THE showdown between A-grade ladder leaders Mitiamo and Inglewood highlights this Saturday’s fifth round of netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
Mitiamo has home-court advantage at John Forbes Oval when it plays the Blues from 3pm.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos are unbeaten in their quest for back-to-back premierships.
Mitiamo’s start to this season began with a 43-goal win against Calivil United and then a 39-goal victory at Macorna.
In round three the Superoos dominated their home game with Newbridge to win by 38 goals.
The Superoos won 72-33 in last Saturday’s match with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Marist College.
It’s been an incredible rise from Inglewood to be second on the ladder.
After winless seasons in ’24 and ’25, Inglewood stunned Pyramid Hill in the opening round at Centre State Scaffolding Oval to win by four goals.
A week later and the Dani O’Toole-coached Blues beat Marong by 10 goals.
A run at a winning hat-trick was thwarted by Bridgewater when the Mean Machine won its home game with the Blues by 33 goals.
Inglewood made it a three-one tally as it beat Macorna by 30 goals last Saturday in the home of the Blues.
Massive test for Inglewood against the reigning premier on its court.
Another big match will be at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park where the Panthers take on Bridgewater from 3pm.
It’s third against fourth.
The Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton-coached Marong won last Saturday’s home game against Pyramid Hill by four goals.
Bridgewater’s mid-court and attack was in top form as the Mean Machine won its clash with Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve by 50 goals.
Was a strong defensive effort by the Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Bridgewater to restrict the Bears to a tally of 19 goals.
Calivil United takes on Pyramid Hill at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
The Demons will have gained plenty of confidence from a 49-46 win on Newbridge’s court at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Park last round.
The Annie Blow and Alex Ingram-coached Calivil United rolls into this round in seventh place, but locked on eight premiership points with Bridgewater, Pyramid Hill and Newbridge.
Pyramid Hill will be determined to bounce back from a four-goal loss at Marong.
It’s been win, loss, win, loss in this season’s run for the Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine is back home to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Erin Varker-coached Bears have a one-three record, but played well finish within five goals of Marong, and two goals of Calivil United.
Maiden Gully YCW has an identical win-loss record to BLS of one-three.
Was a tough hit-out for the Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles against Mitiamo last round.
Macorna’s back at home to take on Newbridge.
Will be a tough test for the Brooke Allison-coached Tigers against an opponent smarting from a three-goal loss to Calivil United.
The Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge is sixth on a two-two record.
The Maroons won their opening round clash at Bridgewater by two goals and then beat the Eagles by 22 goals.
In the past two rounds Newbridge was outpointed by Mitiamo and then the Demons.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 218 per cent, 16 points; Inglewood 105.8, 12; Marong 105.5, 12; Bridgewater 153, 8; Pyramid Hill 108, 8; Newbridge 91, 8; Calivil United 77, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 78, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 63, 4; Macorna 53, 0.
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 232 per cent, 16 points; Marong 194, 14; Newbridge 129, 12; Calivil United 121, 10; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 79, 6; Pyramid Hill 73, 6; Mitiamo 76, 4; Inglewood 61, 4; Macorna 58, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 288 per cent, 16 points; Bridgewater 122, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 111, 12; Inglewood 110, 12; Marong 103, 10; Macorna 104, 8; Calivil United 92, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 74, 2; Pyramid Hill 80, 0; Mitiamo 33, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 214 per cent, 16 points;
Newbridge 125, 12;
Inglewood 122, 12;
Calivil United 113, 12;
Marong 119, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 106, 8; Mitiamo 79, 4; Pyramid Hill 71, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 63, 4; Macorna 45, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 460 per cent, 16 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 212, 16; Bridgewater 209, 12; Pyramid Hill 140, 12; Mitiamo 96, 8; Marong 56, 8; Inglewood 62, 4; Macorna 48, 4; Newbridge 22, 0.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 325 per cent, 16 points; Calivil United 345, 12; Marong 296, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 270, 12; Bridgewater 154, 12; Inglewood 59, 8; Macorna 63, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 15, 4; Pyramid Hill 25, 0.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 788 per cent, 16 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 427, 16; Bridgewater 150, 12; Marong 123, 12; Inglewood 163, 8; Mitiamo 110, 8; Newbridge 68, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 16, 4; Pyramid Hill 18, 0.
In the football action………the ladder-leading Bridgewater and Marong meet in this Saturday’s fifth round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy season.
Marong’s back on home turf at Jackal Oval in Malone Park for a 2.15pm showdown with Bridgewater.
Being on the rebound from defeat is something Marong has not had to do often in its run of four consecutive premierships.
The Panthers do so this Saturday following a 47-point loss to Pyramid Hill in the Michael Herrick Memorial played at Marong last Saturday.
Key players for the James Flaherty-coached Marong include Michael Bradbury, captain Nathan Devanny, Jimmy Gadsden, Shaun Knott, Richard Tibbett and Matt Willox.
Major threat to Marong’s chances is Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp who kicked 11 goals in the win against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine and again leads the goalkicking race on 26.
Bridgewater’s squad includes Harry Conway, Luke Ellings, Josh Martyn, Jack Merrin, Jack Neylon, Harry and Jack Symons.
Another big match will be at Macorna where the Tigers take on Newbridge.
It’s fourth against sixth.
Macorna’s on the rebound from defeat for the first time this season after a 46-point loss at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval last Saturday.
The Tigers are up against a Newbridge team which has sights on a hat-trick of victories.
Key players for Macorna include Dimitri Fasoulis and Seb Erharter in attack, Kieran Foley, Hunter Anset, Alex Cockrell, and Laing, Sam and Toby Whinfield.
The Jayden Cordy-coached Newbridge has Caleb Sanders, Brandon Dimech, Jackson Eadson and Jon Coe in great form.
The Maroons’ squad includes Jackson Eadon, Jackson Hufer, Dylan Lloyd and Zaiyden Richards.
Mitiamo’s back on its turf at John Forbes Oval to play Inglewood.
The Luke Lougoon-coached Superoos will be desperate to start well.
In last Saturday’s play Mitiamo was down by seven goals after the opening term against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Best for the Superoos in that match were Joey Mizzi, Ryan Clark, Lenny Cook and Daniel Baldwin.
After a daunting start, Inglewood is now one-three after beating Macorna by 46 points.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues will go in as favourites against the Superoos.
Inglewood’s line-up includes Charlie Aitken, Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett, Mischa Fraillon, Liam Marciano, Daniel and Polack.
At Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve it’s Bears Lagoon-Serpentine against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears will be desperate to take the points.
It’s a one-three record for BLS which has played Marong, Calivil United, Macorna and Bridgewater.
Best for the Bears last round were Charlie Gadsden, Russell Clark, Tyler Miles and Nathan Twigg.
An Eagles’ attack that includes Todd Delahey, Luke Gray, Mitch Hill and Angus Monfries will test the Bears.
Players to watch for the Shawn Filo-coached Eagles include Daniel Russell, Josh Worsley, Stacy Fiske, Mitch Whitham and Josh Worsley.
Calivil United is back home to take on a red-hot Pyramid Hill.
Massive challenge for the Sam Maher-coached Demons after Pyramid Hill won at Marong by 47 points.
The Demons were beaten by eight goals in last Saturday’s match on Newbridge’s turf at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park.
Calivil United’s defence led by Jayden Manderson, Ryan Strauch and Sam Green will be up against Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Harrison Goodes and Bulldogs’ coach Jarrod Fitzpatrick.
Big roles for the red and blue will be played by ruck-rover Cody Thompson, rover Zac Tickell, wingman Tom Wakefield, and Fynn Clymo and James Steel in attack.
An experienced Pyramid Hill team includes Zach Alford, Ben Knight, Lachlan Sidebottom, Gavin James and Dylan Morison.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Bridgewater 185 per cent, 16 points; Marong 196, 12; Pyramid Hill 130, 12; Macorna 126, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 121, 8; Newbridge 82, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 90, 4; Inglewood 74, 4; Calivil United 41, 4; Mitiamo 56, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
26 Lachie Sharp, B’water.
18 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
13 Oscar McKinley, B’water; Caleb Sanders, New.
12 Brandon Dimech, New.
11 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
10 Cooper Hale, Mar.; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Farran Priest, BLS.
9 Brent Arho, Miti.; Mischa Fraillon, I’wood.
8 Luke Gray, MGYCW; Henry McCarthy, CU; Angus Monfries, MGYCW.
7 Zach Alford, PH; Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Seb Erharter, Mac.; Kieran Foley, Mac.; Tyler James, MGYCW; Brad Matthews, Mar.