BY NATHAN DOLE
IT’S semi-finals time for the Central Victorian FL under-18 boys’ competition this weekend.
Action kicks off with Saturday’s second semi-final at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve at 10.40am.
Prize for the winner is being first to qualify for the September 9 grand final at Dissy Machinery Oval in Inglewood.
Unbeaten in 12 matches, Marong will start hot favourite in Saturday’s second semi against East Loddon Rams.
It’s been a two-week break for Marong which had the bye on August 12 and rest on the first weekend of the finals series.
In this season’s showdowns with East Loddon, Marong has won by margins of 134, 59 and 49 points.
The season opener was at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park where the Panthers blitzed in a 141-7 result.
Next two matches were at Calivil where Marong beat the Rams, 93-34 in the sixth round; and 71-22 in the 11th round.
A formidable Marong line-up includes Zac Conroy, 51 goals; Hudson Bourke, Lochie Hale, Zac Justice, Kobe McCaig, Spencer Taylor and Kai Terrill.
East Loddon Rams kicked off their finals campaign by scoring a 43-26 victory in last Saturday’s qualifying final against Inglewood at Bridgewater.
Best for the Rams were Tyler Rasmussen, Josh Diss, Cade Tuohey, Jaxon Addlem, Tom Harcourt and Jye Rasmussen.
On Sunday the first semi-finalists will fight to keep their season alive at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
It’s Inglewood against Pyramid Hill from 10.40am.
The Inglewood Blues are on the rebound from a 17-point loss to EL Rams in the qualifying final.
Key players for the Blues include Cooper Hackett, Campbell Hancock, Mitch Jeffrey, Tyler Murphy, Gabe Nevins and Jaspa Wendels.
Pyramid Hill won the elimination final against Bridgewater, 62-61.
The Bulldogs were down 38-46 at the start of the last term, but added 3.6 to 2.3 to clinch victory.
Best for Pyramid Hill in that contest were Blake Gibson, Harrison Goodes, Riley Hutton, Connor McCoy, Lewis Stubbs and Jacob Clough-Fidler.
Most recent clash between the Blues and Bulldogs ended in a 97-54 win for Inglewood at Calivil.
The Blues won the previous showdowns with Pyramid Hill by margins of 164 points at Marist College Bendigo in round five, and by 18 goals in the 10th round at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.