-By Nathan Dole
BRIDGEWATER motored to victory at Serpentine as the second half of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL’s senior footy home-and-away series kicked off last Saturday.
The Mean Machine won every quarter in a 127-71 result at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
After an inaccurate start, Bridgewater led 2.7 (19) to 1.4 (10) at quarter-time.
The Mean Machine then scored five goals in the second, but the Bears kept in striking distance as it scored 4.1.
A 16-point lead for the Mean Machine at half-time was almost six goals at a quarter to play after it scored 6.2 to 3.2 in the third.
There were plenty of contributors on the goalkicking front as Bridgewater had 12 players on the list.
Boden Alexander led the way on four goals as coach Lachie Sharp and Oliver Watt kicked three majors.
Bears’ gun forward Josh Mellington had kicked five goals before his match was ended by a hamstring injury in the third quarter.
Bridgewater’s best were Jack Neylon, Luke Ellings, Jack Symons, Boden Alexander, Darcy Wood and Oliver Watt.
Nash Kemp, Tyler Miles, Nathan Twigg, coach Jake Wilkinson, Jaxon Addlem and Darcy Poulter played well for the Bears.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles stayed in touch with the top five after a hard-fought 13-point win against Calivil United at Marist College.
The Demons put the heat on and led 34-26 at half-time.
Pressure was rising as the Sam Maher-coached Calivil United scored 2.1 as the Eagles added 2.2 in the third term.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles finished the match with plenty of run.
As the Eagles scored 4.3 they kept the Demons to a goal.
Tyler James and Mitch Whitham led the Eagles attack on three goals apiece in a 67-54 victory.
Mitchell Lines added two goals for the Eagles.
Henry McCarthy kicked a match-high four goals for Calivil United.
Best for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles were Josh Worsley, Mitch Whitham, Nathan Murley, Lewis Pigdon, Daniel Russell and Stacy Fiske.
The Eagles are jointly coached by Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries.
Calivil United’s best were Henry McCarthy, Sam Green, Jack Bombardieri, Tommi Raukola and Jayden Leach.
After crossing from Charlton, Kade Blow marked his first senior match by Calivil United by being among the best.
Marong’s winning streak kept on rolling as the Panthers took on Inglewood at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
It was a big day for the Frankel family as Lachlan Frankel played his 200th senior match for the club.
The Panthers led 20-14 at quarter-time and dominated most of the second term as it added 5.3 and kept the Blues to a tally of 1.3.
Inglewood hit back to win the third term, 22-20, and the last, 21-20.
Marong co-coach Kain Robins finished with a match-high four goals in a 93-66 victory for a club chasing a fourth consecutive premiership.
Other multiple goalkickers for Marong were Michael Bradbury, Jacob Ede and Ryley Taylor on two.
Inglewood’s leading goalkicker was Will Allen on two.
Best for Marong were Jai Gretgrix, Brodie Hartland, Shannon Geary, Ben Gregg, Jacob Ede and Kain Robins.
The Panthers have Paul Thomson as non-playing co-coach.
Lachlan Ford, Bregon Cotchett, Cody Stobaus, Harry Veitch, Jackson Hood and Tom Kennedy were best for the Fergus Payne-coached Blues.
Pyramid Hill hit the 150-point mark in its home game against Newbridge at Mitchell Park.
The Bulldogs led 33-14 at quarter-time and then slammed on 10 goals in the second term to lead 94-24 at the long break.
Pyramid Hill won the second half, 56-13.
An eight goal haul by Ben Bissett earned best on ground honours in the 150-37 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Zach Alford, four; Ben Knight, three; and Mitch Dingwall, two.
Newbridge coach Matt McArthur and Ben McKinley kicked two goals each.
Best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill were Ben Bisset, ruckman Kai Daniels, Ben Knight, Zach Alford, Steven Gunther and Gavin James.
Will Copland, Ben McKinley, Caleb Sanders, Thomas Hobson, Kobe Friswell and Ricky Cathie were Newbridge’s best.
Mitiamo had the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 213 per cent, 36 points; Pyramid Hill 215, 32; Bridgewater 145, 28; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 119, 20; Inglewood 123, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 72, 14; Newbridge 47, 8; Mitiamo 45, 4; Calivil United 43, 2.
It’s the rematch of the ’24 grand finalists when Pyramid Hill and Marong clash at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park next Saturday from 2.15pm.
Bridgewater will be on home turf against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Inglewood faces Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Calivil United and Mitiamo clash in the Demons’ den at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Newbridge has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
56 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
48 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
44 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
43 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
28 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
24 Kain Robins, Marong.
23 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
20 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
19 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
18 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
17 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
15 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
14 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
13 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
13 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
13 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
13 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
12 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
11 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
10 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
10 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
10 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
10 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
10 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
10 Jack McCaig, Marong.