THE showdown between Sandhurst and Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval highlights round 17 in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
A big clash between first and third starts at 2.20pm.
These clubs have played out many great matches, including finals, across the past two decades.
Many of them have been on the famous QEO.
Defeat could put Gisborne out of the top three and fighting to regain a double chance in the 18th round.
Sandhurst marked a one-point thriller in the Bendigo Health Round match at Strathfieldsaye last Saturday as Gisborne scored 258 points in its clash with Gisborne at home.
On-ball duels will be a highlight.
Sandhurst ruckman Connor Sexton teams superbly with on-ballers Cooper Smith and Matt Wilkinson and centreman Dayten Uerata.
In attack the Dragons have Hugh Schmetzer, Cobi Maxted, Nick Stagg and Finlay Lockhart.
On a wing or closer to goal, Sandhurst co-coach Fergus Greene is a key cog in this team.
A line-up which has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach includes Caleb Connick, Liam Ireland, Oliver Morris and Lachlan Wright.
The Gisborne attack was in hot form against Broadford as full-forward Pat McKenna kicked 12 goals to lead the race for the Ron Best Medal by seven.
Also lurking inside the forward 50m arc for the Bulldogs are Harry Luxmoore, Matt Merrett, Shane Clough and James Gray.
Players to watch in the red, white and blue include captain Zach Vescovi in defence, Brad Bernacki in the centre, Adam Brancatisano, Dylan Johnstone, Will Elliott and Thomas Werner.
After a breakthrough victory on Golden Square’s turf, Kangaroo Flat is back home at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park to take on South Bendigo.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos marked their best performance of the season against the Bulldogs and will be striving to build on the momentum of that victory.
Doing so will not be an easy task against South Bendigo.
Key players for the Kangaroos include Aaron Nevins, Jeremy Rodi, captain Ethan Roberts, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Nick Lang, Tyran Farmer, Max Johnson, Jake Hywood.
In-form players for the Bloods include Brody Haddow, co-captain Zac Hare, Zaydyn Lockwood, Sam Langley and Anthony Zimmerman.
South Bendigo welcomes back Hawthorn premiership player and key forward James Frawley for his first match since the win against Sandhurst to reclaim the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup in round six.
A team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, includes gun forward Brock Harvey, Isaiah Miller, Callum Crisp, Coen Harker and Will Allen.
Former coach Nathan Horbury was also named to play for the red and white.
Golden Square is back at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street to play Strathfieldsaye.
There’s a fierce rivalry between these clubs.
When they met in King’s Birthday round it was Storm which won on home turf by 39 points.
Huge test for the Brad Eaton and Liam Barrett-coached Golden Square against a hard-running and skilful opponent.
Key players for the Bulldogs include Harry Burke, Jordan Rosengren, Tom Strauch, Adam Baird and Jack Stewart.
There’s a lot to like about the play of youngsters such as Archie Eaton, Noah Warfe, and Logan and Zac Wescott.
Strathfieldsaye forwards James Schischka, Zach Charles, Tyson McKenzie and Siologa Siu will test the Bulldogs in every quarter.
The high-leaping Drew Lloyd who is on Port Melbourne’s list in the VFL returns to play his fifth match for the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm this season.
Many of Storm’s attacks are generated by the likes of Daniel Clohesy, Riley Wilson, Jack Bell, Riley Mulquiny and ruckman Tim Hosking.
A strong defence is led by Cooper Jones, Hunter Lawrence, Ben Lester and Lachlan Ratcliffe.
In what will be his fifth senior game of the season, Hugh Behrens is another of the exciting crop of youngsters in Storm’s squad to watch.
Broadford tackles Castlemaine at Harley Hammond Reserve.
It’s been a daunting run for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford which has played South Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne the past three rounds.
On the King’s Birthday weekend it was Castlemaine which scored a 207-point win against Broadford at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
Broadford will be determined to end a run of 200-plus scores against.
Key players for the Kangaroos include Bryce Fleming, Oliver Lubeck, Adam Miles, Owen Sloan, Isaac Smithwick, Ben and Louis Thompson, and Jay Eager.
Seb Morris returns for his first match since the 14th round.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine is chasing its sixth victory of the season.
The Magpies played well last Saturday, but could not halt Eaglehawk kicking clear in the final term to win by 29 points.
Players to watch for Castlemaine include former Richmond forward Jacob Bauer, and skilful on-baller Dylan Landt who has starred for St Mary’s in the Northern Territory Football League.
The Magpies also have former AFL player Michael Hartley, Jaise Coleman, John Watson, Riley Pedretti, Darby Semmens, and Harrison Sheahan in their line-up.
Eaglehawk has the bye
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after 16 rounds:
Sandhurst 193 per cent, 48 points; Strathfieldsaye 164, 44; Gisborne 192, 40; Eaglehawk 159, 40; South Bendigo 148, 40; Castlemaine 105, 20; Golden Square 94, 12; Kangaroo Flat 59, 12; Broadford 10, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
67 Pat McKenna, Gis.
60 James Schischka, S’saye.
53 Brock Harvey, SB.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Ben Thompson, Eh.
25 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
21 Brody Haddow, SB; Nick Thompson, Eh.
20 Jacquin Mifsud, Eh; Oliver Morris, Sh.
19 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Jack McMahon, GS; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
18 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Nick Lang, KF; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Tom Strauch, GS; Oscar White, Eh.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zach Charles, S’saye.
15 James Gray, Gis.; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
In the netball action…….SANDHURST will turn up the heat when it plays Gisborne in this Saturday’s 17th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Two of the league’s greatest rivals will be keen to play well as they will meet in the qualifying final.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst has home-court advantage at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street when match of the day starts at 2.30pm.
When these teams met in round eight it was the Dragons who won 44-40 on Gisborne’s court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
Sandhurst dominated last Saturday’s play at Strathfieldsaye’s at Triple M Park to win by 66 goals.
It was 88-26 at the final siren of the Storm and Dragons clash.
Gisborne poured in 75 goals against Broadford at Gardiner Reserve.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne put in a strong defensive performance to keep the Kangaroos to a tally of 11 goals.
Round 17 on Saturday begins with a 2pm showdown between Broadford and Castlemaine at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Kangaroos played well to finish within 14 goals of the Magpies at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve in round eight.
Being on its court will lift Broadford’s hopes of a breakthrough victory.
The Vanessa Saunders-coached Castlemaine will be determined not to be part of an historic win by the Kangaroos.
Another mob of Kangaroos in Kangaroo Flat will be on its court at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park to take on South Bendigo.
The clash between first and fourth also features sibling rival as Kangaroos’ coach Jayden Cowling pits his skill against a South Bendigo team coached by his older sister, Lauren Bowles.
In round eight the Kangaroos marked one of their best performances of the season in 81-48 result on the Bloods’ court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
As the Roos had the bye last round the Bloods won the Fluoro For Neuro match against Golden Square at Harry Trott Oval by five goals.
A top contest between the red and white against the blue and gold ended in a 65-60 win for the hosts.
First pass in the Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye match at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street will be at 3.20pm.
It’s a must-win match for Strathfieldsaye to keep finals hopes alive.
In round eight the Jess Mangan-coached Storm won 55-47 at Triple M Park.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square will have gained a lot of confidence from the Bendigo Health Round match played against South Bendigo last Saturday.
Fifth in the premiership race, Eaglehawk has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition after 16 rounds:
Kangaroo Flat 201 per cent, 56 points; Sandhurst 173, 48; Gisborne 186, 44; South Bendigo 126, 36; Eaglehawk 101, 28; Strathfieldsaye 87, 24; Golden Square 93, 16; Castlemaine 43, 4; Broadford 27, 0.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after 16 rounds:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 151 per cent, 48 points; Kangaroo Flat 153, 42; Gisborne 140, 32; Sandhurst 107, 28; Eaglehawk 97, 26; Strathfieldsaye 74, 12; Castlemaine 60, 8; Golden Square 63, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 222 per cent, 56 points; South Bendigo 135, 48; Strathfieldsaye 125, 44; Kangaroo Flat 129, 38; Sandhurst 115, 28; Golden Square 86, 20; Eaglehawk 86, 14; Broadford 55, 8; Castlemaine 42, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 180 per cent, 52 points; South Bendigo 150, 48; Gisborne 182, 46; Strathfieldsaye 130, 38; Sandhurst 120, 32; Eaglehawk 90, 20; Golden Square 96, 16; Castlemaine 52, 4; Broadford 22, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 184 per cent, 48 points; Golden Square 175, 44; Strathfieldsaye 166, 44; Kangaroo Flat 119, 30; Eaglehawk 96, 30; Gisborne 123, 28; South Bendigo 96, 24; Castlemaine 48, 4; Broadford 25, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 310 per cent, 44 points; Golden Square 197, 36; South Bendigo 95, 28; Eaglehawk 86, 24; Strathfieldsaye 84, 12; Kangaroo Flat 56, 8; Castlemaine 36, 0.