BY NATHAN DOLE
League’s top four take the points
THE top four teams in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy competition took the points in Saturday’s round 11 action.
At Bridgewater there was plenty of interest on whether gun forward Lachlan Sharp could kick the required 14 goals against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles to reach the century mark.
The Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine powered to a 50-8 lead by quarter-time.
In quarter two the Eagles were a lot more competitive and scored 3.1 and held the hosts to tally of 3.3.
Bridgewater won the next two quarters, 25-19 and 20-11.
Sharp booted five goals to move to 91 as the Mean Machine marked a 116-57 victory.
Bridgewater’s attack was led by captain Josh Martyn on six goals as Jack Neylon added three.
The Eagles’ attack was led by Josiah Farrer on two.
Best for Bridgewater were Jack Symons, Lee and Jon Coghlan, Josh Martyn, Jack Neylon and Oliver Watt.
Josiah Farrer, Mathew Crooks, Mitch Whitham, Thomas Pridgeon, Jayden Magnusson and Declan Phyland were best for an Eagles team jointly coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing.
Marong’s run kept rolling in a 105-46 victory against Newbridge at Malone Park.
Gun forward Kain Robins led the Panthers on to the field for the 450th senior game of a brilliant career.
The Panthers were under pressure early as Newbridge scored four straight goals in the opening term to be within 15 points at the first break.
Marong added 3.2 to a goal in the second to lead 59-31 by half-time.
The Panthers’ raised the defensive intensity to restrict Newbridge to just two goals in the second half.
On a tough day for forwards in the wet and slippery conditions it was Noah McCaig and Jack McCaig who led the way for Marong with four and three goals.
Ryley Taylor booted two majors.
Kain Robins kicked a goal in another milestone match.
Newbridge’s attack was led by the hard-running and skilful Ben McKinley with three goals against his former club.
Best for Marong were Jack McCaig, Lachlan Lee, Lachlan Frankel, Jai Gretgrix, Corey Gregg and David Johnstone.
Thomas Hobson, Ben McKinley, Matt McArthur, Kobe Friswell, Jack Teasdale and Blake Harris were best for a Newbridge team jointly coached by Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing.
Despite being without the hamstrung Josh Mellington who had kicked 93 goals in a brilliant first season with the club, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine was too strong for Inglewood.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears charged to a 44-16 lead by half-time of the clash with the Blues at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The experienced Andy Gladman led the BLS attack on four goals as Nathan Twigg added two in an 87-30 victory.
Mitch Conlan kicked two goals for the Blues.
Best for the Bears were Tyler Miles, Farran Priest, Justin Laird, Callum Draper, James Bailey and Bailey Harrison.
Inglewood’s best were Cody Stobaus, Tom Kennedy, Luke Matheson, Daniel Polack, Liam Marciano and Mitch Conlan.
It was bitter-sweet news for the Bears as Josh Mellington faces surgery to repair his hamstring and is unlikely to play again this season.
Pyramid Hill bounced back from defeat to score an 84-point win at Calivil.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs led 26-15 at quarter-time and then slammed on eight goals in the second to lead 76-29 by the main break.
Ben Knight, Jesse Sheahan and Lachlan Sidebottom won plenty of the footy as Pyramid Hill kicked away to win 134-50.
A nine-goal haul capped a superb match by Jesse Sheahan as Harrison Goodes and Tom McGregor chipped in with two majors.
The Demons’ attack was led by Cody Thompson with two goals.
Pyramid Hill’s best included Brad Ladson, Zach Alford and Steven Gunther.
Cody Thompson, Hamish Wall, Ronan Sheehan, Sam Maher, Ethan Mulqueen and Lewis Fisher were best for the Anthony Dennis-coached Demons.
Mitiamo had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 380 per cent, 40 points; Bridgewater 200, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 168, 32; Pyramid Hill 278, 28; Newbridge 64, 12; Inglewood 56, 12; Calivil United 54, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 35, 0; Mitiamo 31, 0.
Match of the day in next Saturday’s round 12 action will be Pyramid Hill on home turf at Mitchell Park against the unbeaten Marong.
Inglewood and Bridgewater meet on Inglewood’s ground at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Newbridge is at home to tackle Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval.
Maiden Gully YCW plays Mitiamo at Marist College Oval.
Calivil United has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
93 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
91 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
38 Kain Robins, Marong.
35 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
34 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
30 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
23 Noah McCaig, Marong.
21 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
20 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
20 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
19 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
18 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
17 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
14 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
14 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
14 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
12 Jack McCaig, Marong.
11 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
11 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
11 Andrew Padbury, Newbridge.
11 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
10 Jaydon Cowling, Pyramid Hill.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Damon Hemphill, Pyramid Hill.
10 Lachlan Lee, Marong.
10 Alex Lloyd, Mitiamo.
10 Jack Neylon, Bridgewater.
10 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.