BY NATHAN DOLE
Heat rises as finals series kicks off
INTENSITY in every contest rises as the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals action kicks off this weekend at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Qualifying finals will be played on Saturday, and elimination finals on Sunday.
It’s Gisborne against Strathfieldsaye in the seniors qualifying final to be played from 2.20pm.
After missing last season’s finals following the ’22 premiership victory the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne is again a strong challenger for the Bendigo Advertiser cup.
This season’s meetings between the Bulldogs and Storm stand at one-all.
In round four Gisborne marked a 110-82 win against Storm at Gardiner Reserve.
Latest showdown was the 16th round where the Luke Freeman-coached Storm surged to an impressive 92-69 victory on its turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
There are so many match-ups that fans can look forward to.
Gisborne’s on-ball division of ruckman Braidon Blake, Brad Bernacki and Flynn Lakey has played a crucial part in the team’s success.
They are up against Tim Hosking, Daniel Clohesy and Lachlan Gill.
The Bulldogs will be without Jackson Cardillo for this match.
A powerful Gisborne attack led by Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Zac Denany will be opposed by Patrick Blandford, Lachlan Ratcliffe and Ben Lester.
A big season for Gisborne captain and key defender Jack Reaper included leading the Bendigo FNL in the inter-league clash with the Victorian Amateurs.
A tight-knit Bulldogs defence which includes Jed Denahy, Zach Vescovi and Liam Spear has to contend with the marking power of Caleb Ernst, Cooper Jones and Malik Gordon, and skillful Jaidi Jackson-Leahy and Riley Wilson at ground level.
On Sunday it will be Golden Square and Eaglehawk who fight to stay in the cup race when they contest the elimination final.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings.
The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk kicked off ’24 by scoring a 19-point win against Golden Square in round one on the Borough’s turf in Canterbury Park.
Next time around it was the Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs who beat the Two Blues, 59-45 at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Among the key inclusions for Golden Square is on-baller/mid Ricky Monti who did not play in the 17th round before a bye in the final round.
Monti was named on a half-forward flank in an attack that includes Jack Stewart, Jayden Burke and Kai Daniels.
At Eaglehawk, ruckman Brayden Frost after a two-week stint on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury.
The Hawks will be without young ruckman/forward Bailey Ilsley who accepted a one-match ban for rough conduct in last Saturday’s win against South Bendigo.
Key factors in Golden Square’s run have been the play of Tom Toma, Jordan Rosengren, Harrison Burke and Tom Strauch.
Bulldogs’ on-ballers Toma, Rosengren and Macey Eaton are up against Hawks’ stars Billy Evans, Ben Thompson and Billy Evans.
A Golden Square defence led by Jon Coe, Harrison Burke and Zack Shelton takes on Darcy Richards, Jonty Neaves and Cameron McGlashan.
The Hawks also have Jack O’Shannessy and Kallen Geary capable of kicking or setting up many goals.
In the Drummond Golf reserves, Sandhurst tackles Golden Square in the qualifying final from 12.15pm.
Their first showdown was in round six where Sandhurst marked a 52-13 victory on Golden Square’s turf on the Ron Best Memorial Shield day.
Golden Square hit back for a 57-37 win against the Dragons on the QEO in the 15th round.
It will be the Dogs or Dragons who meet Gisborne in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it’s Eaglehawk against Strathfieldsaye in the elimination final.
The Hawks soared to a 67-24 win at Strathfieldsaye in round three.
Storm surged to a 63-33 victory at Canterbury Park in the 12th round.
Two breed of Bulldogs will meet in the Sportspower under-18s qualifying final as Golden Square tackles Gisborne from 10.15am.
Golden Square beat Gisborne by 10 and 34 points in the home-and-away series.
The winner meets Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
Castlemaine and Kangaroo Flat will contest the elimination final.
The Kangaroos won the round seven clash by 14 points, but the Bailey Henderson-coached Magpies fought on for a seven-point victory in the 16th round at Camp Reserve.