Machine motors into showdown with Pyramid Hill
AFTER breaking Marong’s unbeaten run, Bridgewater faces another big challenge against Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s 14th round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
It may be a qualifying final prelude on Bridgewater’s turf as the Mean Machine faces the Bulldogs from 2.15pm.
Back in round five Pyramid Hill scored a 41-point win against Bridgewater in the Bulldogs’ kennel at Mitchell Park.
Both teams are on identical 10-2 records, but it’s Pyramid Hill which is 50 per cent clear of the Mean Machine.
It was a superb effort by the Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater to win at Marong’s Jackal Oval by 29 points last Saturday.
Nic Naughton capped a best-on-ground performance with five goals and will loom as a big challenge for the Bulldogs’ defence to hold across four quarters.
Goalkicking options for Bridgewater include Sharp, Oscar McKinley and Tyler Estrada.
The Mean Machine has midfielders Luke Ellings and Jack Neylon in great form and the experience of Josh Martyn and Harry Conway in defence.
A strong attack for Pyramid Hill includes Ben Bisset, Zach Alford and Archie Hildebrandt.
The Bulldogs have the athletic Kai Daniels in the ruck and the run of Ben Knight, Brad Ladson, Mitch Langan, Bailey George and Gavin James.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill also has the experience of Dylan Morison, Ryan Semmel and Lachlan Sidebottom.
A key return for the Bulldogs is Brodie Carroll for his first match since the clash with Inglewood in round six.
Another big match will be at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve where Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Marong.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears face an opponent on the rebound from its first defeat in many matches.
When these clubs clashed in round five it was Marong which marked a 40-point win in the Panthers’ den at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
The Bears and Panthers were both beaten last Saturday.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine was beaten 99-55 at Pyramid Hill as Nathan Twigg, Jaxon Addlem, Tyler Miles and Ross Turner were best for the yellow and gold.
Huge plus for BLS is the return of gun forward Josh Mellington who has kicked 48 goals in six matches, but not been on-field since round 10 because of a hamstring injury.
The Bears welcome back Orion Downing for his first senior match since the clash with Calivil United in round nine.
The BLS team aiming to outrun the Panthers includes Darcy and Tom Hawker, Harry Gadsden, Justin Laird, Jeremy Hancock and Doolan Nihill.
Marong could not halt Bridgewater’s charge to a 29-point victory last Saturday.
Panthers’ co-coach Kain Robins kicked five goals to be best along with Shannon Geary, Brodie Hartland and Ben Gregg.
Key players for Marong include Richard Tibbett, captain Nathan Devanny, Ryley Taylor, Michael Bradbury and Matt Willox.
Newbridge will be back on home turf at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval to take on Calivil United.
The Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge faces an opponent desperate to end its winless run.
When these clubs met in round five it was Newbridge which marked a nine-goal victory in the Demons’ den at Calivil.
In rounds 10 and 11, Calivil United worked hard to finish with 13 points of Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and then a goal against Mitiamo.
The Sam Maher-coached Demons then took on Marong before last weekend’s bye.
As the Demons had a rest, Newbridge was on the end of an 81-point thumping from Inglewood on the Blues’ ground at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Best for Newbridge at Inglewood were Will Copland, Brodie Carr, Ricky Cathie, Caleb Sanders and Andrew Willett.
The Newbridge line-up to play Calivil United includes Thomas Hobson, Dylan Lloyd, Oscar Perez, Billy Schilling, Caleb Argus and Jed Zimmer.
Calivil United’s squad includes Sam Green, Anthony Dennis, Jake Lawry, Jack Maher, Mitchell Stephens, Riley Walsh, Henry McCarthy and Kade Blow.
Mitiamo takes on Inglewood on the Superoos’ ground at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
In round five the Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood dominated play to beat the Superoos by 81 points.
A sixth win would put the Blues back in the top five as the fifth-placed Maiden Gully YCW Eagles have the bye.
Liam Marciano and Kai Cavallaro kicked four and three goals and were among the best as Inglewood won last Saturday’s home game against Newbridge by 81 points.
Key players for the Blues include captain Nathan Angelino, Bregon Cotchett, Seb Erharter, Thomas Guerra, Cody Stobaus and Harry Veitch.
Best for Mitiamo in last week’s loss to Maiden Gully YCW Eagles were Lachlan Twigg, Dylan Marshman, Zach Morrison and Bryce Laird.
A squad which has Luke Lougoon as playing coach includes Doug Thomas, Andrew Cussen, Tyler Rasmussen and Cody Tuohey.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 207 per cent, 44 points; Pyramid Hill 209, 40; Bridgewater 159, 40; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 115, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 74, 22; Inglewood 113, 20; Newbridge 49, 8; Mitiamo 45, 8; Calivil United 42, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
70 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
59 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
48 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
47 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
36 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
32 Kain Robins, Marong.
27 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
25 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
22 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
21 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
20 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
18 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
18 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
17 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
17 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
16 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
15 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
15 Michael Bradbury, Marong.
15 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
14 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
13 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
12 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
12 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
12 Nic Naughton, Bridgewater.
11 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
11 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
11 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
11 Jed Zimmer, Newbridge.
10 Boden Alexander, Bridgewater.
10 Mitch Cheesman, Pyramid Hill.
10 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
10 Jack McCaig, Marong.