-By Nathan Dole
THE showdown between top teams Marong and Bridgewater highlights Saturday’s fourth round of senior footy across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL.
Bridgwater will be on home turf against Marong when the showdown starts at 2.15pm.
The Mean Machine and Panthers will be aiming to build on their hat-trick of victories.
Bridgewater coach Lachlan Sharp has made another brilliant start to the season and leads the goalkicking race on 20.
The Mean Machine worked hard to achieve an 85-78 win at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval last round.
Recruited from Kangaroo Flat and a premiership player with Gisborne, Luke Ellings has starred for Bridgewater.
Other key players for the Mean Machine include co-captains Josh Martyn and Harry McKinley, Boden Alexander, Jack Neylon, Alex Powell, Xavier Walsh and Oliver Watt.
Bridgewater is up against a Marong line-up chasing a fourth consecutive premiership.
It’s a new-look coaching team of Kain Robins, playing, and Paul Thomson, non-playing, which has the Panthers firing so far.
Marong’s best in a 115-point win at Calivil last Saturday were Panthers Lachlan Lee, Jai Gretgrix, Jack McCaig and Ryley Taylor.
The Panthers also have the experience of Richard Tibbett, Ben Gregg, Shannon Geary, captain Nathan Devanny, ruckman Michael Bradbury, and Matt Willox.
Another big match will be at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve where Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Pyramid Hill.
The Bears had a one-one record rolling into the bye last round.
Best for the Jake Moorhead-coached Bears in a 10-point victory against Inglewood in round two were Farran Priest, Callum Draper, Andy Gladman and Nathan Twigg.
The Bears’ squad includes captain Charlie Gadsden, Harding medallist Justin Laird, Jaxon Addlem, and the experienced Tyler Miles and Ross Turner.
Pyramid Hill scored a 98-point win against Mitiamo on the Bulldogs’ ground at Mitchell Park last Saturday.
The older brother of basketball stars Dyson and Dash Daniels, Kai Daniels was best afield in Pyramid Hill’s latest victory.
The athletic ruckman teamed brilliantly with the Hill’s on-ballers.
A formidable Bulldogs squad coached by Nathan Fitzpatrick includes gun forward Ben Bisset, Bailey George, captain Steven Gunther, Archie Hildebrandt, Ryan Semmel and Seb Relouw.
Newbridge and Inglewood clash at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Oval.
The Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge was beaten in the Anzac Day match on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ turf at Marist College by four goals.
The Maroons face an opponent which is winless, but defeats have been by margins of seven, 10 and seven points.
Newbridge will need big games from the likes of ruckman Will Copland, Jed Zimmer, former coach Sam Gale, Caleb Sanders, Tyler Constable and Billy Schilling to beat the Blues.
Recruited from Sandhurst, Oscar Perez will play his first match for the Maroons.
The talented Ben McKinley is also in for his first match of ’25, but Caleb Argus who was Newbridge’s best last round is out.
An Inglewood team coached by Fergus Payne has Seb Erharter and Kai Cavallaro leading the attack.
The Blues have Thomas Kennedy in the ruck, captain Nathan Angelino, Keelan Payne and Cody Stobaus in defence, Bregon Cotchett and Thomas Guerrra in midfield, and the skilful Liam Marciano.
Mitiamo and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles meet on the Superoos’ ground at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The Luke Lougoon-coached Superoos will be keen to bounce back after a big loss at Pyramid Hill.
Key players for Mitiamo include Doug Thomas in the centre, co-captains Ryan Duncan and Liam Shiell, Zach Morrison, Jayden Matthews and Cody Tuohey.
The Eagles made a strong start in the wet conditions on Anzac Day against Newbridge.
The Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, coached Eagles led 24-1 by quarter-time and held a 24-point lead at the final siren.
Best in the Eagles first win of the season were Josiah Farrer, Grayson Brown, Lewis Pigdon and Mitch Whitham.
Maiden Gully YCW has Todd Delahey and Leo Bosley as key targets in attack, Daniel Russell in the ruck, Josh Worsley as ruck-rover, and Angus Monfries, Adam Pollock and Bryce Franzini teaming up across the half-back line.
Calivil United has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 206 per cent, 12 points; Bridgewater 141, 12; Pyramid Hill 154, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 89, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 84, 4; Mitiamo 54, 4; Calivil United 55, 2; Inglewood 90, 0; Newbridge 53, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
20 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
13 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
12 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
11 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
8 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
6 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
5 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
5 Luke Crawford, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
5 Jacob Ede, Marong.
5 Mitch Langan, Pyramid Hill.
5 Kain Robins, Marong.
5 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
5 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
5 Matt Willox, Marong.