BY NATHAN DOLE
Marong adds new chapter to rivalry with Bulldogs
ANOTHER chapter in the rivalry between Marong and Pyramid Hill will be written in Saturday’s second semi-final in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL footy finals action.
The Panthers and Bulldogs will clash in Bridgewater from 2.15pm.
At stake is first to the grand final and a week’s rest.
These clubs met in last season’s grand final which went the way of Marong.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Marong is in pursuit of a premiership hat-trick.
Pyramid Hill is desperate to break a premiership drought which has run since 1950.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs carry in confidence from the 71-66 victory when it last met Marong in the 12th round at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Earlier in the season Marong marked a 79-71 win in the round three match at East West Oval in Malone Park.
The finals series kicked off with last Saturday’s qualifying finals where Pyramid Hill outplayed and outran Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in a 123-35 result at Marist College in Maiden Gully.
Zach Alford led the attack on five goals as Damon Hemphill, Bailey George and Brodie Carroll won plenty of the footy.
Key match-ups for the second semi-final include Bulldogs’ captain Steven Gunther in the centre against Kyle Manley, Bryden Morison and Thomas Brennan as key defenders against Kain Robins and Matt Willox.
In the ruck it’s Lachlan Sidebottom against Marong star Michael Bradbury.
Another crucial duel will be Ben Knight taking on Panthers’ rover Nathan Devanny.
Players to watch for Pyramid Hill include Brad Ladson, Gavin James, Bailey Scott, Seb Relouw, Braidy Dickens and Jack Timmins.
Marong has the running power of Jimmy Gadsden, Ben and Corey Gregg, Jack and Noah McCaig.
Big roles will be played by Shaun Knott and Richard Tibbett in the Panthers’ defence.
On Sunday it’s Bears-Lagoon Serpentine against Bridgewater in the seniors elimination final at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
This season’s meetings stand at one-all.
Bridgewater won the round five showdown on its turf by 26 points.
The Bears dominated play to score a 108-25 victory in the 14th round at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
A positive mindset is the key for the Jake Wilkinson-coached BLS as it strives to rebound from a big defeat in the qualifying final.
The Bears are against an opponent which won the elimination final against Newbridge by 83 points.
Massive test for BLS as the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater has plenty of players with experience from finals in the Bendigo FNL.
A major threat to the Bears’ chances is Bridgewater full-forward and assistant coach Lachlan Sharp.
In his first season with the Mean Machine, Sharp has kicked 133 goals in 17 matches.
The gun forward is a multiple premiership player with Strathfieldsaye, a Michelsen medallist and Ron Best medallist.
A formidable attack for Bridgewater includes Sharp, captain Josh Martyn, Harry Conway and Lee Coghlan.
Huge roles will be played by Bears’ defenders Ryan Prendergast, Jake Wilkinson, Darcy Hawker and Tyler Miles.
Centreman Jack Neylon was best afield in Bridgewater’s latest victory and teams up brilliantly with wingmen Nic Naughton and Darcy Wood.
The play of Boden Alexander, Jon Coghlan, Andy Collins and James Naughton will go a long way to Bridgewater’s season rolling on.
Although it lost gun recruit Josh Mellington to a severe hamstring injury after he had kicked 93 goals in nine matches, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine has racked up some big scores.
Key players in the Bears’ forward 50m arc are James Rippingale, Andy Gladman, Farran Priest and Doolan Nihill.
A talented on-ball division for BLS is led by Nathan Twigg in the ruck, former coach Justin Laird, and captain Charlie Gadsden.
Other players to watch in the purple and gold are Ross Turner, Harry Gadsden and Callum Draper.
In the reserves competiton, Marong takes on Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final from 12.30pm.
The Bulldogs kicked off the finals by winning last Saturday’s clash with Bridgewater by 17 points.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Panthers and Bulldogs.
Pyramid won 72-62 at Marong in round three, but the Panthers struck back for a 39-21 victory in round 12 at Mitchell Park.
It’s Bridgewater against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the reserves first semi-final.
The Bears scored a two-goal victory in the elimination final showdown with Inglewood.
Bridgewater beat the Bears by 19 and 15 points in the home-and-away series.
The unbeaten Marong takes on East Loddon in the under-18s second semi-final from 10.40am.
East Loddon marked a 10-goal win against Bridgewater in the qualifying final.
Massive challenge for the EL team this Saturday as Marong has won all four matches against it.
On Sunday it will be Bridgewater against Inglewood in the first semi-final.
The Inglewood Blues scored a 67-55 victory last Sunday to put Pyramid Hill out of the premiership race.
It’s two-one in favour of Inglewood from this season’s meetings with Bridgewater.
The Blues won by 33 points in rounds three and 12, but Bridgewater hit back for a 72-35 result in the 14th round at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.