BY NATHAN DOLE
Machine, Bulldogs dominate as finals kick off
BRIDGEWATER and Pyramid Hill dominated the weekend’s start to the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy finals series.
The Mean Machine from Bridgewater stayed in the premiership race as it marked a 63-point victory against Newbridge in Sunday’s elimination final at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Although it had been beaten by Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in both home-and-away games, Pyramid Hill was in control from the first contest in the qualifying final at Marist College in Maiden Gully.
The finals experience of many in the Bridgewater team, not just in the Loddon Valley also the Bendigo FNL, was to the fore against Newbridge.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater raced to a 31-1 lead by quarter-time as Newbridge featured in senior finals for the first time since the 2018 premiership victory.
The game was halted in the second quarter because of lightning.
Bridgewater led 51-27 by half-time.
Another heavy downpour meant the match was stopped 10 minutes into the third quarter.
After a delay of more than 50 minutes the game rolled on.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater scored 3.6 and held the Maroons to a tally of 1.1 in the third quarter.
Led by the play of Jack Neylon in the centre, Joseph Mayes, and Michelsen medallist and Sandhurst’s duel premiership player Lee Coghlan, Bridgewater added seven goals in the last.
At the final siren the Mean Machine led 113-50.
In a season where he has again passed the century mark, Bridgewater gun recruit and assistant coach Lachlan Sharp led the attack on five goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for Bridgewater were Jack Neylon, three; Ben Derrick and Tyler Estrada, two.
The experienced Chris Dixon kicked four goals for Newbridge.
Best for Bridgewater included Darcy Wood, Ben Derrick and Harry McKinley.
Newbridge’s best were Brandon Dimech, Will Copland, Brandon Etherington, Thomas Hobson, Tyler McLeod and Chris Dixon.
The focus for Bridgewater is now on Sunday’s first semi-final where it will tackle Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Although disappointed by Sunday’s result the Sam Gale and Daniel Smith-coached Newbridge can take plenty of positives from a season in which it achieved a seven-nine record and played finals again.
Pyramid Hill earned another crack at reigning premier Marong by winning Saturday’s qualifying final against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The workrate of the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill at centre clearances and stoppages was exceptional.
Pyramid Hill put the Bears defence under enormous pressure in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs made a hot start as they scored five goals in the opening term and held the Bears to a point.
Quarter two went the way of the team in red, white and blue, 27-25.
Five goals to nil in the third quarter put the result beyond doubt as Pyramid Hill led 90-27 going into the final term.
The Bulldogs’ intensity and run did not ease up as they scored another five goals in the last to complete a 123-35 victory.
Among the many positive signs for the Bulldogs were a tally of 19 goals, but also the defensive efforts to hold BLS to a tally of 5.5 (35).
Pyramid Hill’s attack was led by Zach Alford on five goals as Jack Burns, Brodie Carroll, Bailey George and Damon Hemphill kicked two each.
Leading goalkicker for the Bears was James Rippingale on three.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Damon Hemphill, Bailey George, Brodie Carroll, Steven Gunther, Jack Timmins and Thomas Brennan.
Best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears were Bailey Harrison, Louis Mott, Tyler Miles, James Rippingale, Charlie Gadsden and Justin Laird.
Saturday’s second semi-final showdown between the Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers and the Bulldogs will be at Bridgewater.
In the reserves competition, Pyramid Hill won through to the second semi-final against Marong.
The Bulldogs scored a 52-35 win against Bridgewater in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Bridgewater will aim to rebound from defeat when it tackles Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in Sunday’s first semi-final.
The Bears stayed in the premiership race by winning the elimination final against Inglewood by two goals.
It will be Marong against East Loddon in the under-18s second semi-final.
East Loddon kicked off its campaign by scoring an 84-23 victory against Bridgewater in the qualifying final.
The Mean Machine will now tackle Inglewood in the first semi-final.
The Blues defeated Pyramid Hill, 67-55 in the elimination final.
Elimination final scoreboard:
Seniors:
Bridgewater 4.7 7.9 9.15 16.17 (113)
Newbridge 0.1 4.3 5.4 7.8 (50)
GOALS – Bridgewater: Lachlan Sharp 5, Jack Neylon 3, Ben Derrick, Tyler Estrada 2, Lee Coghlan, Bradley Holt, Nic Naughton, Oliver Watt. Newbridge: Chris Dixon 4, Tyler Constable, Will Daly, Caleb Sanders.
BEST – Bridgewater: Jack Neylon, Joseph Mayes, Lee Coghlan, Darcy Wood, Ben Derrick, Harry McKinley. Newbridge: Brandon Dimech, Will Copland, Brandon Etherington, Thomas Hobson, Tyler McLeod, Chris Dixon.
Reserves:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 8.6 (54) d Inglewood 6.6 (42)
GOALS – Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Matthew Frecker 3, Oscar Amy, Harrison Gadsden, Steve Gladman, Zac Hollis, Cameron O’Shannessy. Inglewood: Seb Erharter, Jed Rouse 2, Simon Dundas, Aaron Lister.
BEST – Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Dean McKay, Matthew Frecker, Kalem Paxton, Harrison Gadsden, Mel Addlem, Lachlan Murley. Inglewood: Deklen Gorrie, Kye Wicks, Darcy Hogan, Seb Erharter, Cameron Martin, Jed Rouse.
Under-18s:
Inglewood 10.7 (67) d Pyramid Hill 8.7 (55)
GOALS – Jackson Luckman 3, Tyler Murphy, Harrison Noble, Ryder Smith 2, Dylan Gilbee. Pyramid Hill: Harrison Goodes 3, Oscar Emmerson, Xavier Emmerson, Blake Gibson, Connor McCoy, Jaxon Peter.
BEST – Inglewood: Tyler Murphy, Kyle McClellan, Cooper Hackett, Dylan Gilbee, Willem Schepers, Tate Lovett. Pyramid Hill: Xavier Emmerson, Blake Gibson, Harrison Goodes, Jacob Clough-Fidler, Connor McCoy.
Qualifying final scoreboard:
Seniors:
Pyramid Hill 5.1 9.4 14.6 19.9 (123)
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 0.1 4.2 4.3 5.5 (35)
GOALS – Pyramid Hill: Zach Alford 5, Jack Burns, Brodie Carroll, Bailey George, Damon Hemphill 2, Thomas Brennan, Dylan Collis, Braidy Dickens, Ben Knight, Brad Ladson, Bailey Scott. Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: James Rippingale 3, Justin Laird, Ross Turner.
BEST – Pyramid Hill: Damon Hemphill, Bailey George, Brodie Carroll, Steven Gunther, Jack Timmins, Thomas Brennan. Bears-Lagoon Serpentine: Bailey Harrison, Louis Mott, Tyler Miles, James Rippingale, Charlie Gadsden, Justin Laird.
Reserves:
Pyramid Hill 1.1 3.3 5.4 8.4 (52)
Bridgewater 3.1 4.2 4.4 5.5 (35)
GOALS – Pyramid Hill: Mitchell Dingwall, Nathan Moon 2, Ed Caburnay, Greg Quinn, Dylan Lovell, Thomas Walker. Bridgewater: Michael Brooks, Nicholas Hall 2, Ashley Woodman.
BEST – Pyramid Hill: Thomas Walker, Matthew Moon, Greg Quinn, Mitch Gunther, Brad Driscoll, Mitch Dingwall. Bridgewater: Joel Green, Ashley Woodman, Aaron Gauci, Peter Wardell, Jay Bowen, Jack McKenzie.
Under-18s:
East Loddon 4.4 6.7 8.9 12.12 (84)
Bridgewater 0.2 0.3 3.5 3.5 (23)
GOALS – East Loddon: Mitchell Hancock, Lachlan James, Brodie Wagner 2, Fynn Clymo, Mason Hocking, Joseph Ketterer, Kyen Maxted, Jake Smith, Liam Stephens. Bridgewater: Ollie Clapp, Jamison Friswell, Tarrant Pidoto.
BEST – East Loddon: Liam Stephens, Patrick Cunningham, Mason Hocking, Tyler Rasmussen, Joseph Ketterer, Kyen Maxted. Bridgewater: Ollie Clapp, Sam McMahon, Jacob Larson, Zavier Morton, Tarrant Pidoto, Ashton Frankling.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Bridgewater:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Marong v East Loddon.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at East West Oval, Malone Park, Marong:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Bridgewater v Inglewood.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Bridgewater v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Bears-Lagoon Serpentine v Bridgewater.