BY NATHAN DOLE
MARONG’S senior footy team has achieved a unique feat of an unbeaten run in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL home and away series for the 2023 season.
In pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Marong marked a 16th consecutive victory in Saturday’s 18th round.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers scored a 95-point win against Mitiamo at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
The Panthers and Superoos also joined forces on Annette Grant Memorial Day to raise funds and awareness of Pancreatic cancer.
After an opening term of 7.5 to 2.1, Marong scored 4.6 to 1.2 in the second.
A Michelsen medallist and premiership winner in his time at Eaglehawk, Kain Robins kicked a match-high six goals in a best on ground performance for Marong.
Other multiple goalkickers in the 137-42 result were Jonty Davis, Noah McCaig, Matt Riordan, Ryley Taylor and Tucker Thach on two.
Brayden Baines kicked two goals for Mitiamo as Kobe Galvin, Jessie Rawlings, Jay Reynolds and Ross Turner added two.
Best for Marong were Kain Robins, Lachlan Lee, Matt Willox, Ryley Taylor, Jack McCaig and Trent Fisher.
Ross Turner, Luke Lougoon, Zach Morrison, Eli Spiers, Jacob Carracher and Brayden Baines were best for the Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos.
Inglewood was put under fire from the Calivil United Demons at Calivil.
The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons led 37-25 at half-time and 71-68 at a quarter to go.
In its final hit-out before a long-awaited finals appearance, Inglewood lifted to score 2.2 to 0.5 in the last for a dramatic 82-76 victory.
Bregon Cotchett led the Blues attack on four goals as Jack Nevins and Fergus Payne added two each.
Calivil United’s attack was led by Mitch Avard, Jake Lawry and Hamish Wall on two.
Best for the Darrell Billett-coached Blues were Bregon Cotchett, Keelan Payne, Daniel Polack, Jayden Leach, Fergus Payne and Luke Matheson.
Jack Maher, Mitch Avard, Anthony Dennis, Henry Miller, Blair Richards and Brae Mensforth were best for the Demons.
Pyramid Hill warmed up for the finals by scoring a 133-point win on Newbridge’s turf at Beck Legal Riverside Oval.
The Bulldogs led 44-2 at quarter-time and then scored seven goals to a goal in the second.
Zach Alford went on to kick six goals as Jack Woodward booted five in a 180-47 result.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Dylan Collis, Will Perryman and Jesse Sheahan, three; Thomas Brennan, Harrison Goodes and Seb Relouw, two.
Newbridge’s attack was led by Chris Dixon with three.
Best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs were Dylan Collis, Zach Alford, Tom McGregor, Lachlan Sidebottom, Thomas Brennan and Billy Micevski.
Will Copland, Tyler McLeod, Will Daly, Dylan Lloyd, Liam Nihill and Austin Fithall were best in a Newbridge team jointly coached by Sam Gale and Daniel Smith.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine marked a 51-point win against Maiden Gully YCW at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Bears dominated most of the first half to lead 69-34 at the main break.
In the third term, BLS added 3.6 and kept the Eagles to a tally of two behinds.
Maiden Gully YCW fired up for its final quarter of the season to score 4.1 to 2.7.
At the final siren the Bears led 112 to 61.
Bears’ coach Justin Laird and James Ripplingale kicked three goals apiece.
Callum Draper, Louis Mott, Kalem Paxton and Miggy Podosky chipped in with two goals.
The Eagles’ attack was led by assistant coach Damian Wust on a match-high five goals as Brandon Dimech added two.
Best for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine were Aidan Brohm, Justin Laird, Callum Draper, James Bailey, Beau Roy-Clements and Miggy Podosky.
Tyler Miles, coach Jay McDonald, Hamish McCartney, Grayson Brown, Brayden Watson and Mathew Crooks were best for the Eagles.
Bridgewater had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 578 per cent, 64 points; Pyramid Hill 187, 56; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 122, 48; Inglewood 105, 36; Bridgewater 75, 28; Mitiamo 55, 16; Newbridge 46, 16; Calivil United 59, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 54, 12.
Finals action kicks off next weekend.
Qualifying finals will be played on Saturday at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
It’s either season rolls on or ends when teams contest Sunday’s elimination finals at Beck Legal Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
Draw for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Bridgewater:
Seniors: Pyramid Hill v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Reserves: Bears-Lagoon Serpentine v Pyramid Hill.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Beck Legal Oval, Newbridge’s Riverside Park:
Seniors: Inglewood v Bridgewater.
Reserves: Inglewood v Maiden Gully YCW.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
103 Brandyn Grenfell, Marong.
52 Kain Robins, Marong.
44 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
39 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
37 Will Perryman, Pyramid Hill.
36 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
36 Matt Riordan, Marong.
34 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
31 Jay Reynolds, Mitiamo.
30 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
30 Charlie McGaw, Inglewood.
30 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
25 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
24 James Bailey, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
24 Andrew Cussen, Mitiamo.
24 Brandon Dimech, Maiden Gully YCW.
24 Bailey George, Pyramid Hill.
23 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
22 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
21 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
21 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
21 Jack McCaig, Marong.
19 Harry Gadsden, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
18 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
18 Sam Dorevitch, Inglewood.
18 Jake Lawry, Calivil United.
18 Kyle Manley, Marong.
18 James Rippingale, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
17 Thomas Brennan, Pyramid Hill.
17 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.
17 Jack Woodward, Pyramid Hill.
16 Dylan Collis, Pyramid Hill.
16 Callum Draper, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
16 Jake Lawry, Calivil United.
16 Tyler Miles, Maiden Gully YCW.
15 Caleb Sanders, Newbridge.
15 Fergus Payne, Inglewood.
14 Mitch Dingwall, Pyramid Hill.
14 Nic Naughton, Bridgewater.
13 Fergus Payne, Inglewood.
13 Damian Wust, Maiden Gully YCW.