BY NATHAN DOLE
RIDING a wave of confidence after a hat-trick of wins, Inglewood takes on Newbridge in Saturday’s seventh round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Blues will be on home turf at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval to take on the Maroons from 2.15pm.
After a nil-two start, Inglewood has climbed to the fourth rung on the premiership ladder after wins against Bridgewater, Mitiamo and Maiden Gully YCW.
The Blues are back in action after the bye.
Most recent hit-out for the Darrell Billett-coached Inglewood ended in a 102-53 win at home against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Best for the Blues in that contest were Sam Dorevitch, Cody Wright, Nick Silvestro and Fergus Payne.
Players to watch for Inglewood include Charlie McGaw and Keelan Payne in attack, Bregon Cotchett, Tration Kendal and captain Nathan Angelino.
Newbridge fell seven points short of taking the points on Maiden Gully YCW’s turf at Marist College Bendigo last round.
A great duel between the Eagles and Maroons ended in a 64-58 win for the home team.
On-baller Dylan Stevens has had a great season for Newbridge.
Also among the best for the Maroons in round six were Kynan Gard, key forward Chris Dixon, and Jack Clark.
Victory for Newbridge which is coached by Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing, will keep it in touch with the top five.
Key players for the Maroons include captain Angus Fortune, David Romer, Matt Giri and Corey Van Aken.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine is back at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to take on Bridgewater.
It’s a tough two-week stretch for the Bears who went down 61-134 at Marong’s Malone Park last round.
Being able to match Pyramid Hill’s attacking ability will be a huge test for the Justin Laird-coached BLS.
The play of Aidan Brohm, Harry Gadsden, Josh Taig and Kyal Zass were highlights for the Bears against the Panthers.
Leading goalkicker Andy Gladman was not named for this match, so there will be more pressure on the likes of Steve Gladman, Kalem Paxton, Ryan Prendergast and Jeremy Hancock.
Bridgewater marked another home-ground win in an 83-40 result against Calivil United.
Classy on-baller Harry Donegan was best for the Mean Machine along with Tyler Estrada and Darcy Wood.
Captain and gun forward Josh Martyn leads the league’s goalkicking race on 39.
Other key players for the red and white include Charlton Hindle, Emile Pavlich, Ben Derrick and Alex Pollock.
It’s a big weekend for Bridgewater coach Rick Ladson who will be in charge of the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy team in Sunday’s inter-league matches in the Greater Shepparton region at Mooroopna.
The Valley’s most dominant clubs not so long ago, Mitiamo and Calivil United meet at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The Jon Varcoe-coached Mitiamo has a 1-4 record and Calivil United is winless.
Mitiamo was on the end of a 20-182 drubbing from Pyramid Hill on the Superoos’ ground last round.
Premiership-winning trio in Ross Turner, Luke Lougoon and Dylan Clohesy were best.
The Superoos will look for big games from the likes of Kobe Galvin, Andrew Cussen, Jay Reynolds and Max Simpson.
A premiership-winning ruckman with Marong last season, Justin Hynes will again play a crucial role for Calivil United.
The Demons played well to score five goals in the match on Bridgewater’s turf.
Players to watch include captain-coach Anthony Dennis, Rhys Lourie, Henry and Walter Miller, Jordan Lea, Mitch Avard and Cody Thompson.
It’s another home game for Maiden Gully YCW at Marist College Bendigo.
This week the Eagles take on the powerful Pyramid Hill line-up.
The Jay McDonald-coached Eagles fought hard for victory against Newbridge last round as half-forward Cooper Hale, ruckman Matthew Crooks, and Brandon Dimech led the way.
Massive test for the Eagles on-ballers and midfield in Brayden Watson, Josh Worsley, Nathan Murley, Tyler Miles and Damian Wust to halt Pyramid Hill’s run.
Maiden Gully YCW will look to Bailey Archer, Grayson Brown and Ed Crisp to not only win contests, but also to limit the attacks their opponents set up.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill passed the 180-point mark at Mitiamo as Dylan Collis continued his outstanding form.
Bulldogs’ captain Steven Gunther, Zach Alford and Jesse Sheahan played key roles in the team’s fourth win of the season.
Players to watch for Pyramid Hill include ruckman Adrian Holland, ruck-rover Billy Micevski, Dylan Morison and Declan Slingo in defence, Bailey George and Thomas Brennan in attack.
Marong has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 470 per cent, 24 points; Pyramid Hill 164, 16; Bridgewater 130, 16; Inglewood 127, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 104, 12; Maiden Gully YCW 71, 8; Newbridge 42, 4; Mitiamo 39, 4; Calivil United 41, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
35 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
33 Brandyn Grenfell, Marong.
21 Kain Robins, Marong.
16 Charlie McGaw, Inglewood.
14 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
14 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
13 Jack McCaig, Marong.
12 Thomas Brennan, Pyramid Hill.
12 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
11 Dylan Collis, Pyramid Hill.
11 Andrew Cussen, Mitiamo.
11 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
10 Nathan Devanny, Marong.