INGLEWOOD and Pyramid Hill made winning starts to the weekend’s senior footy finals series in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
In what is its 150th year, Inglewood kicked clear of Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Sunday’s elimination final at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues led 28-13 at quarter-time and then scored 5.3 as the Eagles added 2.1 in the second term.
Dubbed by many footy fans as the third being the premiership quarter it was Inglewood which dominated a lot of the play.
The Blues added six goals and worked hard to limit Maiden Gully YCW Eagles to a tally of three majors.
By the last change Inglewood led 99-44.
The Blues won the last, 32-2, on the way to an emphatic 131-46 victory.
Daniel Godden capped a great match with six goals as Charles Ingham kicked four and Liam Marciano added three.
Other goalkickers for the Blues were Mischa Fraillon, two; and Lachlan Ford, Lachlan Harris, Thomas Kennedy, Ben Morgan and Tyler Murphy.
Leading goalkickers for the Eagles were Isaac Neretlis and Lewis Pigdon with two as Tye Bedford, co-coach Angus Monfries, and captain Josh Worsley slotted one each.
Best for the Blues were Lachlan Ford, Bregon Cotchett, Liam Marciano, Aaron Lister, Daniel Godden and Will Allen.
Tye Bedford, Mitch Whitham, Tyler Kinnane, Daniel Russell, Lewis Pigdon and Anthony Robins were best for the Eagles.
Inglewood will now prepare to play Marong in next Sunday’s first semi-final at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Although disappointed to be out of the premiership race there were many positives for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles team and non-playing co-coach Shawn Filo in a season of nine wins.
The Eagles also won the fight with league newcomer Macorna to qualify for finals.
Day one of the finals campaign featured qualifying finals at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Chasing a fifth consecutive premiership, Marong took on Pyramid Hill.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong won the first quarter, 27-26.
In the second it was Pyramid Hill which scored 4.2 as the Panthers added 3.4.
By half-time the Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs led 52-49.
Defences were on top for most of the third term.
Marong would rue an inaccurate 1.7 as Pyramid Hill kept in touch by scoring 1.2.
In the last it was Pyramid Hill’s midfield and on-ballers who seized control.
The Bulldogs kicked three goals and kept the Panthers to a point.
When the siren sounded Pyramid Hill led 81-69 to set up a second semi-final showdown with Bridgewater at Calivil next Saturday.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and Levi Moss led the Bulldogs’ attack on three goals each as Zach Alford, Gavin James and Mitch Jorgensen kicked two each.
Leading goalkicker for Marong was Ryley Taylor on three as Will Thomson kicked two.
The Panthers had Michael Bradbury, Shaun Knott, Oliver Macartney and Ray McNamara on target.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Ryan McGhie, Levi Moss, Tom Downie, Robby Bartee, James Sala and Blake Gibson.
Best for Marong were Matt Willox, Jimmy Gadsden, Brodie Hartland, Ray McNamara, Jack McCaig and Kepler Thomson.
In the reserves competition, Newbridge eliminated Marong from the premiership race.
The Maroons won Sunday’s elimination final in Pyramid Hill by 31 points.
An evenly-fought first quarter went Newbridge’s way, 24-15.
The Maroons accuracy was a highlight as it scored six straight goals in the opening half to lead 36-16 at the break.
Newbridge opened up a six-goal lead by the last change.
The Panthers fought back to win the final term, 13-8, but it was Newbridge which marked a 62-31 victory.
Chris Dixon and Chris Lakey led Newbridge’s attack on four and three goals as Liam Nihill and Brodie Pearce added one each.
Marong’s leading goalkicker was Lachlan Frankel on two as David Blume and Ben Langridge were also on target.
Best for Newbridge were Liam Nihill, Chris Dixon, Matt Adams, Keelan Bertuch, Chris Lakey and Lachie Costelow.
Marong’s best were Lachlan Frankel, Billy Stewart, Zack Turnbull, Kai Terrill, Max Balcke and Ronnie Grant.
On Saturday it was Inglewood which overcame a 28-point deficit at quarter-time to win the qualifying final against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by 35 points.
The Eagles made a stunning start to be up 31-3 at the first break.
Term two was won by the Blues, 21-14.
It was a remarkable turnaround in the second half as Inglewood slammed on 10 goals and kept the Eagles to a goal.
When the siren sounded the Blues were up 87-52.
Mason Lane led Inglewood’s attack on four goals as Jayden Leach kicked three.
The Blues had Sam Cruse slot two goals as Andrew Bennett, Deklen Gorrie, Matt Rowe and Riley Tresize were also on target.
Leading goalkickers for the Eagles were Tyler James and Travis Mercadante on three and two.
Hunter McDonald, Jaxon Thomson and Joel Wittingslow kicked a major.
Inglewood’s best were Sam Polack, Jackson Rutter, Andrew Bennett, Harry King, Mason Lane and Cameron Martin.
Joel Wittingslow, Angus Blandthorn, Josh Goodman, Harrison Kleehammer, Tyson Webster and Cooper Attard were best for the Eagles.
The Blues take on Bridgewater in next Saturday’s second semi-final.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles will fight to stay in the race against Newbridge.
It was closely-fought contest between Bridgewater and Marong in the under-18s qualifying final on Inglewood’s turf.
The Mean Machine charged to a 26-7 lead by quarter-time and was up 33-15 at the long break.
Both teams added two goals in the third term as Bridgewater held a 20-point buffer going into the last quarter.
The Panthers clawed their way back into the contest by scoring two goals, but a goal by the Mean Machine was enough to clinch a 58-42 victory.
Captain Ollie Clapp led the Mean Machine’s attack on four goals as Logan Moss kicked three.
Goalkickers for Marong were Robert Leech, two; and Angus Costello, Brodie Hale, Caden McCurdy and Harry Wilson.
Bridgewater’s best were Campbell Fraser, Ollie Clapp, Dylan Goddard, Ryan Wilson, Lachie Bray and Kolby Shay.
The Panthers’ best were Harry Wilson, Noah Howarth, Max O’Donnell, Liam Henson, Kaidyn Higgins and Robert Leech.
Bridgewater will tackle Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Saturday’s second semi-final.
The Panthers meet Newbridge in the first semi after the Maroons scored a 51-point victory in the elimination final against Inglewood.
Newbridge won every quarter against the Blues at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Maroons led 21-7 at quarter-time and 30-7 by the long break.
Newbridge scored four goals in the third term to put the result beyond doubt.
Tayte Frawley and Alex van Dillen went on to kick three and two goals in the 67-16 victory.
Other goalkickers for the Maroons were Elliot Bird, Bevan Smart, Oliver Steen and Blake Wells.
Tate Lovett and Mitch Pickering were on target for the Blues.
Newbridge’s best were Alec van Dillen, Oliver Steen, Blake Wells, Elliot Bird, Harry Dunn and Tayte Frawley.
Tate Lovett, Jamie Penrose, Harrison Noble, Mitch Pickering, Blake Smyth and Evan McCoy played well for the Blues.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Calivil Recreation Reserve:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Bridgewater.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Bridgewater v Inglewood.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Marong v Newbridge.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Newbridge.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Marong v Inglewood.
In the netball action……
PYRAMID Hill and Newbridge triumphed in the weekend’s start to A-grade netball finals in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL competition.
Runner-up in ’25, Pyramid Hill stayed in the premiership race when it won Sunday’s elimination final against Inglewood by four goals.
The Bulldogs and Blues played at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
A Pyramid Hill team which had a lot more finals experience than Inglewood capitalised on playing at home to claim a 52-48 victory.
The Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney-coached Pyramid Hill will meet Bridgewater in next Sunday’s first semi-final at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Although disappointed by the result it was a superb effort by the Dani O’Toole-coached Inglewood which endured a winless run in A-grade the previous two seasons.
The Blues capped a superb fightback in ’26 to rack up 11 wins and a draw.
Day one of the finals was qualifying final day at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Fans watched a brilliant A-grade showdown between Bridgewater and Newbridge.
The Mean Machine and Maroons finished the home-and-away series on 13-5 records.
In the qualifying final it was the Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge which handled the big moments well to clinch a 41-39 victory.
Newbridge will now meet the unbeaten Mitiamo in the second semi-final at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos are chasing a premiership hat-trick.
A Bridgewater line-up coached by Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy will be back on its court for next Sunday’s first semi-final against Pyramid Hill.
Loddon Valley FNL netball qualifying finals scoreboard at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval:
A-grade: Newbridge 41 d Bridgewater 39.
A-reserve: Newbridge 38 d Marong 37.
B-grade: Bridgewater 37 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 36.
B-reserve: Inglewood 38 d Calivil United 29.
17-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 46 d Mitiamo 20.
15-and-under: Calivil United 65 d Marong 63.
13-and-under: Mitiamo 38 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 32.
Loddon Valley FNL netball elimination finals scoreboard at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park:
A-grade: Pyramid Hill 52 d Inglewood 48.
A-reserve: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 48 d Calivil United 36.
B-grade: Marong 41 d Calivil United 34.
B-reserve: Mitiamo 47 d Newbridge 40.
17-and-under: Pyramid Hill 43 d Bridgewater 36.
15-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 48 d Bridgewater 39.
13-and-under: Newbridge 28 d Marong 22.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Calivil Recreation Reserve:
15-and-under, 10.30am on court one: Newbridge v Calivil United.
17-and-under, noon on court one: Calivil United v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
13-and-under, noon on court two: Calivil United v Mitiamo.
A-reserve, 1.30pm on court one: Bridgewater v Newbridge.
B-reserve, 1.30pm on court two: Bridgewater v Inglewood.
A-grade, 3pm on court one: Mitiamo v Newbridge.
B-grade, 3pm on court two: Newbridge v Bridgewater.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve:
15-and-under, 10.30am on court one: Marong v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
17-and-under, noon on court one: Mitiamo v Pyramid Hill.
13-and-under, noon on court two: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Newbridge.
A-reserve, 1.30pm on court one: Marong v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
B-reserve, 1.30pm on court two: Calivil United v Mitiamo.
A-grade, 3pm on court one: Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill.
B-grade, 3pm on court two: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Marong.