BY NATHAN DOLE
Bears serve notice to rivals across Valley
FANS of Bears-Lagoon Serpentine are now believing their team is a serious contender for this season’s premiership after mauling of Bridgewater in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley senior footy season.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears outplayed and outran the Mean Machine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to record a 108-25 victory.
The Bears led 19-14 at quarter-time and then slammed on 6.6 as Bridgewater was held to a point in the second.
Inspired by the play of James Bailey, Doolan Nihill and Jake Wilkinson, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine won the third term, 35-7, and the last, 24-3.
James Rippingale finished with four goals as Andy Gladman and Farran Priest kicked three each and Callum Draper added two in the 108-25 victory.
Was a tough afternoon for gun goalkicker Lachlan Sharp who marked his senior coaching debut as Rick Ladson was away following knee sugery.
Sharp finished the match with a goal as did Oliver Muggleton and Jack Neylon.
The Bears’ best included Ross Turner, Nathan Twigg and James Rippingale.
Bridgewater’s best were Harry McKinley, Lachlan Cohen, Lee and Jon Coghlan, Andy Collins and Boden Alexander.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles finally have four premiership points after a one-point victory against Inglewood at Marist College Bendigo Oval.
The Eagles were docked 12 premiership points before the season started for not fielding an under-18s team.
Maiden Gully YCW had won three matches going into Saturday’s clash on Inglewood’s turf at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries-coached Eagles fought on to claim a 52-51 victory.
Goalkickers for Maiden Gully YCW were Ed Crisp, Bryce Franzini, Angus Monfries, Ryan Strauch, Mitch Whitham and Josh Worsley.
The Blues’ attack was led by Daniel Polack on two.
Best for the Eagles were Ed Crisp, captain Josh Worsley, Thomas Pridgeon, Declan Phyland, Luke Deslandes and Bryce Franzini.
Lachlan Ford, Sam Polack, Luke Matheson, Will Allen (guernsey #1), Daniel Polack and Tom Kennedy were best for the Fergus Payne-coached Blues.
Marong marked a 137-24 victory against Calivil United at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
The Panthers raced to a 33-7 lead by quarter-time and then scored 5.1 as the Demons added 2.2 in the second.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Marong scored 11 goals across the second half as it kept the red and blue to a tally of three behinds.
Ryley Taylor was in superb touch as he kicked 10 goals in a best on ground performance.
Other multiple goalkickers for the premiers of the past two seasons were Ryan Wellington, four; Nathan Devanny, Lachlan Lee and Kyle Manley, two.
Goalkickers for Calivil United were Dan Canfield, coach Anthony Dennis and Sam Green.
Marong’s best were Ryley Taylor, Lachlan Lee, Jimmy Gadsden, Nathan Devanny, Jai Gretgrix and David Johnstone.
Sam Maher, Sam Green, Thomas Piazza, Lewis Fisher, Dan Canfield and Ben Baker were the Demons’ best.
Pyramid Hill dominated play on its turf at Mitchell Park to beat Mitiamo by 20-plus goals.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs scored 19.11 and kept the Superoos to a tally of three behinds.
Zach Alford capped a best afield performance with six goals as Jack Burns booted three.
The Bulldogs had Bailey George, Damon Hemphill and Bailey Scott chip in with two each.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Zach Alford, Ben Knight, Damon Hemphill, captain Steven Gunther, Scott Mann and Bailey George.
Jackson Falls, Kobe Galvin, Luke Lougoon, Zach Morrison, Liam Shiell and Brayden Baines were best for the Jon Varcoe-coached Mitiamo.
Newbridge had the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 322 per cent, 48 points; Pyramid Hill 268, 40; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 179, 40; Bridgewater 166, 36; Newbridge 68, 16; Calivil United 55, 16; Inglewood 53, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 45, 4; Mitiamo 32, 0.
It’s Bridgewater against Marong in next Saturday’s round 15 action at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Calivil United takes on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles clash with Newbridge at Marist College Oval.
Mitiamo and Inglewood will play on the Superoos’ ground at John Forbes Oval.
Pyramid Hill has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
104 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
93 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
45 Kain Robins, Marong.
43 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
37 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
35 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
32 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
25 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
23 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
23 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
23 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
23 Noah McCaig, Marong.
23 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
19 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
18 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
18 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
16 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
14 Lachlan Lee, Marong.
14 Jack Neylon, Bridgewater.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
13 Harry Conway, Bridgewater.
13 Damon Hemphill, Pyramid Hill.
13 Andrew Padbury, Newbridge.
12 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
12 Jack McCaig, Marong.
12 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
12 Declan Phyland, Maiden Gully YCW.
12 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
12 Seb Relouw, Pyramid Hill.
12 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.
11 Bailey George, Pyramid Hill.
10 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
10 Alex Lloyd, Mitiamo.
10 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
10 James Rippingale, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.