BY NATHAN DOLE
ON A four-game winning streak, Inglewood plays at Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s eighth round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL’s senior footy action.
The Darrell Billett-coached Inglewood is in great form going into the clash at Mitchell Park.
The Blues and Bulldogs showdown starts at 2.15pm.
A 5-1 record has Pyramid Hill in second place, a win and 52 per cent clear of third-placed Inglewood, 4-2.
After starting the season with consecutive defeats, Inglewood has bounced back brilliantly.
The Blues’ winning run kicked off with a 33-point triumph against Bridgewater at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.
Next round and the Blues won at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval by 123 points.
The fifth round clash with Maiden Gully YCW at Inglewood ended in a 49-point win by the Blues.
After the bye, Inglewood won last Saturday’s home match against Newbridge by 78 points.
Charlie McGaw led the attack on six goals and Sam Dorevitch added four as the Blues reached the 20-goal mark.
Best for Inglewood included Daniel Polack and Gabe Nevins.
The form of captain Nathan Angelino, Charlie Ingham, Thomas Kennedy, Fergus and Keelan Payne, Cody Wright has played a key part in Inglewood’s rise to the third rung.
Defensive actions will be crucial for the Blues in stopping a Pyramid Hill line-up which scored 132 points in last Saturday’s win against Maiden Gully YCW at Marist College Bendigo.
Dylan Collis is in top form for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs.
A strong on-ball team for Pyramid Hill includes ruckman Adrian Holland, Harding medallist and ruck-rover Billy Micevski, and captain Steven Gunther.
Other players to watch for the Bulldogs include Zach Alford, Thomas Brennan, Bailey George, Dylan Morison, Seb Relouw and Jesse Sheahan.
Footy and netball returns to Raywood when Calivil United takes on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Calivil United will wear the maroon and gold famously worn by Northern United during its days in the Golden City FL and later Bendigo Football League.
It’s an incredibly panel of central umpires who take charge of this match.
John Harvey will team up with Steve McBurney and John Russo to officiate in this match.
The three umpires have a combined tally of 785 AFL matches.
McBurney at 401, Russo on 221, and Harvey on 163.
The appearance of the umpires is made possible through the support of Mark Prince Eyecare.
The Harvey links to Raywood stretch back to the 1860s and John’s father, Stewart was a triple premiership player with Raywood in the 1930s.
Back-to-back wins is the target for the Anthony Dennis-coached Calivil United this Saturday after a 25-point victory at Mitiamo last round.
The Demons broke their season ‘duck’ and climbed from bottom rung on the ladder to seventh.
Best in Calivil United’s victory were Evan Ritchie, Rhys Lourie, Brae Mensforth and Hamish Wall.
Beat the Eagles and the Demons could overtake them in the premiership race.
Key players in the red and blue include Henry Miller, ruckman Justin Hynes, Jordan Lea and Thomas Piazza.
Maiden Gully YCW was kept to just two goals by the powerful Pyramid Hill.
Best on a tough afternoon for the Eagles were Hamish McCartney, coach Jay McDonald, Riley Bacon and Sam Keneally.
Maiden Gully YCW will look for big games from the likes of Tyler Miles, Matthew Crooks, Damian Wust, Cooper Hale and Brandon Dimech to mark their third win of the season.
Another big match will be at Bridgewater where the Mean Machine takes on the unbeaten reigning premier in Marong.
Bridgewater is on the rebound from a 40-point loss to Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Mean Machine was down 12-38 at quarter-time and could not halt the BLS run to victory at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Bridgewater’s best last week were Lachlan Allison, Darcy Wood, Jack Symons and Jacob Ellings.
Captain Josh Martyn has had a superb season and leads the league goalkicking race on 37.
Bridgewater coach Rick Ladson will look to Harry Donegan, Charlton Hindle, Alex Pollock, Emile Pavlich to show the way with their aggression at the contest, and also using the ball well.
Marong is back in action after the bye.
The Panthers won the round six match against BL-Serpentine by 73 points as gun forward Kain Robins were best afield.
In-form players for the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong include Nathan Devanny, Trent Fisher, Lachlan Lee and Richard Tibbett.
While most team-mates had a rest last weekend, gun forward Brandyn Grenfell played a “one-off” match for Nyah Nyah West United in the Central Murray FNL.
Grenfell kicked five goals as the Demons beat Mallee Eagles at Lalbert.
The Marong line-up includes Ben and Corey Gregg, and top ruckman Michael Bradbury.
It’s consecutive home games for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine as it faces Mitiamo this Saturday.
The Bears will start favourite to claim their fifth win of the season.
Kyal Zass, Darcy Poulter, Beau Roy-Clements and Aidan Brohm were best in the win against Bridgewater.
A talented BLS line-up includes coach Justin Laird, Charlie and Harry Gadsden, Callum Draper and Steve Gladman.
Seven goals by Jay Reynolds were a highlight in Mitiamo’s match against Calivil United.
Reynolds will again play a key role in the Superoos’ bid to upset the Bears.
Key players for the Jon Varcoe-coached Mitiamo include Andrew Cussen, Luke Lougoon, Zach Morrison, Dylan Clohesy, Duncan Proud, Brayden Baines and Ross Turner.
Newbridge has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 470 per cent, 24 points; Pyramid Hill 193, 20; Inglewood 141, 16; Bridgewater 116, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 111, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 57, 8; Calivil United 52, 4; Mitiamo 43, 4; Newbridge 42, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
37 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
33 Brandyn Grenfell, Marong.
22 Charlie McGaw, Inglewood.
21 Kain Robins, Marong.
14 Thomas Brennan, Pyramid Hill.
14 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
14 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
14 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
14 Matt Riordan, Marong.
14 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
13 Dylan Collis, Pyramid Hill.
13 Sam Dorevitch, Inglewood.
13 Jack McCaig, Marong.