BY NATHAN DOLE
Heat’s at high intensity in Calivil
HEAT will be high as Calivil United faces Newbridge in Saturday’s round 17 action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy season.
Both teams are locked on 20 premiership points as they take to Calivil’s ground at 2.15pm.
It’s fifth place, held by Newbridge, up for grabs.
When these clubs met in round eight it was Newbridge which marked a 104-70 victory on its turf at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval.
Calivil United kept finals hopes alive as it scored a 13-point at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval last Saturday.
Among the key match-ups in the showdown of Demons and Maroons will be in attack.
The Calivil United forward line includes Anthony Dennis, Ben Baker and Sam Maher up against Andrew Padbury, Jack Tesdale and Lachie Costelow.
Newbridge’s attack is led by Chris Dixon, co-coach Sam Gale and Brandon Dimech.
Key players for the Demons include ruckman Justin Hynes, Rhys Lourie, Hamish Wall, Jack Maher and Sam Green.
A Newbridge team which has Daniel Smith as non-playing co-coach will look to Tyler McLeod, Caleb Argus, Will Daly and Tyler Constable to set up or finish off atacking moves.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles take on the in-form Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Marist College Bendigo Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Eagles were docked 12 premirship points for not fielding an under-18 team before the season kicked off.
Four wins by the Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries-coached Eagles are now credited on the ladder on the Loddon Valley FNL website.
Huge task for the Eagles this Saturday against the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears.
Best for Maiden Gully YCW in last Saturday’s match at Marong’s East West Oval were captain Josh Worsley, Ed Crisp, Declan Phyland and Ryan Strauch.
A strong Bears’ squad which is second in the premierhship race includes Justin Laird, Tyler Miles, Doolan Nihill, Miggy Podosky, James Rippingale and Nathan Twigg.
Mitiamo will be back on its turf at John Forbes Oval to take on Bridgewater.
Both clubs have had many pulsating matches across a fierce rivalry.
The Mitiamo line-up faces an opponent which had a bye following a 68-point loss to Marong in the 15th round.
Key players for the Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos from Mitiamo include Brayden Baines, Waylon Draper, Luke Lougoon, Zac Morrison, Bryce Laird and Kobe Galvin.
Best-known for his boxing skills, Dino Rafaeles is in for his second senior game after his debut in the round 15 clash with Inglewood.
Century goalkicker and Bridgewater assistant coach Lachlan Sharp will be targeting another big haul in the lead-up to the finals campaign.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater team includes Jack Neylon, captain Josh Martyn, Boden Alexander, Lee Coghlan, Peter Rothacker and Harry Conway.
Pyramid Hill is home at Mitchell Park to take on Inglewood.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs won their previous meeting with the Blues by 85 points.
A powerful attack for Pyramid Hill includes Zach Alford, Bailey Scott and Braidy Dickens.
They are likely to be given plenty of goalkicking chances through the play of Ben Knight, Gavin James, Scott Mann, Seb Relouw and Bailey George.
After a great effort to make finals last season, Inglewood will not do so this year.
The Fergus Payne-coached Blues will be determined to mark a strong finish to their ’24 campaign.
Key players for Inglewood include Will Allen (guernsey one), Daniel Polack, Tom Kennedy, Lachlan Ford, Gabe and Jack Nevins, and Luke Matheson.
Marong has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 348 per cent, 56 points; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 205, 48; Pyramid Hill 278, 44; Bridgewater 152, 36; Newbridge 69, 20; Calivil United 57, 20; Inglewood 61, 16; Maiden Gully YCW 40, 16; Mitiamo 29, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
106 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
93 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
53 Kain Robins, Marong.
47 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
40 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
38 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
37 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
31 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
30 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
29 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
26 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
25 Noah McCaig, Marong.
23 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
20 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
20 James Rippingale, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
19 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
18 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
18 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
16 Lachlan Lee, Marong.
15 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
15 Declan Phyland, Maiden Gully YCW.
14 Bailey George, Pyramid Hill.
14 Kyle Manley, Marong.
14 Jack Neylon, Bridgewater.
14 Andrew Padbury, Newbridge.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
13 Harry Conway, Bridgewater.
13 Damon Hemphill, Pyramid Hill.
13 Charlie Gadsden, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
13 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
13 Seb Relouw, Pyramid Hill.
13 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.
12 Jack McCaig, Marong.
12 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
11 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
11 Braidy Dickens, Pyramid Hill.
11 Josiah Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
11 Liam Shiell, Mitiamo.
10 Jack Burns, Pyramid Hill.
10 Jaydon Cowling, Pyramid Hill.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
10 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
10 Alex Lloyd, Mitiamo.
10 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
10 Ben McKinley, Newbridge.