BY NATHAN DOLE
PYRAMID Hill takes on a Mitiamo line-up riding a three-game winning streak in Saturday’s 15th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill has home-ground advantage at Mitchell Park for the clash with the Superoos from 2.15pm.
When these clubs met in round six it was the Bulldogs who romped to a 162-point win on Mitiamo’s turf at John Forbes Oval.
It may not be a blowout this time.
In the past three rounds the Jon Varcoe-coached Mitiamo has beaten Maiden Gully YCW, Inglewood and Newbridge.
Massive test for the Superoos against the second-placed Bulldogs whose only defeats have been to the unbeaten Marong.
Key players in the Pyramid Hill line-up include Billy Micevski, Zach Alford, Adrian Holland, Bryden and Dylan Morison, Jesse Sheahan and Seb Relouw.
The Superoos have captain Luke Lougoon, Doug Thomas and Ross Turner in superb form.
Mitiamo has Andrew Cussen and Jay Reynolds leading the attack and the likes of Dylan Clohesy and Brayden Baines able to win plenty of the ball.
It’s third against first as Bears-Lagoon Serpentine meets Marong at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Justin Laird-coached Bears are back after the bye.
Aidan Brohm, Justin Laird, Charlie Gadsden and Louis Mott starred as BLS won the round 13 clash with Calivil United by 98 points.
Defensive actions will be crucial for the Bears.
Marong star Brandyn Grenfell will start the afternoon on 94 goals.
There’s quality supply which Grenfell capitalises on.
Key players for the Bears include Orion Downing, Harry Gadsden, Andy Gladman, Jeremy Hancock and Beau Roy-Clements.
A star-studded Marong team coached by Linton Jacobs includes ruckman Michael Bradbury, the versatile Richard Tibbett, captain Corey Gregg, and forwards Kain Robins and Ryley Taylor.
Newbridge is on home turf at Beck Legal Riverside Oval to play Maiden Gully YCW.
The round six match went the Eagles way by six points.
Win at Newbridge and the Jay McDonald-coached Eagles will join the Maroons on three victories.
A Newbridge line-up which has Sam Gale as playing coach and Daniel Smith as non-playing coach includes Caleb Argus, William Copland, Will Dale, Chris Dixon, Angus Fortune, Tyler McLeod and Caleb Sanders.
The Eagles will look to Brandon Dimech, Hamish McCartney, Tyler Miles, Nathan Murley, Daniel Bice and Damian Wust to lead the way to victory.
Calivil United is at home to play Bridgewater.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
In round six, Bridgewater beat the Demons by 43 points.
The Demons’ squad for this match includes coach Anthony Dennis, Ben Baker, Lachlan Brook, Rhys Lourie, Henry Miller and Evan Ritchie.
Bridgewater will want to play well ahead of upcoming games against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, Marong, and then bye.
The Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine includes Harry Donegan, Darcy Wood, Charlton Hindle, Emile Pavlich, and Nic, James and Toby Naughton.
Inglewood has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 588 per cent, 52 points; Pyramid Hill 172, 40; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 130, 36; Inglewood 104, 28; Bridgewater 84, 24; Mitiamo 60, 16; Newbridge 44, 12; Calivil United 51, 8; Maiden Gully YCW 48, 8.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
94 Brandyn Grenfell, Marong.
45 Kain Robins, Marong.
39 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
36 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
34 Matt Riordan, Marong.
30 Charlie McGaw, Inglewood.
29 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
29Jay Reynolds, Mitiamo.
27 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
26 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
24 Bailey George, Pyramid Hill.
23 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
20 Jack McCaig, Marong.
20 Will Perryman, Pyramid Hill.
19 James Bailey, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
18 Andrew Cussen, Mitiamo.
18 Sam Dorevitch, Inglewood.
17 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
15 Thomas Brennan, Pyramid Hill.
15 Brandon Dimech, Maiden Gully YCW.
15 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.