Alex Smith, co-coach Isaiah Miller and captain Zac Hare.
It was another tough afternoon for Maryborough at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
A player shortage meant Maryborough had two of Eaglehawk’s reserves players, Riley Neaves and Jack Kerr switch from being a Hawk to a Magpie for a couple of hours.
The Hawks also had Kyen Burrill-Grinton and Deacon Marsh mark their first senior games.
The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk scored 8.3 to nil in the first term.
The ability of the Coby Perry and Matt Johnston-coached Maryborough to control possession lifted markedly in the second as it held the Hawks to a tally of 3.2.
In the next two quarters the Two Blues scored 10 goals and then nine.
By the final siren Eaglehawk led 30.9 (189) to 0.1 (1).
The strong-marking Jack O’Shannessy kicked five goals as Zack Bulger, Jonty Neaves and Mitchell Ronchieri added four.
Gun on-ballers Joel Mullen and Billy Evans chipped in with three and two majors and Sam Thompson also slotted two goals.
Eaglehawk’s best were Joel Mullen, Billy Evans, Jonty Neaves, Bailey Ilsley, Marcus Angove and Zack Bulger.
Key defender Kya Lanfranchi racked up the intercept marks to be Maryborough’s best along with Coby Perry, Alex Brown, Ash Humphrey and Kirk Looby.
Kangaroo Flat had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 339 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 238, 24; Strathfieldsaye 124, 20; Eaglehawk 142, 16; Golden Square 123, 16; Castlemaine 91, 8; South Bendigo 80, 8; Kangaroo Flat 59, 8; Maryborough 14, 0.
In next Saturday’s ninth round, Gisborne is on home turf at Gardiner Reserve to take on Kangaroo Flat from 2.20pm.
Sandhurst and Castlemaine clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Maryborough is on home turf at Princes Park to play Strathfieldsaye.
South Bendigo and Eaglehawk meet at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Golden Square has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
40 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
32 Brock Harvey, South Bendigo.
28 Pat McKenna, Gisborne.
27 James Schischka, Strathfieldsaye.
24 Harry Luxmoore, Gisborne.
22 Michael Hartley, Castlemaine.
21 Jayden Burke, Golden Square.
20 Jack Stewart, Golden Square.
18 Steven Stroobants, South Bendigo.
18 Lachlan Wright, Sandhurst.
17 Jonty Neaves, Eaglehawk.
15 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne.
15 Zac Denahy, Gisborne.
14 Bryce Curnow, Sandhurst.
13 Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine.
13 Darcy Richards, Eaglehawk.
12 Malik Gordon, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Zach Greeves, Castlemaine.
11 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
11 Noah Walsh, Sandhurst.
11 Harry Whitty, Kangaroo Flat.
10 Cobi Maxted, Sandhurst.
9 Justin Bateson, Kangaroo Flat.
9 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
8 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
8 Jack O’Shannessy, Eaglehawk.
8 Mitchell Ronchieri, Eagleahwk.
8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 Harry Thomas, Gisborne.
8 Ben Thompson, Eaglehawk.
8 Joel Wharton, Sandhurst.
7 Kai Daniels, Golden Square.
7 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
7 Sam Graham, Gisborne.
7 Angus Grant, Kangaroo Flat.
7 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
7 Matt Merrett, Gisborne.
7 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
7 Fraser Russell, Maryborough.
7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.