GOLDEN Square scored an emphatic victory against Strathfieldsaye in Saturday’s ninth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy action.
The Bulldogs had 30 scoring shots and kept Storm to a tally of 22, it’s lowest in many seasons, at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
The Christian Carter-coached Golden Square led 37-nil at quarter-time.
Defensive pressure and ferocity at the contest were features of the Bulldogs’ play.
Ruckman Matthew Compston went on to earn best afield honours as Braydon Vaz, Ryan Hartley and Hamish Morcom starred for the blue and gold.
Inaccuracy was about the only blight on the Bulldogs’ game as they scored 10.20 and held Storm to 3.4.
A great sign for Square was not relying on gun forwards Joel Brett and Jayden Burke to dominate as they have done in many matches this season.
A list of 10 goalkickers included Brett, but not Burke.
Storm’s leading goalkicker was the in-form James Schischka on two.
The Bulldogs’ best included Liam Duguid in defence and the talented Ricky Monti.
On a tough afternoon for the Darryl Wilson and Shannon Geary-coached Storm it was Mitchell Hallinan, Thomas Bennett, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Callum McCarty, Ben Lester and Jake Moorhead who were best.
Eaglehawk tackled the unbeaten Gisborne at Canterbury Park.
The visitors led 18-7 at quarter-time and then slammed on 6.4 to just two points in the second to lead by 49 points at the long break.
Ruckman/forward Braidon Blake continued his superb form by kicking four goals and Matt McDonald also added four as the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne went on to win 14.16 (100) to 5.7 (37).
Sean Williams kicked two goals for the Hawks.
Gisborne’s best were Blake, Liam Spear, Matthew Merrett, Sam Graham, Seb Bell-Bartels and Flynn Lakey.
Billy Evans, Noah Wheeler, Liam Marciano, Brady Rowles, Oscar Madden and Ben Thompson worked hard for the Travis Matheson-coached Borough.
South Bendigo kicked clear of a determined Kangaroo Flat in the final quarter of their clash on the Roos’ ground at Dower Park.
The Bloods led 27-22 at half-time and then added 3.5 to 2.3 in the third term.
Led by the play of Isaiah Miller, Michael Herlihy and coach Nathan Horbury, South Bendigo dominated the final term.
The Bloods slammed on 7.1 to 1.4 to complete a 93-47 victory.
Kaiden Antonowicz was the leading goalkicker on three as Brock Harvey, Will Keck and Jesse Sheahan added two each.
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by Lachy Wilson on two.
Best for the Bloods included captain Zac Hare, Will Keck and Andrew van Heumen.
Ryan O’Keefe, Nicholas Keogh, Nic Lang, Liam Collins, Ethan Roberts and Mitchell Holt were best for the Kangaroos.
Sandhurst dominated the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend clash with Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons led 61-16 at half-time and then scored 10.14 to 1.2 in the final hour to complete a 135-24 victory.
Talented youngster Cobi Maxted kicked five goals for the ‘Hurst as Lachlan Zimmer added four.
Gun on-baller and Michelsen medallist Lee Coghlan was best afield as Zimmer, James Coghlan, Zach Pallpratt, Maxted and Jeremy Rodi played well for the Ash Connick-coached Dragons.
Tommy Horne, Brendan Josey, Jackson Hood and Riley Pedretti were best for the Don Moran-coached Castlemaine.
Kyneton marked a fifth consecutive victory after the Tigers roared to a 118-43 result on Maryborough’s turf at Princes Park.
The Tigers led 11.5 to 0.7 at half-time.
The Rick Andrews-coached Maryborough did lift to score 4.1 to 5.1 in the third quarter.
Rhys Magin went to kick six goals for the yellow and black as Steven Georgiou added four.
At the final siren the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton led 18.10 (118) to 5.13 (43).
Frazer Driscoll’s hot form rolled on as Ben Cameron, Dean Bartrop, Magin, Hamish Yunghanns and Jake Safstrom won many contests.
Best for Maryborough were Coby Perry, Aidan Hare, Liam Murphy, Jayden Hooper, Lucas Hurse and Jake Postle.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 292 per cent, 36 points; Strathfieldsaye 192, 28; Golden Square 236, 24; Kyneton 118, 24; Eaglehawk 114, 20; South Bendigo 101, 20; Sandhurst 133, 16; Kangaroo Flat 51, 8; Castlemaine 33, 4; Maryborough 24, 0.
In next Saturday’s 10th round, Golden Square plays South Bendigo at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Maryborough tackles Kangaroo Flat at Princes Park.
Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye clash on the Borough’s turf at Canterbury Park.
Kyneton faces Castlemaine in Tigerland at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Sandhurst and Gisborne meet at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Leaders in the Ron Best Medal, senior goalkicking race:
45 Joel Brett, GS.
36 Rhys Magin, Kyn.
31 Pat McKenna, Gis.
27 Jayden Burke, GS.
25 Brock Harvey, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; James Schischka, S’saye.
23 Josh Kemp, Gis.; Cameron Manuel, Kyn.
20 Lachlan Sharp, S’saye.
18 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Joel Wharton, Sh.
17 Darcy Richards, Eh; Braydon Vaz, GS.
16 Matthew Merrett, Gis.
15 Chris Freeman, Mb; Liam Marciano, Eh; Lachy Wilson, KF.
Written by Nathan Dole.