-By Nathan Dole
INGLEWOOD faces another test when it meets Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Saturday’s eighth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
It’s fourth against sixth as the Blues and Eagles meet from 2.15pm at Centre State Scaffolding Oval in Inglewood.
After a nil-three start to the season, Inglewood has fought back to win three of its past four matches.
The Fergus Payne-coached Blues are fourth on the ladder, but just two points clear of the Eagles.
There is a significant gap in percentage between the teams.
Inglewood won last Saturday’s match at Calivil by 89 points as Harry Veitch, Campbell Love, Daniel Polack and Cody Stobaus were best.
A five-goal haul by Seb Erharter put his season tally on 37 and second in the goalkicking race which is being led by Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp.
The Blues’ squad for the showdown with Maiden Gully YCW includes captain Nathan Angelino, Thomas Guerra, Liam Marciano, Bregon Cotchett, Will Allen and Kai Cavallaro.
The Eagles worked hard to be within 52 points of Marong when their match ended at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
Best for the Eagles were Grayson Brown, Bryce Franzini, Mitch Hill and Daniel Russell.
Maiden Gully YCW goes into Saturday’s match without co-coach Angus Monfries who kicked three goals in the clash with Marong.
Big roles will be played by captain Josh Worsley, Ed Crisp, Todd Delahey, Nathan Murley and Kyle Franzini in an Eagles team which has Shawn Filo as non-playing co-coach.
Newbridge will be on home turf at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval to take on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge could not halt Bridgewater’s run to a 101-point victory last round.
Massive test for Newbridge’s defence against a Bears’ attack led by former Fremantle Dockers player Josh Mellington who kicked 10 goals against Mitiamo.
A serious hamstring injury ended Mellington’s first season with the Bears in the 10th round last season.
He had slotted 93 goals for the purple and gold.
The gun forward has kicked 27 goals in four matches for BLS in this season’s action.
Newbridge’s squad to tackle the Bears includes Tyler Constable, Jackson Hufer, Oscar Perez, Billy Schilling, Andrew Willett and Jed Zimmer.
The Maroons also welcome back hard-at-it on-baller Caleb Argus who has played just four matches this season.
The Bears best in a 100-point win against Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve were Andy Gladman, Josh Mellington, Harding medallist Justin Laird, and Callum Draper.
A squad coached by Jake Wilkinson includes Harry Gadsden, Jeremy Hancock, Tyler Miles, Beau Roy-Clements, Jarrod Starr, Ross Turner and Nathan Twigg.
Mitiamo will be back on home turf at John Forbes Oval to play Marong.
Another big test for a young Mitiamo team against Marong which is unbeaten as it chases a fourth consecutive premiership.
Best for the Bears at Serpentine were coach Luke Lougoon, Ben Bradford, Zach Morrison and Ryan Duncan.
Mitiamo’s squad includes Doug Thomas, Jackson Falls, Kia Coatsworth, Tyler Rasmussen, Andrew Cussen and Brayden Baines.
Greater accuracy will be a goal for Marong after it scored 14.23 against Maiden Gully YCW.
Jimmy Gadsden, co-coach Kain Robins, Jai Gretgrix and Todd Davies were best for the Panthers against the Eagles.
The Marong team boud for Mitiamo includes Ben and Corey Gregg, Richard Tibbett, Shaun Knott, captain Nathan Devanny, and ruckman Michael Bradbury.
The Panthers have Paul Thomson as non-playing co-coach.
Pyramid Hill hosts Calivil United at Mitchell Park.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs are back on field after a bye.
Most recent hit-out for Pyramid Hill ended in a 10-goal win against Inglewood as Ryan Semmel, ruckman Kai Daniels, Brodie Carroll and Harrison Goodes were best.
The Bulldogs team to take on the Demons includes Zach Alford, Ben Bisset, Bailey George, Steven Gunther, Ben Knight and Mitch Langan.
A multiple winner of the Sam Cheatley Medal as he dominated in an on-ball role for Huntly, Ryan Semmel kicked nine goals for Pyramid Hill in the round six win against Inglewood.
Wearing number 24 in the red, white and blue, Semmel is a highly-skilled and difficult match-up for any team.
Will be another big test for the Sam Maher-coached Calivil United which has faced Bridgewater and Inglewood in the past fortnight.
Key players for the Demons include Sam Green, Thomas Piazza, Tommi Raukola, Rhys Lourie, Tallis Miles and Jack Maher.
Calivil United’s squad includes Lewis Fisher, Hamish McGregor and Ronan Sheehan.
Bridgewater has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 187 per cent, 24 points; Pyramid Hill 158, 20; Bridgewater 131, 20; Inglewood 133, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 109, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 75, 10; Newbridge 63, 8; Mitiamo 53, 4; Calivil United 45, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
43 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
37 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
27 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
23 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
22 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
18 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
17 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
15 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
13 Kain Robins, Marong.
12 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
12 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
12 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
11 Brayden Baines, Inglewood.
11 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
10 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.