BY NATHAN DOLE
Newbridge eyes chance to jump to fifth
NEWBRIDGE has a great chance to be on the fifth rung by the end of Saturday’s ninth round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy action.
A win for Newbridge against Mitiamo and a loss for Inglewood in its clash at Marong’s Malone Park will mean the Maroons jump a rung.
Both matches will start at 2.15pm.
A win-loss record of two-five has Newbridge in sixth place, just four points and .13 per cent adrift of Inglewood which plays at Marong.
The Maroons are chasing consecutive victories following a 34-point triumph against Calivil United at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
A Newbridge team jointly coached by Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing, should take the points against Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
The inclusion of Ben McKinley who previously played at Dunolly and Marong made a big difference to Newbridge’s on-ball division against Calivil United.
Other key players for the Maroons include Will Copland, Thomas Hobson, Matt McArthur, Tyler McLeod, Caleb Argus and Corey Van Aken.
The Maroons best against Calivil United included Brandon Etherington and Dylan Lloyd.
Mitiamo will be determined to bounce back after a 30-goal loss against Bridgewater the previous round.
The Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos have put some great quarters together, but just not enough and on a consistent basis.
Mitiamo’s team to take on the Maroons includes captain Jack Vinnicombe, Bryce Laird, Brayden Baines, Nathan Twigg, Jye Rasmussen, Josh Diss, Alex Lloyd and Eli Spiers.
The Superoos will be without multiple premiership player Luke Lougoon for this match.
Mitiamo’s best in a tough day at Bridgewater the previous round included Ryan Duncan, Waylon Draper and Daniel Walters.
Reigning premier Marong is likely to reach the halfway mark of the season unbeaten.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers have answered all challenges in pursuit of a premiership hat-trick.
It’s been an extended break for Marong which had the bye and then the league’s general bye for the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
Marong is back in the den at Malone Park to take on Inglewood.
A powerful attack for the Panthers includes Matt Riordan, Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor and Ryan Wellington.
At ground level Marong has Jimmy Gadsden and Noah McCaig ready to swoop.
It will be a huge task for Inglewood defenders Will Allen (wearing number one); Sam Polack, Cody Stobaus and Callum March.
The Panthers have the experience of Nathan Devanny in the centre, Shaun Knott and Richard Tibbett across half-back.
Premiership-winning captain Corey Gregg will mark his third consecutive game of the season after not playing in rounds two through to six.
For the Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood a big emphasis will be on pressure when not in possession.
Huge roles to be played by Blues’ ruckman Thomas Kennedy, on-ballers Will Allen (number 58) and captain Daniel Polack.
Inglewood has Mitch Conlan, Liam Marciano and Keelan Payne in attack, but scoring chances may be limited in this contest.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles are back at Marist College Oval to take on Pyramid Hill.
Tough run for the Eagles to complete the first half as they played Marong at home, then at Serpentine, and now meet Pyramid Hill.
Winning and controlling the footy for longer will be important for an Eagles team jointly coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward/mid Angus Monfries, playing.
The Eagles have won two matches, but were docked 12 premiership points by the LVFNL board before the season began.
Key players for Maiden Gully YCW include Todd Delaney in attack, Dylan Turner, Ed Crisp, Bryce Franzini, Will Noden, Thomas Birch and captain Josh Worsley.
Runner-up in ’23, the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill is strong on all lines.
The Bulldogs have the running power of Ben Knight, Jaydon Cowling, Seb Relouw, Gavin James, and goalkicking prowess of Zach Alford, Bailey Scott and Jesse Sheahan.
Pyramid Hill will not want to coast in this contest as it faces Bears-Lagoon Serpentine next round.
Calivil United is on home turf against Bridgewater.
The Demons named Sam Green at full-back against Bridgewater’s gun recruit Lachlan Sharp who kicked 20 goals in the win against Mitiamo last round.
A multiple premiership winner and Ron Best medallist as the Bendigo FNL’s leading goalkicker in his time at Strathfieldsaye, Sharp is now assistant coach to Rick Ladson at Bridgewater.
Sharp starts the round on 61 goals and chasing Bears-Lagoon Serpentine’s gun recruit Josh Mellington who has booted 87 to lead the goalkicking race.
Massive challenge for the red and blue in trying to not allow the Mean Machine to create many scoring chances for the likes of Sharp, Andy Collins, Josh Martyn, Lee Coghlan and Harry McKinley.
The Demons will rely a lot on the play of Jack Maher in the centre, Ben Baker, coach Anthony Dennis, Sam Maher, Mitch Stephens, Hamish Wall and Dan Canfield.
Bridgewater named Jack Neylon in the centre and has the hard-working and skilful Harry Donegan as ruck-rover.
Both were premiership winners at Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square respectively.
Other players to watch for the Mean Machine include Peter Rothacker, James Naughton and Jack Symons in defence, and rover Boden Alexnader.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 338 per cent, 28 points; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 167, 24; Pyramid Hill 268, 20; Bridgewater 180, 20; Inglewood 66, 12; Newbridge 66, 8; Calivil United 56, 8; Maiden Gully YCW 37, 0; Mitiamo 35, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
87 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
61 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
28 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
22 Kain Robins, Marong.
22 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
21 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
17 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
17 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
16 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
16 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
14 Noah McCaig, Marong.
13 Anthony Dennis, Calivil United.
13 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
11 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
11 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
10 Andy Collins, Bridgewater.
10 Will Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.