BY NATHAN DOLE
Marong’s time at top under threat
MARONG’S reign as number one in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy competition is under threat.
A run by the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong at a premiership hat-trick hit a hurdle in last Saturday’s loss to Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final.
To gain a shot at redemption against the Bulldogs in the grand final, Marong must beat Bridgewater in Saturday’s preliminary final at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The showdown between the Panthers and Mean Machine starts at 2.15pm.
Marong won the home-and-away series matches against Bridgewater by 56 and 68 points in rounds six and 15.
A great run by the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater in the finals began with a 63-point triumph against Newbridge in the elimination final at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
A day after Marong went down to Pyramid Hill by seven points, Bridgewater won 80-79 in the first semi-final against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Both preliminary finalists have made two changes to their teams.
Marong has brought in talented youngster Jonty Davis and Will Gadsden.
A big season for Davis has included 13 matches with the La Trobe University Bendigo Pioneers in Coates Talent League and eight matches for Marong seniors.
Cooper Hale and Kyle Manley made way.
Bridgewater has brought in Jack Symons and Oliver Watt for Joel Green and Hamish Terry.
There is plenty of goalkicking power and experience in the Panthers and Mean Machine line-ups.
Marong’s attack includes Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor, Ryan Wellington and Shaun Knott.
A huge task confronts Bridgewater defenders Jake Rusbridge, Ben Derrick, James Naughton and Joseph Mayes.
In his first season at Bridgewater as an assistant coach, Lachlan Sharp has again passed a century of goals and looms as a huge threat to Marong’s chances.
Other key targets in Bridgewaters’ attack are captain Josh Martyn and Andy Collins, and then there’s the experienced Lee and Jon Coghlan at ground level.
A key factor in this match will be midfield and on-ball duels.
Marong has Nathan Devanny, Ben and Corey Gregg, Jimmy Gadsden and ruckman Michael Bradbury capable of setting up many attacks and also defending strongly.
The Mean Machine has Jack Neylon in the centre, Boden Alexander ruck-roving, and also Darcy Wood, Nic Naughton and Harry Conway to win plenty of contests.
Runner-up in the 200m at the Bendigo Gift carnival in 2023 in Flora Hill, Oliver Muggleton brings plenty of speed and athleticism to the Bridgewater line-up.
In the reserves competition, Marong takes on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at 12.30pm.
Beaten just once in the home-and-away series, Marong could not halt Pyramid Hill winning the second semi-final by eight points.
The Panthers beat the Bears by 21 points in round four, and won 73-27 in the Bears’ den at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve in the 13th round.
Fifth on an eight-eight record at the end of the home-and-away series, BLS won the elimination final with Inglewood by two goals and then marked a 15-point victory against Bridgewater in the first semi-final.
It’s Marong against Inglewood in the under-18s preliminary final from 10.40am.
Unbeaten in the 15-round run to the finals, Marong was beaten by 27 points in the second semi-final clash with East Loddon Rams.
The Panthers won all matches against the Inglewood Blues by big margins.
It’s a two-game winning streak for the Blues who won the elimination final against Pyramid Hill by two goals and then marked a 69-35 victory in the first semi-final against Bridgewater.