BRIDGEWATER has grabbed top spot on the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder after Saturday’s round 14 victory against Marong.
The Mean Machine powered away in the second half of the showdown with the Panthers at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
It was a strong start by Bridgewater which led 39-20 at the first break.
Marong hit back to win the second term, 22-14.
Five goals as it kept the Panthers to a tally of three goals gave the Mean Machine a four-goal buffer leading into the last.
Led by the play of Mitch Patten, Jack Neylon and Oliver Watt, Bridgewater kicked on for a 106-66 victory.
A great sign for Bridgewater was not relying on coach Lachie Sharp for a big goals.
In a contest where Sharp kicked just one major it was Mitch Patten, five goals; Tyler Estrada and Oscar McKinley, three each; and Nic Naughton, two, who capped a lot of Bridgewater’s moves.
For the first time in many matches Marong did not have a multiple goalkicker.
Best for Bridgewater included Harry Conway, Luke Ellings and Tyler Estrada.
Brodie Hartland, Kepler Thomson, David Johnstone, Zac Justice, Harry Baker and Ryler Taylor were best for the James Flaherty-coached Marong.
The Macorna Tigers fought on for a three-goal win on Newbridge’s ground at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park.
Macorna led 20-19 at quarter-time, 36-31 at half-time, and 49-45 going into the final term.
The Fergus Paynce-coached Tigers scored 2.5 and kept Newbridge to a tally of three behinds in the last quarter.
At the siren Macorna led 66-48.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Dimitri Fasoulis and Xavier Wishart on three goals each as Ryan Dee kicked two.
Newbridge’s leading goalkicker was Caleb Sanders with three.
Best for Macorna were Josh Whittle, Kieran Foley, Xavier Wishart, Seb Erharter, Sam Whinfield and John Officer.
Newbridge’s best were Dylan Lloyd, Jackson Hufer, Declan Campbell, Caleb Sanders, Zebb Murrell and Jon Coe.
The Jayden Cordy-coached Maroons are now two wins behind the fifth-placed Macorna.
A 62-point win by Maiden Gully YCW against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine meant the Eagles are still in the hunt for a finals berth.
It was a superb start by the Eagles who led 40-8 at quarter-time of the match at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
A closely-fought second term went the way of the Eagles, 25-20.
Seven goals in the third as it kept the Bears to a major put the result beyond doubt.
Tye Bedford and Todd Delahey led the Eagles’ attack on three goals as Mitch Hill, co-coach Angus Monfries and Lewis Pigdon kicked two each in a 117-55 victory.
Leading goalkickers for the Bears were Jaxon Addlem and Callum Draper on two each.
Best for the Eagles were Lewis Pigdon, Anthony Robins, Tye Bedford, Isaac Neretlis, Mitch Hill and Mitch Whitham.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles has Shawn Filo as non-playing co-coach.
Was a tough day for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears in which Nathan Twigg, Callum Draper, Llogan Mayman, Jack White and Tanner Rayner were best.
Pyramid Hill turned a 16-point lead at half-time of into an 11-goal margin by the end of its clash with Calivil United at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Sam Maher-coached Calivil United worked hard to score 5.3 in the opening half as the Bulldogs added 7.7 across the first two quarters.
A seven-goal blitz by the Bulldogs in term three put the result beyond doubt.
Pyramid Hill added six majors in the last on its way to a 133-57 victory.
Gun forward Jhye Baddeley-Kelly finished with nine goals as Levi Moss kicked three as Mitch Dingwall and Will Quinlivan added two each.
The Demons’ attack was led by Henry McCarthy on nine goals.
Bulldogs’ captain Ben Knight was best along with Zach Alford, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Lachlan Sidebottom, Levi Moss and Gavin James.
The Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill is third on the premiership ladder.
Henry McCarthy, Zac Tickell, Josh Connolly, Liam Stephens, Rhys Lourie and Sam Green were best for the Demons.
Inglewood dominated its home game against Mitiamo at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues were up 35-9 at quarter-time and 81-16 by the long break.
Inglewood’s run and intensity, especially when not in possession did not let up.
The Blues scored seven goals in the third quarter and eight in the last to complete a 181-26 victory.
A 10-goal haul by Mischa Fraillon capped a great match by the Blues’ spearhead as Kai Cavallaro and Lachlan Harris kicked five and four goals as Bregon Cotchett and Daniel Polack slotted two each.
Mitiamo’s only multiple goalkicker was Kobe Galvin on two.
Best for Inglewood were Gabe Nevins, Mischa Fraillon, Bregon Cotchett, Lachlan Ford, Tom Kennedy and Kai Cavallaro.
Anthony Huismann, Zak Myers, Kobe Galvin, Zach Morrison, Ryan Clark and Brayden Baines worked hard for the Luke Lougoon-coached Superoos.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Bridgewater 191 per cent, 48 points; Marong 164, 48; Pyramid Hill 136, 44; Inglewood 122, 32; Macorna 110, 32; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 107, 28; Newbridge 86, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 74, 12; Calivil United 46, 8; Mitiamo 49, 4.
In next Saturday’s round 15 action, Marong takes on Macorna at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park from 2.15pm.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine faces Newbridge at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Mitiamo and Pyramid Hill clash on the Superoos’ ground at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles face a big challenge against Bridgewater at Marist College Oval.
Calivil United and Inglewood meet in the Demons’ den at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
88 Lachie Sharp, B.
70 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
47 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
37 Cooper Hale, Mar.
33 Mischa Fraillon, I.
32 Oscar McKinley, B.
31 Farran Priest, BLS.
29 Henry McCarthy, CU.
21 Seb Erharter, Mac.; Caleb Sanders, N.
19 Shaun Knott, Mar.; Seth Wright, Miti.
18 Michael Bradbury, Mar.; Todd Delahey, MGYCW.
17 Zach Alford, PH; Brodie Carr, N; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Angus Monfries, MGYCW; Mitch Patten, B.
In the netball action…….PYRAMID Hill claimed a crucial victory in Saturday’s 14th round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball.
A 12-goal win on its court at Mitchell Park against Calivil United has kept the Bulldogs in striking distance of claiming a top-five finish and place in the finals.
A Bulldogs’ team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney answered Calivil United’s challenge to record a 68-56 victory.
A win-loss tally of 8-6 has Pyramid Hill in sixth place on the ladder, but just two points behind the fourth and fifth-placed Marong and Inglewood.
Next hit-out for the Bulldogs will be at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval from 3pm next Saturday.
It will be a rematch of the ’25 grand final which was won by Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo Superoos.
The Annie Blow and Alex Ingram-coached Calivil United hosts Inglewood.
Just four goals separated Bridgewater and Marong at the end of last Saturday’s match at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
The Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Bridgewater worked hard for a 54-50 victory.
The Mean Machine makes its way to the Maiden Gully-based Marist College to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles next round.
A Panthers’ line-up coached by Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton will aim to rebound from defeat when it hosts Macorna at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
Inglewood could not Mitiamo’s charge to another big win.
Although it was on its court at Centre State Scaffolding, Inglewood battled against the reigning premier.
Mitiamo dominated in all thirds of the court, especially in defence where it held the Dani O’Toole-coached Blues to just 27 goals.
The Superoos’ goalers were in great touch as they poured in 70 goals in a 14th consecutive victory.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles marked their third win of the season when they played Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Marist College Oval.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles won 57-38.
Next up Maiden Gully YCW is a home game against Bridgewater.
The Erin Varker-coached Bears meet Newbridge next Saturday at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Newbridge passed the 60-goal mark in its clash with Macorna at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
The Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge led 62-35 at the final siren.
Third in the premiership race, Newbridge plays at Serpentine next round.
A Macorna team coached by Brooke Allison will play at Marong next Saturday in the clash of the Panthers and Tigers.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition after 14 rounds:
Mitiamo 198 per cent, 56 points; Bridgewater 153, 40; Newbridge 122, 40; Marong 103, 34; Inglewood 94, 34; Pyramid Hill 112, 32; Calivil United 85, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 66, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 64, 12; Macorna 52, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball, round 14 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 57 d Marong 49, Inglewood 34 d Mitiamo 33, Pyramid Hill 41 d Calivil United 39, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 73 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 23, Newbridge 63 d Macorna 30.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 45 d Marong 29, Inglewood 47 d Mitiamo 26, Pyramid Hill 42 lt Calivil United 59, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 61 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 49, Newbridge 73 d Macorna 24.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 53 d Marong 38, Inglewood 17 lt Mitiamo 41, Pyramid Hill 38 lt Calivil United 45, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 39 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 24, Newbridge 60 d Macorna 7.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 32 lt Marong 50, Inglewood 10 lt Mitiamo 62, Pyramid Hill 43 lt Calivil United 60, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine (forfeit), Newbridge 30 lt Macorna 34.
15-and-under:
Bridgewater 15 lt Marong 63, Inglewood 33 d Mitiamo 29, Pyramid Hill 7 lt Calivil United 95, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 45 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 14, Newbridge 81 d Macorna 13.
13-and-under:
Bridgewater 37 d Marong 27, Inglewood 11 lt Mitiamo 35, Pyramid Hill 5 lt Calivil United 72, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 67 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 8, Newbridge 57 d Macorna 11.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after 14 rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 208 per cent, 56 points; Marong 154, 46; Newbridge 140, 44; Calivil United 112, 34; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 112, 30; Pyramid Hill 97, 26; Mitiamo 78, 16; Inglewood 77, 12; Macorna 53, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 34, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 244 per cent, 56 points; Bridgewater 144, 48; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 113, 40; Marong 109, 34; Inglewood 109, 32; Calivil United 103, 32; Macorna 78, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 81, 14; Pyramid Hill 77, 8; Mitiamo 34, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 186 per cent, 52 points; Calivil United 124, 44; Newbridge 137, 40; Inglewood 114, 40; Mitiamo 116, 32; Marong 115, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 100, 24; Pyramid Hill 92, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 53, 8; Macorna 30, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 294 per cent, 56 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 176, 52; Mitiamo 132, 40; Bridgewater 113, 36; Pyramid Hill 105, 32; Marong 99, 28; Macorna 56, 20; Inglewood 40, 8; Newbridge 34, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 384 per cent, 56 points; Calivil United 477, 48; Marong 281, 44; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 183, 40; Bridgewater 87, 32; Inglewood 43, 16; Mitiamo 36, 16; Pyramid Hill 35, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 12; Macorna 34, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 838 per cent, 56 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 364, 52; Mitiamo 150, 40; Newbridge 118, 32; Marong 100, 32; Bridgewater 93, 32; Inglewood 58, 16; Pyramid Hill 30, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 8; Macorna 13, 0.