-By Nathan Dole
MARONG outran the Mean Machine in Saturday’s round four clash at Bridgewater in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy action.
In pursuit of a fourth consecutive premiership, Marong issued another strong warning in a 119-65 result.
An entertaining first term ended with Marong in front, 32-25.
The Panthers raised the intensity and run in the second as they added 5.6 and kept the Machine to a tally of 1.2.
A 35-point buffer for Marong going into the second half was 51 at a quarter to play.
The Panthers won the last, 22-19 as the scoreboard read 119-65 at the siren.
Panthers’ captain Nathan Devanny kicked three goals as Michael Bradbury, Kain Robins and Ryley Taylor added two each.
Bridgewater’s attack was led by Oscar McKinley on four as Alex Powell and coach Lachlan Sharp kicked two each.
Best for Marong were Nathan Devanny, Michael Bradbury, Jimmy Gadsden, Matt Willox, Ben Gregg and Jai Gretgrix.
Oscar and Harry McKinley, Jack Neylon, Oliver Watt, Josh Martyn and Ben Derrick played well for Bridgewater.
Pyramid Hill marked a 40-point victory against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Bulldogs led 55-33 at half-time before the Bears won the third term, 18-16.
Led by the play of Brodie Carroll, Archie Hildebrandt and Lachlan Sidebottom, Pyramid Hill scored another four goals in the last to record a 99-59 victory.
Ben Bisset led the Dogs’ attack on three goals as Zach Alford, Brodie Carroll, captain Steven Gunther and Ben Knight kicked two each.
Leading goalkicker for the Bears was Josh Mellington with three.
Best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill included Steven Gunther, Dylan Morison and Daniel Frame.
Harry Gadsden, Nathan Twigg, Justin Laird, Andy Gladman, Farran Priest and Callum Draper were best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears.
Closest match of the day was John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo where Maiden Gully YCW Eagles beat the Superoos by two goals.
The Eagles scored nine straight goals on their way to a 54-32 lead by half-time.
Mitiamo hit back to win the third quarter, 21-17.
Pressure was high in the last, but Maiden Gully YCW answered the challenge with four goals as Mitiamo scored 3.6.
At the final siren the Eagles led 95-83.
Tyler James kicked an equal match-high five goals for the Eagles as Mitch Hill added three.
Other multiple goalkickers for Maiden Gully YCW were co-coach Angus Monfries and gun recruit Daniel Russell on two.
Mitiamo’s attack was led by Brayden Baines on five as Seth Wright added three.
Best for an Eagles team which has Shaun Filo as non-playing co-coach were Mitch Hill, Tyler James, Ed Crisp, Anthony Robins, Nathan Murley and Bryce Franzini.
Zach Morrison, coach Luke Lougoon, Doug Thomas, Matt Gimour, Brayden Baines and Ryan Duncan were best for the Superoos.
Inglewood marked its first win of the season and grabbed the fifth rung on the ladder after a 128-46 result on Newbridge’s turf at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park.
The Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood led 32-7 at quarter-time and then dominated the second as it scored nine goals and kept Newbridge to a goal.
The Blues kept dominating many of the on-ball and midfield duels.
Inglewood won the third, 26-16.
Newbridge hit back to win the last, 17-14.
Seb Erharter was in hot form as he kicked seven goals and the skilful Liam Marciano added six.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Blues were Bregon Cotchett and Daniel Polack on two.
Newbridge’s attack was led by Billy Schilling on three.
Best for the Blues were Luke Matheson, Bregon Cotchett, Liam Marciano, Seb Erharter, Fergus Payne and Ben Napier.
Caleb Sanders, Will Copland, Ricky Cathie, Kobe Friswell, Jed Zimmer and Dylan Lloyd were best for the Matt McArthur-coached Maroons.
It had been a tough run for the Blues as they faced Marong, BLS and Bridgewater in the opening three rounds.
Calivil United had the bye.
In next Saturday’s fifth round, Pyramid Hill takes on Bridgewater at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park from 2.15pm.
Marong and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine clash at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Inglewood hosts Mitiamo at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Calivil United tackles Newbridge at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 199 per cent, 16 points; Pyramid Hill 157, 12; Bridgewater 111, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 10; Inglewood 120, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 76, 4; Mitiamo 65, 4; Calivil United 55, 2; Newbridge 45, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
22 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
18 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
16 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
14 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
11 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW.
11 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
10 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
9 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
8 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
7 Kain Robins, Marong.
6 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
6 Luke Crawford, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
6 Jacob Ede, Marong.
6 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
5 Mitch Cheesman, Pyramid Hill.
5 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
5 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
5 Mitch Langan, Pyramid Hill.
5 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
5 Matt Willox, Marong.
5 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.