THERE’S more than four premiership points to be won as South Bendigo fights Sandhurst in this Saturday’s sixth round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The Bloods will be striving to regain the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup and in the process end Sandhurst’s unbeaten run.
The showdown between the great rivals starts at 2.20pm at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
It’s a significant day for the red and white as the club honours Graeme Wright, a key defender through the 80s who later became senior coach and also played a crucial role with the club’s junior development.
It’s been an extended break for South Bendigo since its 17-point win against Eaglehawk on Anzac Day under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bloods had a rest last round as they played at Broadford in the stand-alone season opener on March 28.
On field the Bloods have the on-ball group and forwards to test Sandhurst.
A South Bendigo attack which has Brock Harvey, James Davies and Alex Smith is strengthened by the inclusion of Hawthorn premiership player James Frawley at full-forward.
Sandhurst defenders Jack Keating, Lachlan Wright, Liam Ireland and Wilson Butler face a huge challenge.
South Bendigo ruckmen Callum Crisp and Mac Cameron will look to provide first use of the footy to the likes of Brody Haddow, Coen Harker and Nathan Kay.
Huge plus for Sandhurst is the return of ruckman Lachlan Watson, but the Dragons also have Connor Sexton to contest centre ball-ups and stoppages.
At ground level the maroon and blue has Cooper Smith, :Lachie Hood, Caleb Connick and Nick Stagg.
A South Bendigo defence led by Alex Davis, Will Allen and Hayden Geddes takes on Cobi Maxted, Tom Campbell and Jonty Davis.
Bloods co-coaches Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, will have put plenty of work into the match-up on Sandhurst co-coach Fergus Greene who is starring on a wing, but can be a strong marking option in attack.
A Sandhurst line-up which has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach will be determined to extend its winning streak against the Bloods.
Another big match will be at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the Bulldogs take on reigning premier, Eaglehawk.
It’s a huge challenge for the Hawks at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval.
A three-one record has the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne in third place.
The Bulldogs showed plenty of fight in last Saturday’s one-point win on Castlemaine’s turf at Camp Reserve.
The Hawks team coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes will be desperate for victory and to hold its place in the five.
On-ball duels will be a highlight between the Bulldogs and Hawks.
In the ruck, Gisborne has Boyd Nalder to take on Callum Heath.
The Bulldogs’ on-ball group of Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone and James Gray takes on Joel Mullen, Ben Thompson and Billy Evans.
Gisborne may have too much scoring power for the Hawks to stop.
Key targets in Gisborne’s forward line include Zac Denahy, Harry Luxmoore, Adam Brancatisano and Pat McKenna.
Big roles will be played by Hawks’ defenders Jonty Neaves, Aydan Hanley, Jack Donat and Charlie Langford.
Bulldogs’ captain Zach Vescovi is likely to start at full-back against Bailey Ilsley who marks his first match of the season.
Ilsley earnt the Nalder Medal as best afield in last September’s grand final victory.
Another change at the Borough is talented Connor Evans on a half-forward flank.
Gisborne defenders Lachlan Evans, Frank Schipano and Will Elliott will work hard to limit the impact Nick Thompson, Nick Hoare and Lewin Davis have on this match.
Kangaroo Flat takes on long-time nemesis Golden Square at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
The Roos have been defeated in the past 48 showdowns with the Bulldogs.
A key for the Kangaroos will be to bring the intensity it played with against Eaglehawk in the fourth round.
Key players for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos include ruckman Angus Macpherson, Mitch Collins, Nick Keogh, Aaron Nevins, Mitch Rovers and Nick Lang.
Jordan Rouse returns to the senior team for the first time since round one.
The Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing, has a strong chance of moving into the five by the end of the day’s play.
Inaccuracy cost the Bulldogs as they racked up 6.13 in a 28-point loss to Sandhurst in the Pat Cronin Foundation Round match.
There’s a lot to like about the play of Golden Square youngsters Archie and Ollie Eaton, Noah Warfe and Jack McMahon.
An experienced core led by Jayden and Harrison Burke, Jordan Rosengren, Tom Strauch, Terry Reeves and ruckman Liam Hoy will play key roles for the blue and gold.
Strathfieldsaye Storm is back on its turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane to take on Broadford from 2.20pm.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm marked a crucial 69-62 win on Eaglehawk’s ground at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park last round.
It could be a big afternoon for Strathfieldsaye forwards James Schishcka, Zach Charles and Pat Blake.
Storm has also brought in Jed Brereton for his first senior game of the season after consecutive hit-outs with the reserves.
In-form players for Strathfieldsaye include Riley and Darcy Mulquiny, Tyson McKenzie, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Cooper Jones and Zane Keighran.
A goal for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford will be to limit the tally of goals Strathfieldsaye scores when in control of the play.
Lowest score against Broadford is 151.
Key players for Broadford include Jaiden Magor, Adam Miles, Rhys Carman, Seb Morris, Louis Thompson and Isaac Smithwick.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 299 per cent, 16 points; South Bendigo 168, 16; Gisborne 154, 12; Strathfieldsaye 110, 12; Eaglehawk 101, 8; Castlemaine 100, 8; Golden Square 120, 4; Kangaroo Flat 58, 4; Broadford 17, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
15 Brock Harvey, SB.
12 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Pat McKenna, Gis.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Nick Keogh, KF; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Alex Smith, SB.
10 Michael Hartley, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.
9 James Schischka, S’saye; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Ben Thompson, Eh.
8 Archie Eaton, GS; Brody Haddow, SB; Archie Rixon, Cm.
7 Tom Campbell, Sh; Zac Denahy, Gis.; James Frawley, SB; Fergus Greene, Sh; Bailey Henderson, Cm; Jack Thompson, Eh.
6 Jacob Austin, Sh; Pat Blake, S’saye; Zach Charles, S’saye; Caleb Connick, Sh; Coen Harker, SB; Matt Merrett, Gis.; Oliver Morris, Sh; Jack Stewart, GS.
In the netball…….STRATHFIELDSAYE is eyeing a chance to grab a place in the top five on the A-grade netball ladder by winning Saturday’s round six clash with Broadford.
Storm has home-court advantage at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane when the match with the Roos starts at 2.30pm.
After a two-nil start the Jess Mangan-coached Storm has beaten Castlemaine at home by 36 goals and then won on Eaglehawk’s court by a goal.
Strathfieldsaye starts this round in sixth place, but locked on equal points with the fifth-placed Golden Square.
It’s another big test for the Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford which had a rest last Saturday as the Roos hosted South Bendigo on March 28 in the stand-alone season opener at Harley Hammond Reserve.
In round four, Broadford faced the formidable Kangaroo Flat line-up.
It’s an early start for Kangaroo Flat and Golden Square this Saturday as they play from 10am at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos are in superb form.
The reigning premier won last Saturday’s rematch of the ’25 grand final with Sandhurst by 10 goals.
Golden Square is back on court after the bye.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square was beaten by 25 goals in the fourth round by Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
After a three-week break, South Bendigo returns to Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street to play Sandhurst from 2.30pm.
It’s a big day for the Bloods as the clubs vie for the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo has not played since a six-goal win against Eaglehawk on Anzac Day under the QEO lights.
Huge challenge for the second-placed South Bendigo against the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst on the rebound from its first defeat of the season.
Gisborne’s on its court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve to play Eaglehawk from 2.30pm.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne will start favourite to take the points and move into the top three.
Gisborne won last Saturday’s match at Castlemaine by 46 goals.
It’s been a tough run for the Janelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk which was beaten by a goal by Storm last Saturday after hit-outs against South Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat in rounds four and three.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 229 per cent, 20 points; South Bendigo 157, 16; Sandhurst 162, 12; Gisborne 159, 12; Golden Square 108, 8; Strathfieldsaye 107, 8; Eaglehawk 89, 4; Castlemaine 32, 0; Broadford 29, 0.
Netball ladders after five rounds:
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after five rounds:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 132 per cent, 16 points; Kangaroo Flat 150, 12; Gisborne 145, 12; Sandhurst 121, 8; Eaglehawk 85, 8; Golden Square 79, 4; Strathfieldsaye 70, 4; Castlemaine 64, 0.
B-grade:
Kangaroo Flat 180 per cent, 16 points; Gisborne 174, 16; South Bendigo 163, 16; Sandhurst 150, 12; Golden Square 147, 12; Strathfieldsaye 100, 8; Eaglehawk 72, 0; Castlemaine 35, 0; Broadford 32, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 202 per cent, 20 points; South Bendigo 187, 16; Gisborne 157, 12; Sandhurst 149, 12; Golden Square 138, 8; Strathfieldsaye 106, 8; Eaglehawk 77, 4; Castlemaine 38, 0; Broadford 22, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 311 per cent, 16 points; Strathfieldsaye 255, 16; Sandhurst 196, 12; South Bendigo 100, 12; Gisborne 126, 8; Kangaroo Flat 118, 8; Eaglehawk 70, 8; Castlemaine 37, 0; Broadford 20, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 310 per cent, 12 points; South Bendigo 160, 12; Golden Square 167, 8; Eaglehawk 71, 8; Strathfieldsaye 103, 4; Kangaroo Flat 50, 4; Castlemaine 54, 0.