BY NATHAN DOLE
Bears beat Bulldogs once again
A SECOND win by Bears-Lagoon Serpentine against Pyramid Hill proved the first was no fluke in this season’s senior footy action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
It was second against fourth as Pyramid Hill was on home turf at Mitchell Park against the Bears.
Goalkicking accuracy was a key factor in the Jake Wilkinson-coached BLS gaining a 16-point lead by half-time.
The Bears scored 7.1 across the first half as Pyramid Hill racked up 4.3.
Pyramid Hill hit back to win a closely-fought third term, 10-6.
Gun forward Josh Mellington had kicked six of the Bears eight goals before he injured a hamstring.
Defences were well on top in the last, but the Bears ability to score two goals as the Dogs added 2.5 sealed a 61-54 victory.
Mellington’s haul lifted his season tally to 93 as Charlie Gadsden, Andy Gladman, Justin Laird and Doolan Nihill all chipped in with a goal in a tough win for the Bears.
Pyramid Hill’s attack was led by Jesse Sheahan on two.
Best for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine were Nathan Twigg, Tyler Miles, Justin Laird, Jake Wilkinson, James Bailey and Doolan Nihill.
Tom McGregor, Gavin James, Mitch Gunther, Ben Knight, Lachlan Sidebottom and Damon Hemphill were best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs.
It was a bitter-sweet victory for Bridgewater on Newbridge’s turf at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Park.
A badly broken leg and dislocation for Bridgewater’s popular midfielder/on-baller Harry Donegan in the first half was a huge blow.
The Mean Machine had charged to a 69-25 lead by half-time.
Brilliant forward Lachlan Sharp moved within 14 goals of another century as he kicked a dozen goals in the 157-58 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater were captain Josh Martyn, four; Harry Conway, three; and Andy Collins, two.
Newbridge’s attack was led by Caleb Sanders and Chris Dixon with three and two goals.
Best for Bridgewater were Lee Coghlan, Jack Symons, Jack Neylon, Jon Coghlan, Lachlan Sharp and Josh Martyn.
Ben McKinley, Caleb Argus, Will Copland, Tyler McLeod, Brandon Etherington and Caleb Sanders were best for the Sam Gale and Daniel Smith-coached Newbridge.
Calivil United claimed the George Thomson Shield in the heritage day clash with Maiden Gully YCW at Calivil.
The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons won 63-43 on a day the club honoured its roots with the Northern United Football Club.
The Demons wore the distinctive maroon and gold guernseys.
Calivil United led 15-3 at quarter-time and then scored 3.5 to 1.1 in the second.
The Eagles fought back to win the third term, 26-15.
Led by the play of Hamish Wall, Sam Maher and Darcy Thompson it was the Demons who won the last, 10-7, to complete a 63-43 victory.
Ben Baker, Sam Maher and Northern Territory FNL star Cameron Ilett all kicked two goals.
The Eagles’ attack was led by Declan Phyland on three goals.
Best for Calivil United included Jordan Lea, Sam Green and Liam Stephens.
Bryce Franzini, Josiah Farrer, Grayson Brown, Thomas Pridgeon, Declan Phyland and Will Noden were best for an Eagles team jointly coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing.
Mitiamo was up against the might of Marong at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos tried hard, but could not stop the dominance of Panthers gun forward Kain Robins.
A Michelsen medallist and premiership winner in his time at Eaglehawk, Robins kicked 10 goals as Marong marked a 175-8 victory at Mitiamo.
Ryan Wellington booted six goals as Noah McCaig and Matt Riordan finished with four and three respectively in the 175-8 victory.
Ryan Duncan was on target for Mitiamo.
Best for the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong were Kain Robins, Lachlan Lee, David Johnstone, Ryley Taylor, Jack McCaig and Ryan Wellington.
Zach Morrison, Liam Shiell, Zak Myers, Jackson Falls, Waylon Draper and Ryan Byrne played well for the Superoos.
Inglewood had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 402 per cent, 36 points; Bridgewater 200, 28; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 162, 28; Pyramid Hill 280, 24; Newbridge 66, 12; Inglewood 58, 12; Calivil United 56, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 33, 0; Mitiamo 31, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 11 action, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine tackle Inglewood at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Bridgewater will be at home against Maiden Gully YCW.
Marong faces Newbridge at Marong’s Malone Park.
Calivil United will be back home at Calivil to play a Pyramid Hill line-up on the rebound from defeat.
Mitiamo has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
93 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
86 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
37 Kain Robins, Marong.
33 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
28 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
26 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
20 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
20 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
19 Noah McCaig, Marong.
19 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
17 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
17 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
14 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
12 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
12 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
11 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
11 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
10 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Alex Lloyd, Mitiamo.
10 Andrew Padbury, Newbridge.
10 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.