A 10-GOAL haul by Gisborne gun forward Pat McKenna highlighted a big win against South Bendigo in Saturday’s 11th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
It was a dominant display by Gisborne on its turf at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
McKenna capped an outstanding match with 10 goals for the Bulldogs as the Bloods were held to a score of 8.11 (59).
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne led 27-14 at quarter-time and 43-23 by the long break.
As the Bulldogs scored six goals in term three they worked hard to limit the Bloods to a tally of 2.3.
In midfield and on-ball, Brad Bernacki and Dylan Johnstone kept up setting up plenty of attacks which were often capped by a McKenna major.
Gisborne won the final quarter, 32-21, to complete a 113-59 victory.
McKenna led the way on 10 goals to gain a sizeable lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Shane Clough and Dylan Johnstone with two.
Was a tough afternoon for South Bendigo’s forwards in which Brock Harvey and Anthony Zimmerman led the way with three and two goals.
Best for Gisborne were Brad Bernacki, Pat McKenna, Dylan Johnstone, captain Zach Vescovi, Lachlan Evans and Shane Clough.
South Bendigo’s best were Tom Templeton, Ollie Turnbull, Anthony Zimmerman, Brody Haddow and Callum Crisp.
After consecutive defeats a South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, faces Castlemaine in round 12 on July 12 at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
In just his second match for the club, Jacquin Mifsud kicked eight goals in Eaglehawk’s big win on Golden Square’s ground at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
The Hawks led 28-8 at quarter-time and then raced to a 57-point lead by the long break after they scored seven goals and kept the Bulldogs to a solitary goal in term two.
The reigning premier won the third, 40-24, and then kicked five goals in the last on the way to a 146-44 victory.
Dominant figure in the Borough’s attack was Mifsud who had great support from Jack O’Shannessy, three goals; and Lewin Davis, Max Kennedy and Joel Mullen who booted two goals each.
Mifsud had kicked 22 goals in six matches for UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs in this season’s AFL Sydney action.
Was a tough afternoon for Golden Square’s forwards.
Jordan Rosengren led the Bulldogs’ attack on four goals.
Best for Eaglehawk were ruckman Callum Heath, Noah Wheeler, wingman Oscar White, Jacquin Mifsud, Ben Thompson and James Coates-moore.
Golden Square’s best were Noah Warfe, Harry Burke, Josh Kelly, Jordan Rosengren, Byron Ritchie and Logan Wescott.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes is fifth on the ladder on a five-five record.
Next hit-out for the Borough will be against Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park on July 11.
A Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing, will be back on home turf to play Broadford in the 12th round.
Castlemaine won every quarter in a 11-goal victory against Kangaroo Flat at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
A closely-fought opening term went Castlemaine’s way, 27-19.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine led 50-33 at half-time and then took control across most of the final hour.
As the Magpies scored 4.3 in the third they kept the Kangaroos to a tally of 1.3.
Five goals in the last as Flat was kept to just three behinds capped a 111-45 victory for Castlemaine.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Michael Hartley and Zack Derksen on four and three goals.
The hard-running Ben McConachy and Harrison Sheahan slotted two goals each.
Tyran Farmer and Nick Keogh kicked two goals each for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos.
Best for the Magpies were Callum McConachy, Jaise Coleman, Zack Derksen, Michael Hartley, Rhys Jenkins and Ben McConachy.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Tyran Farmer, Kyle Symons, Jarrell Ratcliffe, Nick Keogh, Josh Leersen and Jake Hywood.
A score of 247 points was one of Sandhurst’s in many seasons as the Dragons dominated on Broadford’s ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Sandhurst slammed on 14 goals in the first quarter and eight in the second to lead 142-nil at half-time.
The Dragons’ heat did not abate as they kicked 10 goals in the third.
Broadford broke the deadlock in the third quarter and added another two goals in the last.
At the final siren Sandhurst led 247-18.
Multiple goalkickers for the maroon and blue were Lachlan Wright, seven; Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted and Oliver Morris, five; Oliver Stewart, four; Jacob Austin, three; James Coghlan, Caleb Connick and Matt Wilkinson, two
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by Jayden Welch on two goals.
Best for the Dragons were Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson, Oliver Morris, co-coach Fergus Greene, Lachlan Wright and Lachie Hood.
A Sandhurst team which has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach has the bye next round before a July 18 showdown with Golden Square in the Ron Best Memorial Match in Wade Street.
Taiten Thomas, Jay Eager, Louis Thompson, CJ Brill, Harry Behan and Toby Hope were best for the Nathan Thompson-coached Kangaroos.
Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 201 per cent, 32 points; Sandhurst 200, 32; Strathfieldsaye 170, 32; South Bendigo 138, 28; Eaglehawk 144, 20; Castlemaine 131, 20; Golden Square 85, 8; Kangaroo Flat 48, 4; Broadford 10, 0.
The league has a general bye on July 4.
Round 12 will be played on July 11 from 2.20pm.
Match of the day will be at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park in Tannery Lane where Strathfieldsaye Storm takes on Gisborne.
South Bendigo tackles Castlemaine at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Kangaroo Flat faces Eaglehawk at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
Golden Square takes on Broadford at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Sandhurst has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
51 Pat McKenna, Gis.
33 James Schischka, S’saye.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
29 Brock Harvey, SB.
24 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
21 Fergus Greene, Sh.
20 Nick Keogh, KF.
19 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.; Ben Thompson, Eh.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jordan Rosengren, GS.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Brody Haddow, SB; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
15 Oliver Morris, Sh.
14 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Alex Smith, SB; Tom Strauch, GS.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Archie Rixon, Cm; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
Meanwhile in the netball……GISBORNE outpointed South Bendigo to score a 10-goal victory in Saturday’s 11th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne was in control for a lot of the contest on its court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
South Bendigo headed down the Calder Highway determined to take the points against one of the league’s top-three teams.
It was not to be for the Lauren Bowles-coached Bloods as Gisborne led 43-33 at the final siren.
The competition’s top two and last season’s grand finalists in Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst marked emphatic victories.
Kangaroo Flat made its way to The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve to play the Magpies.
The Jayden Cowling coached Kangaroos passed the century mark for the first time this season.
At the final siren Kangaroo Flat led 105-28 against a much younger and less experienced Castlemaine team coached by Vanessa Saunders.
It was another tough hit-out for Broadford against Sandhurst.
The Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford was on its court at Harley Hammond Reserve to face Sandhurst.
Runner-up in ’25, Sandhurst almost hit the 100-goal mark.
Slick passing, accurate goaling and strong defence were to the fore as the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons marked a 97-12 victory.
Details from the Golden Square and Eaglehawk match played at Country Vet Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street were not supplied.
Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition, pending Golden Square v Eaglehawk result:
Kangaroo Flat 207 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 185, 36; Gisborne 157, 28; South Bendigo 119, 24; Strathfieldsaye 97, 16; Golden Square 95.3 12; Eaglehawk 95.2, 12; Castlemaine 43, 4; Broadford 28, 0.
The league has a general bye on July 4.
Round 12 will be played on July 11.
First-up will be Golden Square on its court at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street against Broadford from 2pm.
Kangaroo Flat hosts Eaglehawk at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park from 2.30pm.
Strathfieldsaye takes on Gisborne from 2.30pm in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
South Bendigo and Castlemaine will clash from 2.30pm at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
Sandhurst has the bye.
Bendigo FNL netball, round 11 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 52 lt South Bendigo 55, Golden Square v Eaglehawk not supplied, Castlemaine 26 lt Kangaroo Flat 47, Sandhurst bye, Strathfieldsaye bye.
B-grade:
Gisborne 60 d South Bendigo 28, Golden Square 43 lt Eaglehawk 48, Broadford 34 lt Sandhurst 59, Castlemaine 31 lt Kangaroo Flat 54, Strathfieldsaye bye.
B-reserve:
Gisborne v South Bendigo not supplied, Golden Square 38 lt Eaglehawk 44, Broadford 8 lt Sandhurst 72, Castlemaine 31 lt Kangaroo Flat 53, Strathfieldsaye bye.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 44 lt South Bendigo 52, Golden Square 11 d Eaglehawk 8, Broadford 17 lt Sandhurst 67, Castlemaine 35 lt Kangaroo Flat 72, Strathfieldsaye bye.
15-and-under:
Golden Square 58 d Eaglehawk 20, Castlemaine 19 lt Kangaroo Flat 43, South Bendigo bye, Sandhurst bye, Strathfieldsaye bye.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after 11 rounds:
A-reserve, pending Golden Square v Eaglehawk result:
Kangaroo Flat 154 per cent, 32 points; South Bendigo 129, 32; Sandhurst 120, 24; Gisborne 130, 20; Eaglehawk 88, 12; Strathfieldsaye 69, 8; Castlemaine 67, 4; Golden Square 65, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 208 per cent, 40 points; South Bendigo 128, 28; Strathfieldsaye 120, 28; Kangaroo Flat 130, 24; Sandhurst 123, 24; Golden Square 92, 16; Eaglehawk 82, 8; Broadford 52, 8; Castlemaine 45, 0.
B-reserve, pending Gisborne v South Bendigo result:
Kangaroo Flat 161 per cent, 36 points; Gisborne 181, 32; Sandhurst 145, 28; South Bendigo 150, 26; Strathfieldsaye 116, 18; Eaglehawk 94, 16; Golden Square 92, 12; Castlemaine 50, 4; Broadford 25, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 210 per cent, 32 points; Golden Square 184, 32; Strathfieldsaye 173, 28; Kangaroo Flat 115, 22; Gisborne 118, 20; Eaglehawk 91, 18; South Bendigo 88, 16; Castlemaine 46, 4; Broadford 24, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 383 per cent, 28 points; Golden Square 232, 28; South Bendigo 97, 20; Eaglehawk 69, 12; Strathfieldsaye 79, 8; Kangaroo Flat 64, 4; Castlemaine 35, 0.