Panthers, Bulldogs dominate clashes
TOP teams Marong and Pyramid Hill scored emphatic victories in Saturday’s 12th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
The Marong Panthers took on Mitiamo at Malone Park.
It was a brilliant start for the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong which led 37-8 at quarter-time and then slammed on 10.3 to 1.2 in the second to put the result beyond doubt.
A lot of interest in the second half centred on how many goals Panthers’ star Brandyn Grenfell would kick.
Grenfell booted a match-high nine goals to take his tally to 90.
A strong support cast in the forward 50m arc for Marong included Kain Robins, six goals; Nathan Devanny and Corey Gregg, three.
The second half was far more competitive as the Marcus McKern-coached Superoos scored 7.8 and the Panthers added 9.6.
At the final siren, Marong led 160-66.
On a tough afternoon for Mitiamo, Brayden Baines and Aaron McKean kicked two goals apiece.
Best for Marong were Nathan Devanny, Brandyn Grenfell, Ryley Taylor, Jack McCaig, Kain Robins and Jimmy Gadsden.
The Superoos’ best were Doug Thomas, Lee Dale, Jarryd Wiegard, Ethan Hocking and Ross Turner.
Pyramid Hill kept Bears Lagoon-Serpentine goalless until the final quarter at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The unbeaten Bulldogs led 9-2 at quarter-time and then slammed on 8.2 to just two points in the second term.
The Justin Laird-coached Bears worked hard to limit Pyramid Hill to a score of 1.3 in the third, but added just four behinds.
Led by the play of captain Steven Gunther, Zac Dingwall and Billy Micevski, Pyramid Hill scored 7.6 to 2.2 in the last to complete a 116-22 victory.
Steven Gunther and Bailey George led the attack on five goals apiece.
The Bears’ goalkickers were Andy Gladman and Darcy Poulter.
Best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs included Dylan Morison, Jack Woodward and Ryley Dickens.
Josh Walsh, Zach Stone, Jeremy Hancock, Ryan Prendergast, Bailey Harrison and Darcy Poulter worked hard for BLS.
It was another dramatic finish between Newbridge and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
In round three it was Newbridge which scored an eight-point victory in the Eagles’ nest at Marist College Bendigo.
This time the Eagles withstood a spirited final quarter fightback at Holloway Air Riverside Oval to win 57-54.
The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Maiden Gully YCW led 24-18 at half-time and then took control in the third quarter as it added 3.2 to 1.3.
Despite a 17-point deficit at the start of the final term, Newbridge did not give up.
The Luke Freeman-coached Maroons scored 4.4 to 2.1 in the last, but it was the Eagles who marked consecutive wins for the first time this season and jumped to the seventh rung on the ladder.
Back at the club, Brayden Aitken has had a marked impact on the Eagles’ play.
Aitken kicked four goals in a best afield performance as Mitrovic added three majors.
The Newbridge attack was led by Caleb Sanders on three goals.
Best for the Eagles were Aitken, Corey Walsh, Jessi Lampi, Jonathon Carroll, Ed Crisp and Natnael McLaren.
Sanders, Tyler McLeod, Patrick Andrews, Brandon Etherington, Mitch Hocking and Liam Nihill were Newbridge’s best.
Bridgewater was down 34-40 at half-time of its clash on Inglewood’s turf at Dissy Machinery Oval.
Desperate to break its winless run, Inglewood began strongly to win a high-scoring first term, 33-31.
The Darrell Billett-coached Blues added 1.1 to 0.3 in the second.
After the half-time break it was the Mean Machine from Bridgewater which clicked into gear.
The classy Andy Collins also booted three goals for the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater.
Inglewood’s attack was led by Charlie McGaw, three; Lachlan Nemet and Cody Wright, two each.
Best for Bridgewater were Lachlan Allison, Jack Ozanne, Darcy Wood, Josh Martyn and Harry Symons.
Thomas Kennedy, Charlie Ingham, Luke Matheson, Charlie McGaw, Aaron Lister and Cody Wright were best for the Blues.
Calivil United had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Pyramid Hill 298 per cent, 40 points; Marong 294, 40; Mitiamo 112, 28; Bridgewater 105, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 75, 20; Inglewood 65, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 57, 12; Calivil United 70, 8; Newbridge 49, 8.
Leading goalkickers:
90 Brandyn Grenfell, Mar.
42 Josh Martyn, B’water.
35 Bailey George, PH.
31 Jason Butty, MGYCW.
26 Andy Collins, B’water; Andy Gladman, BLS; Jacob Greenwood, CU.
25 Braidy Dickens, PH.
22 Jay Reynolds, Miti.
21 Justin Laird, BLS.
19 Chris Dixon, New.; Kain Robins, Mar.
18 Steven Gunther, PH; Ryley Taylor, Mar.
17 Nathan Devanny, Mar.
16 Charlie McGaw, I’wood; Wayne Mitrovic, MGYCW; Ryan Wellington, Miti.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 13th round will be the showdown between the ladder-leading Pyramid Hill and Marong at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Mitiamo takes on Calivil United at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
Bridgewater and Bears Lagoon Serpentine clash at Bridgewater.
Inglewood takes on Newbridge at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles have the bye.
Written by Nathan Dole.