MAIDEN Gully YCW Eagles soared into the senior footy finals as Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp set a goalkicking record in Saturday’s finale to the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL home-and-away series.
The Eagles scored a 14-goal win on their home turf at Marist College Oval against Calivil United, but also needed Bridgewater to win by significant margin to dislodge Macorna from the fifth rung.
The Maiden Gully YCW line-up broke clear of the Demons in the second quarter.
After scoring just one goal in the opening term the Eagles slammed on seven in the second.
By half-time Maiden Gully YCW led 52-15.
Inspired by the play of Tye Bedford, Mitch Whitham and Isaac Neretlis the Eagles scored six goals in the third quarter and five in the last.
At the final siren the Eagles were up 127-43.
Tye Bedford booted four goals for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles as Jaidyn Berry kicked three goals and Ed Crisp, Lincoln Hancock and Josh Worsley chipped in with two each.
The Demons’ attack was led by Henry McCarthy on three goals.
Best for the Eagles included Mitch Hill, Lachlan Burns and Daniel Russell.
Henry McCarthy, Corey Walters, Rhys Lourie, Liam Stephens, Sam Green and Jack Maher were best for the Sam Maher-coached Calivil United.
An Eagles’ team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, will now tackle Inglewood in Sunday’s elimination final at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
A 10-goal haul by Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp in the clash with Macorna set a league goalkicking record of 148 goals.
Sharp surpassed the mark of 143 set by Marong’s Brandyn Grenfell in the 2022 season.
In the past four rounds Sharp had racked up goalkicking tallies of 12, 25, 13 and 10 goals.
Bridgewater warmed up for the finals by scoring a 30-goal win against Macorna in last Saturday’s home game.
The Mean Machine slammed on 10 goals in the first quarter and added seven in the second as the Tigers were kept goalless in the first half.
By three quarter-time Bridgewater led 169-10.
As the ladder-leaders added seven goals in the last the Fergus Payne-coached Tigers kept working hard to score three goals.
When the siren sounded it was Bridgewater which led 213-30.
Sharp led the attack on 10 majors as Oscar McKinley and Mitch Patten were also in superb form as they both slotted nine goals.
Other multiple goalkickers were Luke Ellings and Nic Naughton with two each.
Hunter Anset, Ryan Dee, Spiros Sklavenitis and Josh Whittle were on target for Macorna.
Bridgewater’s best were Mitch Patten, Lachie Sharp, Oscar McKinley, Joseph Mayes, Harry Conway and Luke Ellings.
Best for the Tigers were Josh Whittle, Matt Colak, Laing and Sam Whinfield, John Officer and Broden Wishart.
Bridgewater has earnt a week’s rest and will meet Marong or Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final on August 30 at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Was a tough afternoon for Macorna’s players and fans, but there were so many positives in the club’s first season in the Loddon Valley.
The Tigers ended the season with a win-loss tally of nine-nine and sixth placing.
Inglewood warmed up for the finals by scoring a 43-point victory against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
A closely-fought first half ended with Inglewood in front, 35-25.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues then scored six goals in the third quarter and worked hard to limit the Bears to just two majors.
Both teams added two goals each in the last as Inglewood marked a 92-49 victory.
Daniel Godden, Liam Marciano and Riley Murphy kicked two goals for the Blues.
The Bears’ attack was led by Luke Crawford on two goals.
Inglewood’s best were Lachlan Ford, Charlie Aitken, Riley Murphy, Will Allen, Liam Marciano and Bregon Cotchett.
Best for the Bears were Tanner Rayner, Callum Draper, Nathan Twigg, Tyler Miles, Zach Stone and Xavier Cain.
Inglewood will tackle Maiden Gully YCW in Sunday’s elimination final.
It was a Jake Wilkinson’s final match as coach of the Bears who ended the season in eighth place on a 5-13 record.
Qualifying finalists Marong and Pyramid Hill had comfortable wins in their round 18 showdowns.
The Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill dominated after quarter-time to beat Newbridge by 15 goals on the Bulldogs’ ground at Mitchell Park.
At the first break Pyramid Hill led 26-15.
The Bulldogs scored four goals in the second and third quarters.
By the last change Pyramid Hill led by 55 points.
The team in red, white and blue then scored six goals in the last for a 121-29 result.
An 11-goal haul by gun forward Jhye Baddeley-Kelly earnt best-on-ground honours.
Other multiple goalkickers for Pyramid Hill were Harrison Goodes and Will Quinlivan with two each.
Brodie Carr, Kyan Dooley and Zebb Murrell were on target for Newbridge.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Will Quinlivan, Tom Downie, Zach Alford, Ryan McGhie and Gavin James.
Zebb Murrell, Declan Campbell, Will Copland, Kobe Friswell, coach Jayden Cordy and Brodie Carr were Newbridge’s best.
The Bulldogs will tackle Marong in Saturday’s qualifying final in Inglewood.
The Maroons end the season with a 6-12 record and seventh placing.
Marong won at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval by 166 points.
The Panthers charged to a 50-1 lead by quarter-time and led by 75 points at the long break.
A 10-goal third quarter by Marong was followed by five in the last to cap a 185-19 victory.
Cooper Hale and Lachlan Lee led the Panthers’ attack on five goals each as Brodie Hartland, Shaun Knott and Jack McCaig kicked three each.
Marong also had Cooper Murphy and Ryley Taylor chip in with two goals each.
Mitiamo’s goals were kicked by Jayden Matthews and Seth Wright.
Best for the Panthers were Cooper Hale, Lachlan Lee, Wil Thomson, Brodie Hartland, Michael Bradbury and Harry Baker.
Mitiamo’s best were coach Luke Lougoon, Daniel Baldwin, Brayden Baines, Ryan Clark, Dylan Marshman and Zach Morrison.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong will face Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s qualifying final at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder after 18 rounds:
Bridgewater 261 per cent, 64 points; Marong 193, 64; Pyramid Hill 167, 60; Inglewood 132, 44; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 93, 36; Macorna 84, 36; Newbridge 70, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 77, 20; Calivil United 43, 8; Mitiamo 41, 4.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval:
Under-18s: Bridgewater v Marong.
Reserves: Inglewood v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Seniors: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park:
Under-18s: Newbridge v Inglewood.
Reserves: Newbridge v Marong.
Seniors: Inglewood v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
148 Lachie Sharp, B.
119 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
60 Oscar McKinley, B.
53 Cooper Hale, Mar.
47 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
37 Mischa Fraillon, I; Henry McCarthy, CU.
36 Farran Priest, BLS.
28 Mitch Patten, B’water.
27 Shaun Knott, Mar.
26 Tye Bedford, MGYCW; Ryley Taylor, Mar.
25 Seb Erharter, Mac.
22 Brodie Carr, New.; Bregon Cotchett, I; Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Caleb Sanders, N.
21 Zach Alford, PH; Seth Wright, Miti.
20 Noah McCaig, Mar.; Angus Monfries, MGYCW.
In the netball action…….Pyramid Hill claims elimination final berth
A FOUR-GOAL victory by Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s 18th round in A-grade netball clinched a berth in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL elimination final.
Runner-up last season, Pyramid Hill stayed in the premiership race in a hard-fought win against Newbridge.
The Bulldogs teamed superbly on their court at Mitchell Park to beat the Maroons by four goals.
At the final siren, Pyramid Hill led 48-44.
A Bulldogs’ team coached by Pyramid Hill: Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney will now meet Inglewood in next Sunday’s elimination final at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Hayley Mariniello-coached Newbridge will face Bridgewater in Saturday’s qualifying final at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
As Pyramid Hill climbed to the fifth rung, Marong slid to the sixth after the Panthers played on Mitiamo’s court at John Forbes Oval.
The Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton-coached Panthers faced a huge challenge against the unbeaten Superoos who are chasing a premiership hat-trick.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo won 65-41 in what became Marong’s final hit-out of the season.
Inglewood capped a meteoric rise to the finals when it scored a 59-24 victory against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Blues warmed up for the elimination final with an impressive performance against the Erin Varker-coached Bears.
Bridgewater dominated its home game against Macorna.
The Lou Dupuy and Carly Wild-coached Mean Machine warmed up for the qualifying final by scoring a 78-19 win.
Was another tough match for the Brooke Allison-coached Tigers against a top-three team.
Although it was a winless season there were many encouraging signs from the young Macorna line-up.
It was a high-scoring contest between Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Calivil United at the Maiden Gully-based Marist College Oval.
Pride for both teams was at stake at the home of the Eagles.
A top contest ended in a 56-53 win for a Calivil United team coached by Annie Blow and Alex Ingram.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles end the season with three wins and eighth place.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition after 18 rounds:
Mitiamo 192 per cent, 72 points; Bridgewater 154, 52; Newbridge 123, 52; Inglewood 105, 46; Pyramid Hill 113, 44; Marong 107, 42; Calivil United 86, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 62, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 59, 12; Macorna 51, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball, round 18 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Pyramid Hill 31 lt Newbridge 56, Mitiamo 36 lt Marong 60, Maiden Gully YCW 58 d Calivil United 38, Bridgewater 86 d Macorna 27, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 23 lt Inglewood 56.
B-grade:
Pyramid Hill 24 lt Newbridge 70, Mitiamo 25 lt Marong 77, Maiden Gully YCW 54 d Calivil United 50, Bridgewater 77 d Macorna 28, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 39 lt Inglewood 42.
B-reserve:
Pyramid Hill 27 lt Newbridge 42, Mitiamo 54 d Marong 39, Maiden Gully YCW 41 d Calivil United 35, Bridgewater 70 d Macorna 9, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 19 lt Inglewood 51.
17-and-under:
Pyramid Hill 56 d Newbridge 20, Mitiamo 38 lt Marong 40, Maiden Gully YCW 44 lt Calivil United 66, Bridgewater 52 d Macorna 28, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine forfeit to Inglewood.
15-and-under:
Pyramid Hill 12 lt Newbridge 75, Mitiamo 21 lt Marong 77, Maiden Gully YCW 23 lt Calivil United 81, Bridgewater 55 d Macorna 17, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 19 lt Inglewood 27.
13-and-under:
Pyramid Hill 6 lt Newbridge 29, Mitiamo 42 d Marong 31, Maiden Gully YCW 28 lt Calivil United 43, Bridgewater 34 d Macorna 4, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 9 lt Inglewood 41.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after 18 rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 215 per cent, 72 points; Newbridge 157, 60; Marong 151, 58; Calivil United 102, 42; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 110, 38; Pyramid Hill 107, 38; Mitiamo 78, 20; Inglewood 80, 16; Macorna 49, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 34, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 263 per cent, 72 points; Bridgewater 159, 64; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 108, 48; Marong 111, 42; Calivil United 105, 40; Inglewood 99, 40; Pyramid Hill 83, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 77, 18; Macorna 70, 16; Mitiamo 36, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 185 per cent, 66 points; Calivil United 125, 54; Inglewood 123, 50; Newbridge 132, 48; Mitiamo 122, 44; Marong 124, 40; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 93, 30; Pyramid Hill 96, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 50, 8; Macorna 28, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 301 per cent, 72 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 156, 60; Mitiamo 128, 48; Pyramid Hill 112, 44; Bridgewater 106, 44; Marong 108, 40; Macorna 53, 20; Newbridge 37, 16; Inglewood 35, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 407 per cent, 72 points; Calivil United 507, 64; Marong 250, 56; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 144, 44; Bridgewater 90, 44; Pyramid Hill 42, 24; Mitiamo 40, 20; Inglewood 38, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 25, 12; Macorna 31, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 770 per cent, 72 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 320, 64; Mitiamo 163, 56; Newbridge 146, 48; Marong 102, 36; Bridgewater 84, 36; Inglewood 46, 20; Pyramid Hill 37, 20; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 8; Macorna 13, 0.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval:
13-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Mitiamo.
15-and-under: Calivil United v Marong.
17-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Mitiamo.
B-grade: Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
B-reserve: Calivil United v Inglewood.
A-reserve: Newbridge v Marong.
A-grade: Bridgewater v Newbridge.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park:
13-and-under: Newbridge v Marong.
15-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Bridgewater.
17-and-under: Pyramid Hill v Bridgewater.
B-grade: Marong v Calivil United.
B-reserve: Newbridge v Mitiamo.
A-reserve: Calivil United v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
A-grade: Inglewood v Pyramid Hill.