BY NATHAN DOLE
Calivil chases back-to-back victories
CONSECUTIVE victories is a feat Calivil United’s senior footy team has not achieved too often in recent Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL seasons.
The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons have a great chance to do so when they play at Newbridge in Saturday’s eighth round.
Most recent time Calivil United won in consecutive rounds was in the seventh and eighth rounds of the ’23 season when it beat Mitiamo and then Maiden Gully YCW.
This Saturday the Calivil United team rides a wave of confidence to Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Park in Newbridge following a 55-point victory against lnglewood.
The Demons have moved to the sixth rung and can turn up the heat on the Blues.
It will not be an easy task against a Newbridge line-up which won its most recent home game against Maiden Gully YCW by 88 points.
A Newbridge line-up coached by Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing, could jump above the Demons by winning this contest.
On- ball battles will be vital, especially centre breaks.
Newbridge has Will Copland in the ruck to team with captain Will Daly and hard-at-it Caleb Argus.
They take on Rhys Lourie, Thomas Piazza and Anthony Dennis.
The Demons are bolstered by the inclusion of Justin Hynes for his first match of the season.
In attack the Maroons will look to Chris Dixon, Andrew Padbury as main targets.
Massive test in Newbridge’s defence where Dylan Lloyd, Matt McArthur, Lachie Costelow and Tyler McLeod are up against Kane Shelton, Jordan Lea, Ronan Sheehan and Hamish Wall.
Other key players for Calivil United include co-captains Sam Green, and Jack and Sam Maher.
Bridgewater is on home turf against Mitiamo.
These clubs are two of the biggest rivals across AFL Central Victoria.
A Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater is without several key players, but will still field a strong team.
Among the inclusions is Michelsen medallist and Sandhurst premiership player Lee Coghlan.
In attack Bridgewater has the brilliance of Lachlan Sharp, captain Josh Martyn, Ben Derrick and Tyler Estrada.
Harry Donegan and Xavier Walsh always work hard at centre ball-ups and Bridgewater has a strong defence led by James Naughton, Jack Neylon and Peter Rothacker.
Strong defence will be a key to the Jon Varcoe-coached Mitiamo staying in this match.
The Superoos have the experience of captain Luke Lougoon, Ryan Duncan, Brayden Baines and Nathan Twigg.
Mitiamo defenders Jayden Matthews, Eli Spiers, Jack Vinnicombe and Kobe Galvin will rely a lot on the pressure being applied further up the ground.
Stung by a loss on Calivil United’s turf, Inglewood is back home at Centre State Scaffolding Oval to take on Pyramid Hill.
The Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood is fifth on a three-three record.
Among the inclusions for the Blues is Jonty Marciano who has played the past three rounds for Merbein in the Sunraysia competition.
Inglewood will have two from the Marciano clan, Liam and Jonty to take on the Bulldogs.
The Blues’ line-up for this clash includes talented forward Mitch Conlan, Daniel and Sam Polack, Keelan Payne, Tom Kennedy, Tarran Kilcullen and Jaspa Wendels.
A Pyramid Hill team coached by Nathan Fitzpatrick won its latest hit-out by 85 points.
A goal for the Bulldogs will be to improve accuracy at goal.
Zach Alford is in great form and looms as a major danger to the Blues, along with key forward Braidy Dickens, Steven and Mitch Gunther, Ben Knight, Brad Ladson, Damon Hemphill and Seb Relouw.
Win and lift percentage will be the goals for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in its home game against Maiden Gully YCW at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears start the round in second place, but behind Pyramid Hill and Bridgewater on percentage.
Latest hit-out for the Bears ended in a 13-goal win on Mitiamo’s turf at John Forbes Oval.
Gun recruit Josh Mellington has kicked 70 goals and will be eyeing another big haul.
The Bears line-up to take on the Eagles includes Charlie Gadsden, Andy Gladman, Jeremy Hancock, Justin Laird, Doolan Nihill and Nathan Twigg.
Tyler Miles will be keen to perform well against his former club.
An Eagles team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, has won two matches, but not credited with the points under penalties imposed by the LVFNL board.
Creating enough scoring chances to match BLS will be big challenge for Maiden Gully YCW.
Eagles’ skipper Josh Worsley has had a great season, along with forward Todd Delaney.
The play of Ryan Strauch, Ed Crisp, Bryce Franzini, Will Noden and Jayden Magnusson will be important to Maiden Gully YCW’s bid to upset the Bears.
Marong has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 338 per cent, 28 points; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 146, 20; Pyramid Hill 262, 16; Bridgewater 143, 16; Inglewood 73, 12; Calivil United 54, 8; Newbridge 57, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 42, 0; Mitiamo 41, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
70 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
41 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
24 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
22 Kain Robins, Marong.
22 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
18 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
17 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
16 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
16 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
14 Noah McCaig, Marong.
13 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
11 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
11 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
11 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
10 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
10 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.