-By Nathan Dole
A DOMINANT first hour of the season set up Bridgewater’s victory against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy action.
The Mean Machine made a brilliant start to lead 34-9 at quarter-time and then slammed on 7.3 as it kept the Bears to a tally of 21 points in the term two.
By the long break the Lachlan Sharp-coached Bridgewater led 79-30.
Quarter three was dominated by the Bears as they added 6.5 and held the Machine to a score of 2.2.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears started the last term within 22 points.
Although BLS won the final term, 13-1, it was Bridgewater which marked a 94-84 victory.
Last season’s leading goalkicker across the Loddon Valley, Sharp finished with a team -high six goals as former Kangaroo Flat midfielder Luke Ellings booted three majors.
The other multiple goalkicker for Bridgewater was Oscar McKinley on two.
Back in action after a serious hamstring injury last season in the ninth round, Josh Mellington kicked eight goals for the Bears.
Best for Bridgewater were Luke Ellings, Alex Powell, Ollie Muggleton, Charlie Clapp, Darcy Ferguson and Darcy Wood.
The Bears’ best were Nathan Twigg, Jaxon Addlem, Josh Mellington, Ross Turner, Josh Taig and Aidan Brohm.
There was plenty to like about Inglewood’s performance at home against reigning premier Marong.
Although the Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood was beaten by seven points the Blues took it right up to the Panthers who kicked off their run at a fourth consecutive premiership.
Ryley Taylor led Marong’s attack on three goals in the 68-61 result as Jacob Ede added two majors.
The Blues’ attack was led by Seb Erharter and Gabe Nevins on three.
Best for a Marong team jointly coached by Kain Robins, playing, and Paul Thomson, non-playing, were Jimmy Gadsden, Richard Tibbett, Matt Willox, David Johnstone, Ben Gregg and Jack McCaig.
Inglewood’s best were Gabe Nevins, Bregon Cotchett, Harry Veitch, Ben Miller, Seb Erharter and Tynan Hywood.
Pyramid Hill won every quarter on its way to a 108-56 win at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs led 45-13 at quarter-time and 63-27 by the long break.
Recruited to Pyramid Hill from Mount Pleasant, Ben Bissett kicked seven goals in a best on ground performance as the red, white and blue won 108-56.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Mitch Langan, three; and Ben Knight, two.
Newbridge’s attack was led by Billy Schilling on three goals.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Ben Bisset, Archie Hildebrandt, ruckman Kai Daniels, Gavin James, Bailey George and Ryan Semmel.
Caleb Sanders, Will Copland, Andrew Willett, Thomas Hobson, Dylan Lloyd and Kobe Friswell played well for the Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge.
It was heritage day at Calivil Recreation Reserve where Calivil United took on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Demons honoured their links to Northern United, a powerful club in the Golden City league across the 60s and 70s, and then Bendigo league in the 80s, by wearing the distinctive maroon and gold guernseys.
Scores were locked on 70-all when the final siren sounded.
The Eagles led 25-14 at quarter-time, but Calivil United hit back to win the second term, 17-7.
By three quarter-time the Demons had opened up a 16-point buffer.
Led by the play of Grayson Brown, Daniel Russell and Mitch Hill, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles fought back strongly.
The Eagles scored 4.6 in the last and kept the Demons to a tally of 2.2.
Both teams were on identical scores of 10.10 (70) when a top contest ended.
Calivil United’s leading goalkicker was Jake Lawry on four as Liam Stephens booted two.
The Eagles’ attack was led by Ed Crisp, four; Todd Delahey, three; and Tyler James, two.
Best for Calivil United were Mitch Stephens, Jake Lawry, Rhys Lourie, Tallis Miles, Will Hamilton and Sam Maher.
Sean Moyle, Ed Crisp and Jayden Magnusson won plenty of the footy for an Eagles team jointly coached by Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries.
Mitiamo had the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Pyramid Hill 192 per cent, 4 points; Bridgewater 148, 4; Marong 111, 4; Calivil United 100, 2; Maiden Gully YCW 100, 2; Inglewood 89, 0; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 67, 0; Newbridge 51, 0; Mitiamo 0, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
8 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
7 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
6 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
4 Ed Crisp, Maiden Gully YCW.
4 Jake Lawry, Calivil United.
3 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW.
3 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
3 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
3 Mitch Langan, Pyramid Hill.
3 Gabe Nevins, Inglewood.
3 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
3 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
2 Jacob Ede, Marong.
2 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW.
2 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
2 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
2 Liam Stephens, Calivil United.
The rematch of last season’s grand finalists, Marong and Pyramid Hill highlights next Saturday’s round two action.
The Panthers and Bulldogs clash at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park from 2.15pm.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles face Bridgewater at Maiden Gully’s Marist College Oval.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine takes on Inglewood at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Mitiamo kicks off its season against Calivil United at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Newbridge has the bye.