BY NATHAN DOLE
Bulldogs, Panthers eye rare footy feat
WHETHER it’s Pyramid Hill or Marong which reigns supreme, a rare feat will be marked in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL’s senior footy grand final on Saturday.
Pyramid Hill’s players and fans will celebrate breaking a premiership drought which has lasted since 1950, or Marong will be toasting its first premiership hat-trick in senior footy.
Saturday’s clash at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval is also a rematch of the ’23 grand final in which the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong defeated the Dogs by 16 points.
The big clash kicks off at 2.30pm.
It’s a sixth attempt by Pyramid Hill at winning its first LVFNL senior premiership since it joined the league in 1995.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs have won the past two showdowns with the Panthers by five and 13 points.
When these teams met in round three it was Marong which won 79-71 on its turf at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
The Panthers winning streak was broken when the Bulldogs won 71-66 at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park in round 12.
Pyramid Hill dominated on day one of the finals series as it marked a 123-35 win against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the qualifying final at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
A 13-point victory by the Dogs against Marong in the second semi-final at Bridgewater meant Pyramid Hill was first to the ’24 grand final.
Both grand finalists are stacked with plenty of goalscoring power.
The Dogs’ attack is led by Zach Alford, 62 goals.
A major strength for Pyramid Hill is the running and goalkicking ability of midfielders and on-ballers Bailey George, Damon Hemphill and captain Steven Gunther.
Among the many crucial duels will be in the ruck where Lachlan Sidebottom is up against Michael Bradbury.
Another highlight will be the roving where Pyramid Hill has the experienced Ben Knight in great form.
It’s a big task to be played by Jimmy Gadsden for Marong in trying to curb Knight’s influence on the game.
A powerful Marong attack is led by Kain Robins, 57 goals; Ryley Taylor, 55; and Ryan Wellington, 47.
They will be up against Dylan Morison, Jack Hickmott and Jack Timmins.
Pyramid Hill also has the experienced Gavin James at half-back and Brad Ladson on a wing.
Another key battle will be at centre half-forward where Marong has Shaun Knott to take on the in-form Tom McGregor.
A calf injury had Marong’s Corey Gregg in doubt, but the tough on-baller or midfielder will take his place along with his brother, Ben.
Other key players for Marong include Nathan Devanny, Richard Tibbett, Matt Riordan, and Jack and Noah McCaig.
Pyramid Hill’s team:
B: Jack Timmins, Dylan Morison, Zac Dingwall.
Hb: Jack Hickmott, Tom McGregor, Gavin James.
C: Bailey George, Steven Gunther, Brad Ladson.
Hf: Brodie Carroll, Bryden Morison, Jaydon Cowling.
F: Zach Alford, Thomas Brennan, Dylan Collis.
Foll: Lachlan Sidebottom, Damon Hemphill, Ben Knight.
Inter: Scott Mann, Seb Relouw, Jack Burns, Braidy Dickens.
Coach: Nathan Fitzpatrick.
Marong’s team:
B: Jai Gretgrix, Lachlan Lee, Jimmy Gadsden.
Hb: Richard Tibbett, Matt Willox, Matt Riordan.
C: David Johnstone, Ben Gregg, Jonty Davis.
Hf: Ryley Taylor, Shaun Knott, Jack McCaig.
F: Ryan Wellington, Kain Robins, Nathan Devanny.
Foll: Michael Bradbury, Lachlan Lee, Jimmy Gadsden.
Inter: Todd Davies, Corey Gregg, Lachlan Frankel, Noah McCaig.
Coach: Linton Jacobs.
Bulldogs’ run in ’24:
Rd 1: lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 97-112 at Serpentine.
Rd 2: d Calivil United, 220-20 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 3: lt Marong, 71-79 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 4:d Bridgewater, 75-22 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 5: d Mitiamo, 189-27 at John Forbes Oval.
Rd 6: bye.
Rd 7: d Newbridge, 118-33 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 8: d Inglewood, 125-40 at Centre State Scaffolding Oval, Inglewood.
Rd 9: d Maiden Gully YCW, 174-7 at Marist College.
Rd 10: lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 54-61 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 11: d Calivil United, 134-50 at Calivil.
Rd 12: d Marong, 71-66 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 13: d Bridgewater, 107-60 at Bridgewater.
Rd 14: d Mitiamo, 125-3 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 15: bye.
Rd 16: d Newbridge, 150-35 at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval.
Rd 17: d Inglewood, 169-34 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 18: d Maiden Gully YCW, 128-14 at Mitchell Park.
Qualifying final: d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 123-35 at Marist College.
2nd semi-final: d Marong, 67-54 at Bridgewater.
Panthers’ charge in ’24:
Rd 1: d Mitiamo, 155-8 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 2: d Newbridge, 172-15 at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval.
Rd 3: d Pyramid Hill, 79-71 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 4: d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, 125-87 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 5: d Calivil, 128-31 at Calivil.
Rd 6: d Bridgewater, 113-57 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 7: d Maiden Gully YCW, 166-8 at Marist College.
Rd 8: bye.
Rd 9: d Inglewood, 156-30 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 10: d Mitiamo, 175-8 at John Forbes Oval.
Rd 11: d Newbridge, 105-46 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 12: lt Pyramid Hill, 66-71 at Mitchell Park.
Rd 13: d Bridgewater, 107-60 at Bridgewater.
Rd 14: d Calivil United, 137-24 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 15: d Bridgewater, 109-41 at Bridgewater.
Rd 16: d Maiden Gully YCW, 190-7 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Rd 17: bye.
Rd 18: d Inglewood, 164-44 at Centre State Scaffolding Oval, Inglewood.
2nd semi-final: lt Pyramid Hill, 54-67 at Bridgewater.
Preliminary final: d Bridgewater, 140-55 at Centre State Scaffolding Oval, Inglewood.
It’s the Bulldogs and Panthers in the reserves as Pyramid Hill tackles Marong from 12.30pm.
It’s two-one in favour of the Hill in this season’s showdowns.
Pyramid Hill marked a 72-62 victory on Marong’s turf at East West Oval in Malone Park in round three.
Next time they met the Panthers won 39-21 at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Bulldogs kicked off the finals series by scoring a 52-35 win against Bridgewater in the qualifying final.
A week later and Pyramid Hill beat Marong in the second semi-final by eight points in Bridgewater.
The Panthers struck back for a 69-20 victory against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in last Saturday’s preliminary final on Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
A 15-1 record in the home-and-away series meant Marong finished top of the ladder.
The Bulldogs were third on a 12-4 tally.
Key players for Pyramid Hill include captain Matthew Moon, Brad Driscoll, Mitch Gunther, Adrian Holland, Ed Caburnay and Bailey Scott.
Marong’s best in its latest victory were Fletcher Waters, Cooper Hale, Billy Stewart, Harry Baker, Luke Jongebloed and Kyle Manley.
First of the footy grand finals starts at 10.30am when East Loddon and Marong meet in the under-18s match.
Although it had been comprehensively beaten by the Panthers in four matches across the home-and-away series, East Loddon dominated the second semi-final clash with Marong in Bridgewater.
The Rams dominated most of the game to mark a 53-26 victory against the previously unbeaten Panthers and be first to the grand final.
Mitchell Hancock and Liam Stephens both kicked two goals for East Loddon.
Best for the Rams were Mason Hocking, Tyler Rasmussen, Blake Dowton and Patrick Cunningham.
Cooper Murphy led Marong’s attack on three goals and was among the best with Cooper Quinlan, Jett Bird and Kepler Thomson.
East Loddon kicked off the finals by scoring an 84-23 win against Bridgewater in the qualifying final at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Panthers struck back for a 120-7 win against Inglewood in the preliminary final to earn a crack at stopping the Rams’ run at premiership glory.