BY NATHAN DOLE
Must-win for Bloods against Eaglehawk
IT’S a must-win situation for South Bendigo against Eaglehawk in Saturday’s ninth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Knocked out by Eaglehawk in last year’s elimination final, South Bendigo’s hopes of a top-five finish could be dashed by the halfway mark of this season.
The Steven Stroobants and Isaiah Miller-coached Bloods go into Saturday’s clash at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington on a win-loss tally of two-five and in seventh place.
The Bloods are two wins and significant percentage behind the fourth and fifth-placed Eaglehawk and Golden Square.
Both of South Bendigo’s wins have been at Kennington, but Eaglehawk is a strong opponent.
Pressure from the Bloods will have to be high to halt the Hawks’ run.
It’s a markedly different team South Bendigo has to take on Eaglehawk than last year’s elimination final.
The Bloods still have ruck-rover Brody Haddow, captain Zac Hare, gun forward Brock Harvey, Tait Poyser and Will McCaig.
Huge challenge for a South Bendigo defence led by Hare, Miller, Matt McNaughton and Blake Poyser against the likes of Jonty Neaves, Jack O’Shannessy, Cam McGlashan and Mitchell Ronchieri.
A highlight of this contest will be the duel between Haddow and Hawks’ co-captain Billy Evans.
At centre ball-ups the Bloods will pit Riley Walsh against Bailey Ilsley.
A South Bendigo forward line that includes Brock Harvey, Stroobants, Will Marks and Aidan Avery will have to work hard against Sam Thompson, Oscar Madden, Charlie Langford and Aydan Hanley.
Sandhurst is likely to be unbeaten at the halfway mark of the season.
A Dragons’ team jointly coached by Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow returns to Queen Elizabeth Oval to take on Castlemaine.
The ladder leaders will be primed for a tough hit-out against the Michael Hartley-coached Magpies.
Gun forward Fergus Greene leads the race for the Ron Best Medal as leading goalkicker on 40 goals.
Greene is a key in a talented attack that includes Oscar Perez, Cobi Maxted and Tanner Nally.
Now a full-time player at Sandhurst after a long and successful stint with Collingwood in the VFL, Lachlan Tardrew is in superb form.
The on-baller/mid racked up more than 30 disposals in the win on Strathfieldsaye’s turf at Triple M Park.
Sandhurst also has the running power and skill of Lachie Hood, Jake McLean, Cooper Smith and Nick Stagg.
There’s plenty of competition for spots in the Dragons’ best 22.
The Magpies played well to be within two goals of Gisborne at three quarter-time of last Saturday’s match at Castlemaine.
The play of Ryan Eyre in the centre, Michael Hartley, Matt Filo and Zach Greeves in attack, Kalan Huntly, Liam Wilkinson, John Watson and Will Moran will be important as the Magpies strive to break Sandhurst’s streak.
Castlemaine captain Bailey Henderson was named as 23rd player.
Gisborne is back at Gardiner Reserve to take on Kangaroo Flat.
The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs are likely to have too much scoring power for the Roos to hold or match across four quarters.
Major strength in the Gisborne line-up is the on-ball division of ruckman Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Jackson Cardillo and Flynn Lakey.
In attack the red, white and blue has Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore, Zac Denahy and Jack Scanlon.
Captain Jack Reaper leads a strong defence that includes Jake Normington and Zach Vescovi.
For the Kangaroos, Luke Ellings returns to play against a club he represented last season.
It’s the father-son combination of Michael and Luke Ellings who are coach and player at Kangaroo Flat in ’24.
The Roos are bolstered by the return of centreman Jack Lefroy who has played five VFL matches with Carlton this season.
Other key players for Kangaroo Flat include Kyle Symons, Xav Dingfelder-Hope, Ethan and Toby, Roberts, Jake Hywood and Harry Whitty.
Maryborough is back home at Princes Park to take on Strathfieldsaye.
A consolation for the Magpies is not having to deal with Lachlan Sharp who kicked plenty of goals against them across his brilliant career with Strathfieldsaye.
A Maryborough defence that includes Kya Lanfranchi, Alex Brown and Aidan Medlyn is up against James Schischka, Malik Gordon, Caleb Ernst and Abe Sheahan.
Magpies’ co-coach Coby Perry was outstanding against Eaglehawk last round as Premier Data stats calculated 46 disposals, 13 clearances and 219 ranking points.
Ash Humphrey racked up 37 disposals and will again play a key role, along with Fraser Russell, Kirk Loody and Sam Johnston.
Talented teenager Robert Castiglia has made his way back into the senior team.
Although beaten the past two rounds by Gisborne and Sandhurst there is a lot to like about the way the Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye is playing.
Storm on-ballers Riley Wilson, Lachlan Gill and Cooper Jones are likely to win plenty of the ball in this match.
Ruckman Tim Hosking marks his first senior game of the season.
The Storm big man’s comeback was in the reserves against Sandhurst.
Strathfieldsaye’s line-up to take on the Magpies includes youngsters Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Zach Grieve and Declan Lowther.
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.
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.
11 Zac Greeves, Castlemaine.
11 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst.
9 Abe Sheahan, Strathfieldsaye.
8 Matt Harvey, Strathfieldsaye.
8 Nick Stagg, Sandhurst.
8 Tom Strauch, Golden Square.
8 Harry Thomas, Gisborne.
7 Kai Daniels, Golden Square.
7 Lachlan Gill, Strathfieldsaye.
7 Lachie Hood, Sandhurst.
7 Joel Mullen, Eaglehawk.
7 Riley Wilson, Strathfieldsaye.