BY NATHAN DOLE
A WEEK is a long time in footy was proven by Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Saturday’s second round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League season.
Stung by a big defeat in the opening round, Maiden Gully YCW made the trek to Bridgewater.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater led 22-15 at quarter-time and 36-23 by the main break.
In the third it was the Jay McDonald-coached Eagles who dominated play.
The Eagles scored 2.3 to a point and led 38-37 going into the final term.
Bridgewater fought back through the play of gun onballer Harry Donegan, Jack Symons and Tyler Estrada.
Despite the wet and slippery conditions, both teams did plenty of attacking.
The Mean Machine added 3.1 to 2.2 to seal a 56-52 victory.
Darcy Wood led Bridgewater’s attack on three goals as Nick Hall and captain Josh Martyn chipped in with two each.
Brandon Dimech booted two goals for the Eagles.
Bridgewater’s best included Charlton Hindle, Nick Hall and Ben Irvine.
Hamish McCartney, Tyler Miles, Ed Crisp, Dimech, Josh Worlsey, and Jay McDonald were best for the Eagles.
Pyramid Hill marked a winning start to its season at Calivil.
After a first-round bye, the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill surged clear of a desperate Calivil United in the last quarter.
The Bulldogs led 13-12 at half-time and 32-26 at one term to go.
Bailey George, Jesse Sheahan and Adrian Holland won plenty of contests and Thomas Brennan kicked a match-high three goals as Pyramid Hill scored a 58-27 victory.
The Bulldogs’ best included Zac Dingwall, Declan Slingo and Thomas Brennan.
Darcy Thompson, Justin Hynes, William Cole, Jake Lawry, Mitch Avard and Cody Anderson played well for the Anthony Dennis-coached Calivil United.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine dominated its home game with Newbridge at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Justin Laird-coached Bears led 29-nil at quarter-time and 55-9 by the main break.
Andy Gladman went on to kick a match-high five goals and James Bailey added three as the Bears won 105 to 15.
Best for BLS were Nash Kemp, Andy Gladman, Louis Mott, Beau Roy-Clements, Darcy Poulter and Callum Draper.
Dylan Lloyd, Caleb Argus, William Daly, Aidan Moore, Dylan Stevens and Liam Nihill were best for a Newbridge team which has Sam Gale as playing coach, and Daniel Smith as non-playing coach.
Stung by a brilliant start by Inglewood, Marong dominated after quarter-time in the Panthers’ den at Marong’s Malone Park.
The Darrell Billett-coached Blues led 31-4 at the first break.
From there it was the Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers who took control.
Marong scored 4.3 to 1.1 in the second, but it was the Blues who hold a seven-point buffer going into half-time.
A 10-goal blitz by the Panthers in the third term was followed by 4.4 to nil in the last to complete a 123-39 result.
Kain Robins marked a best afield performance with seven goals.
Inglewood’s attack was led by Kellan Payne on two.
The Panthers’ best included ruckman Michael Bradbury, Jimmy Gadsden, Nathan Devanny, Jack McCaig and Richard Tibbett.
Inglewood’s best were Thomas Kennedy, Alex Lowe, Cody Wright, Sam Dorevitch, Luke Matheson and Isaac Povey.
Mitiamo had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 627 per cent, 8 points; Bridgewater 225, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 205, 8; Pyramid Hill 214, 4; Newbridge 53, 4; Calivil United 60, 0; Inglewood 55, 0; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 28, 0; Mitiamo 24, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
14 Josh Martyn, B’water.
10 Brandyn Grenfell, M.
8 Andy Gladman, BLS; Kain Robins, M.
4 James Bailey, BLS; Sam Gale, N; Keelan Payne, I’wood; Darcy Poulter, BLS; Ryley Taylor, M.
Highlights of Saturday’s third round will be Pyramid Hill against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Marong takes on Newbridge in the Panthers’ den at Marong’s Malone Park.
Inglewood clashes with Bridgewater on the Blues’ turf at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.
Maiden Gully YCW is at home at Marist College Bendigo to face Mitiamo.
Calivil United has the bye.