GUN forwards Lachlan Sharp and Josh Mellington were in hot form in Saturday’s 18th round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
There were some high scores marked across Community Bank Inglewood and Districts Round.
Sharp kicked his 100th goal of the season in the early minutes of Bridgewater’s clash at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The Sharp-shooter finished with 11 goals in a 204-56 victory.
In his first season as coach and second at Bridgewater, Sharp has passed the 100-goal mark both years.
A Michelsen medallist when at Strathfieldsaye, Sharp also passed 100 goals in two seasons with Storm and is a multiple Ron Best medallist.
On Saturday it was Sharp and Oscar McKinley who dominated on Bridgewater’s dominance on Mitiamo’s turf.
As Sharp kicked 11 goals, McKinley added 10 in a final score of 32.12.
Other multiple goalkickers for Bridgewater were Boden Alexander, three; and Nic Naughton, two.
Mitiamo’s attack was led by Brayden Baines, Kobe Galvin and Alex Lloyd on two each.
Best for the Mean Machine were Ben Derrick, Luke Ellings, Oscar McKinley, Lachie Sharp, Darcy Ferguson and Jack Milligan.
Mitiamo’s best were Zach Morrison, Matt Gilmour, Seth Wright, coach Luke Lougoon, Anthony Huismann and Alex Lloyd.
Seventh placing and a 3-13 record was a dramatic improvement on Mitiamo’s run in ’24.
A 13-goal haul by Josh Mellington was an ominous sign as Bears-Lagoon Serpentine warmed up for the finals.
Mellington capped off the Bears dominance on Calivil United’s turf.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears raced to a 44-6 lead by quarter-time and did not let up.
BLS led 75-14 by the long break and then slammed on nine goals in the third quarter.
Mellington took his season tally to 92 in 11 matches as the Bears kicked on for a 156-17 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bears were captain Charlie Gadsden, Miggy Podosky and Nathan Twigg on two.
Calivil United’s goalkickers were Anthony Dennis and Henry McCarthy.
Best for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine were Josh Mellington, Tyler Miles, Nathan Twigg, James Bailey, Ross Turner and Harry Gadsden.
Jack Maher, Henry McCarthy, Sam Green, Anthony Dennis, Jayden Leach and Tom Wakefield were best for the Sam Maher-coached Demons.
Pyramid Hill marked a 93-point victory on its turf at Mitchell Park against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
It was a memorable day for Gavin James as he contested his 300th senior match for Pyramid Hill.
An evenly-fought first quarter ended with Pyramid Hill in front, 22-18.
The Bulldogs dominated most of the second term to score 8.4 as the Eagles replied with 4.2.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill added 9.13 across the final hour and kept the Eagles to just four points.
At the final siren Pyramid Hill led 141-48.
Gun recruit Ben Bisset kicked six goals as Harrison Goodes and Ryan Semmel booted five and two majors.
For the Eagles it was Tyler James who took some strong marks and finished with five goals.
Best for Pyramid Hill were athletic ruckman Kai Daniels, Bailey George, Harrison Goodes, Archie Hildebrandt, Ryan Semmel and Ben Bisset.
Anthony Robins, Daniel Russell, Stacy Fiske, Tyler James, Mitch Hill and Lachie Sobina were best for the Eagles.
A Maiden Gully YCW team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, ends the season in sixth place on a win-loss tally of 5-10 and a draw.
After leading by just 10 points at quarter-time, Marong broke clear to claim a 140-point win at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Oval.
Marong led 30-20 at quarter-time of the showdown with the Maroons and then won the second term, 44-13.
Term three was to be Marong’s best as it slammed on 8.3 and kept Newbridge scoreless.
It was more of the same in the last as the Panthers kicked seven goals and Newbridge did not score.
At the final siren the Panthers led 173-33.
Best known for his ruckwork, Michael Bradbury spent a lot of time in attack and kicked eight goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Other multiple goalkickers for Marong were Jack McCaig and co-coach Kain Robins, three; David Johnstone, Kyle Manley and Ray McNamara, two.
Billy Schilling booted three goals for Newbridge as Tyler Constable added two.
Best for a Marong team which has Paul Thomson as non-playing co-coach were Michael Bradbury, Lachlan Lee, Jacob Ede, David Johnstone, Jack McCaig and Nathan Devanny.
The Panthers end the home-and-away series on top of the ladder for the fourth year in a row.
Newbridge’s best were Andrew Willett, Will Copland, Caleb Argus, Billy Schilling, Caleb Sanders and Corey Van Aken.
The Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge finished eighth on a 3-13 record.
Inglewood had the bye rolling into the elimination final.
Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder after 18 rounds:
Marong 221 per cent, 56 points; Bridgewater 199, 56; Pyramid Hill 185, 48; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 147, 44; Inglewood 131, 36; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 67, 22; Mitiamo 47, 12; Newbridge 43, 12; Calivil United 35, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
109 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
86 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
70 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
59 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
44 Kain Robins, Marong.
42 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
41 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
38 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
35 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
31 Michael Bradbury, Marong.
28 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
28 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
25 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
23 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
22 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
20 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
20 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
20 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
19 Kobe Galvin, Mitiamo.
19 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
18 Boden Alexander, Bridgewater.
18 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
18 Nic Naughton, Bridgewater.
18 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
17 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
17 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
17 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
16 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
15 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Marist College Oval, Maiden Gully:
Seniors at 2.15pm: Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Bridgewater v Inglewood.
Under-18s at 10.40am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Inglewood.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at John Forbes Oval, Mitiamo:
Seniors at 2.15pm: Bears-Lagoon Serpentine v Inglewood.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Pyramid Hill v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Under-18s at 10.40am: East Loddon v Pyramid Hill.