BY NATHAN DOLE
Bulldogs move closer to ending drought
PYRAMID Hill is just a win away from breaking its long-running premiership drought after it advanced to the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley senior footy grand final on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are now flag favourites following a 13-point win against Marong in the second semi-final played at Bridgewater.
It was consecutive wins for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill against the premier of the past two seasons.
Marong raced to a 22-2 lead by quarter-time, but the Dogs fought back to score three straight goals and held the Panthers to a tally of 1.3 in the second term.
Although it was playing into the wind, Pyramid Hill’s midfielders and on- ballers took control in quarter three.
Pyramid Hill doubled its half-time score and held Marong to a score of three behinds.
By the last change the Dogs led 40-34.
A closely-fought final quarter went the way of the red, white and blue to clinch a 67-54 victory.
Zach Alford led the Bulldogs’ attack on two goals.
Marong’s Shaun Knott kicked a match-high three goals.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Gavin James, Steven Gunther, Brad Ladson and Tom McGregor.
Marong’s best were Matt Riordan, Michael Bradbury, Matt Willox and Jimmy Gadsden.
After back-to-back wins in the finals, Pyramid Hill has a rest leading into the September 14 grand final at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
For Marong it’s a different path toward claiming the ultimate prize as the Panthers must tackle Bridgewater in Saturday’s preliminary final at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Bridgewater kept premiership hopes alive in a one-point win against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in Sunday’s first semi-final at Marong’s East West Oval in Malone Park.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater led 18-14 at quarter-time and then surged to a 21-point lead by the main break after it scored 5.5 to 3.0 in the second term.
The Bears fought back brilliantly to win the third quarter, 31-13.
Inspired by the play of Joseph Mayes, Lee and John Coghlan, and a match-high five goals by former Richmond and Carlton player Andy Collins it was Bridgewater which fought on for an 80-79 victory.
Bridgewater assistant coach and century goalkicker Lachlan Sharp finished with four goals.
The Bears’ attack was led by captain Charlie Gadsden and Harry Gadsden on two goals each.
Josh Taig, Ross Turner, Justin Laird and Nash Kemp were best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached BLS.
It was not Marong’s day in the second semi-finals as the Panthers were beaten in the reserves and under-18s matches.
Beaten just once in the run to the reserves finals, Marong started favourite against Pyramid Hill.
Defences were on top for most of the match.
Pyramid Hill led 16-10 at half-time and 20-18 at a quarter to play.
Both teams battled for accuracy near goal.
The Bulldogs scored 1.1 and held Marong to a point in the final term to claim a 27-19 victory.
Marong will now take on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the preliminary final.
The Bears led 35-33 at half-time of the first semi against Bridgewater.
Two goals as it kept the Mean Machine to a point in the third gave BLS a 13-point buffer going into the last quarter.
Both line-ups kicked two goals in the final term as BLS won 63-48.
Captain Jayden Gladman, Jacob Murley and Miggy Podosky kicked two goasl for the Bears.
Bridgewater’s attack was led by Nick Hall, three; and Michael Brooks, two.
Best for the Bears were Zac Stone, Mel Addlem, Jayden Gladman and Kalem Paxton.
Tynan Hywood, Michael Brooks, Nick Hall and Jack McKinley played well for Bridgewater.
In the under-18s competition, East Loddon broke Marong’s unbeaten run.
The East Loddon team led 20-15 at half-time and then seized control in the third quarter as it scored 4.3 and held the Panthers to a tally of 1.2.
At the final siren East Loddon led 53-26.
Best for East Loddon were Mason Hocking, Tyler Rasmussen, Blake Dowton and Patrick Cunningham.
Cooper Quinlan, Cooper Murphy, Jett Bird and Kepler Thomson were Marong’s best.
The Panthers will take on Inglewood in the preliminary final.
One of four co-captains, Tyler Murphy kicked five goals in a 69-35 victory for the Blues against Bridgewater.
Other multiple goalkickers for Inglewood were co-captain Harrison Noble and Ryder Smith on two.
Best for the Blues were Tyler Murphy, Willem Schepers, Dylan Gilbee and Jamie Penrose.
Sam McMahon, Ollie Clapp, Lewis Lonsdale and Cooper Orton were Bridgewater’s best.
Loddon Valley FNL’s footy first semi-finals scoreboard:
Seniors:
Bridgewater 3.0 8.5 10.6 12.8 (80)
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 2.2 5.2 9.9 11.13 (79)
GOALS – Bridgewater: Andy Collins 5, Lachlan Sharp 4, Boden Alexander, Harry McKinley, Jack Neylon. Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Charlie Gadsden, Harry Gadsden 2, Nash Kemp, Justin Laird, Louis Mott, Farran Priest, James Rippingale, Ross Turner, Jake Wilkinson.
BEST – Bridgewater: Joseph Mayes, Lee Coghlan, Jon Coghlan, Ben Derrick, Jake Rusbridge, Hamish Terry. Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Josh Taig, Ross Turner, Justin Laird, Nathan Twigg, Harry Gadsden.
Reserves:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 2.3 5.5 7.5 9.9 (63)
Bridgewater 2.1 5.3 5.4 7.6 (48)
GOALS – Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Jayden Gladman, Jacob Murley, Miggy Podosky 2, Clay Anstee, Steve Gladman, Kalem Paxton. Bridgewater: Nick Hall 3, Michael Brooks 2, Sam Dewar, Josh Roberts.
BEST – Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Zac Stone, Mel Addlem, Jayden Gladman, Kalem Paxton, Beau Roy-Clements, Matt Frecker. Bridgewater: Tynan Hywood, Michael Brooks, Nick Hall, Jack McKinley, Oscar Horan, Toby Naughton.
Under-18s:
Inglewood 4.3 5.3 7.9 10.9 (69)
Bridgewater 1.1 1.5 2.7 4.11 (35)
GOALS – Inglewood: Tyler Murphy 5, Harrison Noble, Ryder Smith 2, Dylan Gilbee. Bridgewater: Ollie Clapp, Jamison Friswell, Jacob Larson, Cooper Orton.
BEST – Inglewood: Tyler Murphy, Willem Schepers, Dylan Gilbee, Jamie Penrose, Kyle McClellan, Morgan Lonza. Bridgewater: Sam McMahon, Ollie Clapp, Lewis Lonsdale, Cooper Orton, Tarrant Pidoto, Jacob Larson.
Loddon Valley FNL’s footy second semi-finals scoreboard:
Seniors
Pyramid Hill 0.2 3.2 6.4 10.7 (67)
Marong 3.4 4.7 4.10 7.12 (54)
GOALS – Pyramid Hill: Zach Alford 2, Jack Burns, Jaydon Cowling, Braidy Dickens, Bailey George, Steven Gunther, Gavin James, Ben Knight, Brad Ladson. Marong: Shaun Knott 3, Nathan Devanny, Corey Gregg, Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor.
BEST – Pyramid Hill: Gavin James, Steven Gunther, Brad Ladson, Tom McGregor, Jaydon Cowling, Ben Knight. Marong: Matt Riordan, Michael Bradbury, Matt Willox, Jimmy Gadsden, Todd Davies, Jack McCaig.
Reserves:
Pyramid Hill 2.1 2.4 2.8 3.9 (27)
Marong 1.2 1.4 2.6 2.7 (19)
GOALS – Pyramid Hill: Harrison Goodes, Nathan Moon, Thomas Walker. Marong: David Blume, Tom Grant.
BEST – Pyramid Hill: Brad Moon, Thomas Walker, Glen James, Mitch Gunther, Nathan Coyle, Greg Quinn. Marong: Sam Dean, Matt Grant, Will Gadsden, Harry Baker, Zack Turnbull, Aaron Collins.
Under-18s:
East Loddon 3.2 3.2 7.5 8.5 (53)
Marong 1.1 2.3 3.5 3.8 (26)
GOALS – East Loddon: Mitchell Hancock, Liam Stephens 2, Fynn Clymo, Joseph Ketterer, Aidan Roulston, Brodie Wagner. Marong: Cooper Murphy 3.
BEST – East Loddon: Mason Hocking, Tyler Rasmussen, Blake Dowton, Patrick Cunningham, Liam Stephens, Brodie Wagner. Marong: Cooper Quinlan, Cooper Murphy, Jett Bird, Kepler Thomson, Kane Harris, Bailey O’Neill.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Marong v Inglewood.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Marong v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Marong v Bridgewater.