BY NATHAN DOLE
MARONG and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine were victorious in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy semi-finals at the weekend.
Unbeaten in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Marong took on Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s second semi-final at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers went in as hot favourite as it had been the Bulldogs in both home-and-away matches by margins of 42 and 120 points.
In the semi-final the Bulldogs turned up the heat.
Marong led 37-28 at quarter-time and 62-42 by the main break.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill lifted its intensity and run in the third quarter.
As the Bulldogs slammed on 4.5 they kept the powerful Marong attack to a tally of 2.2.
By three quarter-time Marong’s lead was just five points.
Led by the experienced Richard Tibbett, Ben Gregg and Kain Robins it was Marong which seized control in the final term.
A score of 5.3 to 2.2 ensured Marong of a 17.7 (109) to 12.13 (85) result.
A century goalkicker for the Panthers the past two seasons, Brandyn Grenfell again led the attack on four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers were ruckman Michael Bradbury, three; Nathan Devanny, Matt Riordan and Kain Robins with two.
Also on target for Marong were Patrick Gretgrix, Jack McCaig, Tucker Thach and Ryley Taylor.
Pyramid Hill’s attack was led by talented on-baller Brodie Carroll on four.
Zach Alford and Jesse Sheahan chipped in with two each, as Dylan Collis, Scott Mann, Bryden Morison and Will Perryman added a goal.
Marong’s best included Nathan Devanny, Brandyn Grenfell and Jonty Davis.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Brodie Carroll, Bryden and Dylan Morison, Dylan Collis, Billy Micevski and Gavin James.
The Bulldogs will now tackle Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in next Saturday’s preliminary final at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Latest hit-out between the Dogs and Bears was the qualifying final at Bridgewater where Pyramid Hill romped to a 69-point victory.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine stayed in the premiership race and ended Bridgewater’s run in Sunday’s first semi-final.
The Bears and Mean Machine clashed at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Justin Laird-coached BLS led 26-10 at quarter-time and then threw the game wide open as it slammed on 6.1 to a goal in the second term.
A 47-point lead at half-time was 63 going into the last as BLS added 5.5 to 3.1 in the third quarter.
Bridgewater hit back to win the final term, 27-13, but it was Bears-Lagoon Serpentine which claimed a 111-62 victory.
James Rippingale kicked a match-high five goals for the Bears.
Other multiple goalkickers were James Bailey, three; and Callum Draper, two.
A highlight for BLS was its goalkicking spread as Charlie Gadsden, Harry Gadsden, Andy Gladman, Nash Kemp, Justin Laird, Kalem Paxton and Josh Taig were on target.
Bridgewater captain Josh Martyn and Nic Naughton kicked two goals.
Other goalkickers for the Mean Machine were Tyler Estrada, Charlton Hindle, Harry McKinley, Brayden Stepien and Hamish Terry.
Best for the Bears were Kyal Zass, James Rippingale, Louis Mott, Callum Draper, Beau Roy-Clements and Anthony Lewin.
Nic Naughton, Lachlan Cohen, Joel Green, Tyler Estrada, Emile Pavlich and Harry McKinley were best for the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater.
In the reserves competition, Marong won the second semi-final clash with Pyramid Hill by 49 points.
The unbeaten Panthers led 31-11 at half-time and then scored 8.1 to 3.2 in the second half for an an 80-31 victory.
Grant Dowler and Brad Matthews kicked three goals as Will Beagley and Noah McCaig added two.
Rowan Pollock booted three goals for Pyramid Hill.
Best for Marong were Noah McCaig, Grant Dowler, Billy Stewart, Jai Gretgrix, Brad Matthews and Chris Ling.
Thomas Nunn, Matt Moon, Darcy Hetherington, Brad Moon, Dylan Lovell and Ben Culross worked hard for the Bulldogs.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ kept rolling after a 39-point win in the first semi-final against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Eagles led 13-nil at quarter-time and 21-7 by half-time.
A closely-fought third term went Maiden Gully YCW’s way, 20-13.
In the last it was the Eagles who scored 3.3 to a point to wrap up a 60-21 victory.
Aljon Cazar and Corey Sungalis kicked two goals for the Eagles as Josh Baum, Jonte Carmichael, Joey Doolan, captain Hudson and Ryan Strauch were also on target.
Goalkickers for Pyramid Hill were Allan Edwards, captain Jayden Gladman and Mitchell Hancock.
Best for Maiden Gully YCW were Will Anderson, Grayson Brown, Jordan Crisp, Steve Turner, Toby Hudson and Mitchell Dean.
Zac Stone, Mitchell Hancock, Hamish Catto Zac Hollis, Mel and Abe Addlem were Pyramid Hill’s best.
Preliminary finals are on Saturday at Calivil.
In the seniors, Pyramid Hill tackles Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at 2.15pm.
Pyramid Hill meets Maiden Gully YCW in the reserves clash at 12.30pm.
Marong’s seniors and reserves teams will play the winners in the grand finals on September 9 at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.