MARONG will be aiming to end its time in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL by winning a fifth consecutive senior footy grand final this Saturday.
From next season the Panthers will be playing in the Bendigo FNL.
Standing in the Panthers way of more September glory is Bridgewater which is aiming to capture the flag for a 26th time.
The showdown between the Panthers and Mean Machine starts at 2.30pm at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Key inclusions for the Marong team which won the preliminary final against Pyramid Hill by 51 points are leading goalkicker Cooper Hale, and ruckman/forward Michael Bradbury as Lachlan Frankel and Oliver Macartney make way.
Massive ‘in’ for Bridgewater is the silky-skilled Andy Collins who was premiership-winning coach in 2014 and ’15 and a Harding medallist.
Harry Symons is out of the team which won the second semi-final.
It’s been a tougher journey for the James Flahery-coached Marong to this grand final as the Panthers had to bounce back from an 81-69 loss to Pyramid Hill in the qualifying final.
The Panthers then fought for a 66-56 win against Inglewood in the first semi.
On the previous day the Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater won a thrilling second semi-final against Pyramid Hill by two points.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between Bridgewater and Marong.
The Panthers won 117-96 on their turf at Jackal Oval in Malone Park in round four.
Return match at Bridgewater ended in a 106-66 victory for the Mean Machine.
A powerful attack for Bridgewater is led by Lachie Sharp who has kicked a league record 154 goals in 18 matches.
Oscar McKinley has kicked 66 in 12 matches, and Mitch Patten has slotted 29 in 10 games.
Others to have an impact in the forward 50m arc include Nic Naughton, 20 goals; Harding medallist Luke Ellings, and Tyler Estrada.
The Marong attack is led by Cooper Hale, 53 goals; Shaun Knott and Ryley Taylor, 32; Michael Bradbury, 24; Noah McCaig, 21; Lachlan Lee, 18; Ray McNamara, 17; and Brad Matthews, 16.
Best for Bridgewater in the second semi-final win were Lachie Sharp, Joseph Mayes, Luke Ellings, Ben Derrick, Jack Merrin and Jack Neylon.
The Mean Machine has the experience and skill of Tom Broadbent, Harry Conway, Jacob Ellings, Josh Martyn, Jack Symons, and Darcy Wood.
Marong has plenty of premiership-winning experience
A year ago Michael Bradbury, Nathan Devanny, Jacob Ede, Corey Gregg, Jai Gretgrix, Jimmy Gadsden, Brodie Hartland, David Johnstone, Shaun Knott, Lachlan Lee, Jack and Noah McCaig, Tyley Taylor, Richard Tibbett and Matt Willox teamed up to beat Bridgewater in the grand final.
Those players will be aiming to repeat the feat.
In the reserves competition the unbeaten Bridgewater takes on Inglewood from 12.30pm.
When these clubs met in round three it was Bridgewater which fought on for a 51-41 victory at home.
The Mean Machine dominated the round 12 showdown at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval to win by 76 points.
Inglewood kicked off the finals series by winning the qualifying final against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles on the Blues’ ground by 35 points.
A week later and the Blues faced Bridgewater in the second semi-final.
Bridgewater marked a 70-50 victory at Calivil as Joel Green, Oliver Muggleton and Toby Naughton kicked two goals each.
Best for the Mean Machine were Tyson Taylor, Charlton Hindle, James Naughton, Joel Green, Jeremy Campbell and Toby Naughton.
Inglewood hit back to win the preliminary final against Newbridge at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo by three goals.
Deklen Gorrie and Callum March led the attack on two goals each.
Best for the Blues were Deklen Gorrie, Callum March, Andrew Bennett, Sam Gorrie, Jayden Leach and Jack Nevins.
Grand final action kicks off at 10.30am when Maiden Gully YCW Eagles face Bridgewater in the under-18s match.
A 15-1 record across the home-and-away series has earnt the Eagles the title as premiership favourite.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles marked a 49-31 win on their turf at Marist College Bendigo against Bridgewater in round four.
Just two weeks later they clashed at Bridgewater where the Eagles won a top contest, 64-56.
In the 15th round it was Maiden Gully YCW which beat the Mean Machine by 22 points at Marist College Bendigo.
The Eagles were first to the grand final as they marked a 63-30 win against Bridgewater in the second semi-final at Calivil.
Goalkicking accuracy was a highlight was the Eagles scored 10.3.
Liam Budge, Lincoln Hancock and Steven Neervoort slotted two goals each.
Best for the Eagles were Zac Turner, Harry Carter, Tahlan Brook, Slater Piazza, Jack Ladner and Preston Risicato.
Bridgewater’s best were Dylan Goddard, Tate Woodhatch and William Lacy.
The Mean Machine motored to an 88-14 victory against Marong in last Saturday’s preliminary final at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
Will Smith and Logan Moss kicked four and three goals.
Best for Bridgewater were Ollie Clapp, Logan Moss, Campbell Fraser, Darcy Cullen, Tom Harrison and Toby Waters.
Bridgewater’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 136-36 v Newbridge at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Rd 2: 88-64 v Pyramid Hill at Mitchell Park, Pyramid Hill.
Rd 3: 98-71 v Inglewood, home.
Rd 4: 116-65 v Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Rd 5: 96-117 v Marong at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 6: 138-51 v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, home.
Rd 7: 127-55 v Mitiamo at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo.
Rd 8: 94-18 v Calivil United, home.
Rd 9: 90-93 v Macorna at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Rd 10: 95-76 v Newbridge at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval, Newbridge.
Rd 11: 134-44 v Pyramid Hill, home.
Rd 12: 171-54 v Inglewood at Centre State Scaffolding Oval, Inglewood.
Rd 13: 140-40 v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, home.
Rd 14: 106-66 v Marong, home.
Rd 15: 202-33 v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Marist College, Bendigo.
Rd 16: 271-38 v Mitiamo, home.
Rd 17: 231-24 v Calivil United at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Rd 18: 213-30 v Macorna, home.
Second semi-final: 113-111 v Pyramid Hill at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Marong’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 80-55 v Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 2: 122-35 v Inglewood at Centre State Scaffolding Oval, Inglewood.
Rd 3: 137-17 v Calivil at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Rd 4: 37-84 v Pyramid Hill, home.
Rd 5: 117-96 v Bridgewater, home.
Rd 6: 115-64 v Macorna at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Rd 7: 119-70 v Newbridge, home.
Rd 8: 89-32 v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Marist College, Bendigo.
Rd 9: 91-48 v Mitiamo, home.
Rd 10: 94-84 v Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Rd 11: 124-66 v Inglewood, home.
Rd 12: 157-66 v Calivil United, home.
Rd 13: 78-46 v Pyramid Hill at Mitchell Park, Pyramid Hill.
Rd 14: 66-106 v Bridgewater at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Rd 15: 147-68 v Macorna, home.
Rd 16: 143-52 v Newbridge at Deepcore Drilling Oval, Riverside Park.
Rd 17: 132-45 v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, home.
Rd 18: 185-19 v Mitiamo at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo.
Qualifying final: 69-81 v Pyramid Hill at Centre State Scaffolding Oval, Inglewood.
First semi-final: 66-56 v Inglewood at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Preliminary final: 86-35 v Pyramid Hill at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve:
Under-18s at 10.30am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Bridgewater.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Bridgewater v Inglewood.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Bridgewater v Marong.