NEWBRIDGE faces a must-win scenario against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in Saturday’s 15th round in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy.
The Jayden Cordy-coached Newbridge rolls into Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve in seventh place and two wins the fifth-placed Macorna.
A big showdown in the Bears’ den will start at 2.15pm.
A four-match winning streak by the Maroons across rounds three-six includes a 45-point win against the Bears at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
The Maroons are on the rebound from a three-goal defeat at home to Macorna last Saturday.
It’s been a tough run for the Bears who were beaten by 62 points in their latest hit-out with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Marist College Oval.
Key match-ups for the Bears and Newbridge clash include BLS co-captain Charlie Gadsden in the centre against Zebb Murrell.
Bears’ forwards Tanner Rayner, Farran Priest, Aidan Brohm and Tom Hawker will be up against Lachie Costelow, James Blood, Dylan Lloyd and Jack McInerney.
At full-forward the Bears have Luke Crawford opposed by Jackson Hufer.
Ruckman and Bears’ co-captain Nathan Twigg will take on Will Copland.
Other players to watch for BLS include coach Jake Wilkinson, Tyler Miles, Jaxon Addlem and Callum Draper.
Main targets in Newbridge’s attack are Kobe Friswell, Chris Dixon and Caleb Sanders.
The Maroons have the pacy Zaiyden Richards and Blake Wells on the wings, and Baxter Ash and Andrew Willett in on-ball roles.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles face a huge test on their turf at Marist College Oval against the ladder-leading Bridgewater.
Since a 57-point loss at Marong in round eight the Eagles have won five of their past six matches.
Latest hit-out ended in a 62-point win at home against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine as Lewis Pigdon, Anthony Robins, Tye Bedford and Isaac Neretlis were best.
The Eagles face a huge challenge in limiting the quality and quantity of supply to a formidable Bridgewater attack led by coach Lachie Sharp and Oscar McKinley.
Key players for Maiden Gully YCW include Daniel Russell, Ed Crisp, Josh Worsley, Todd Delahey and Mitch Lines.
The Eagles are jointly coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, but playing co-coach Angus Monfries was not named in the team of 22.
Bridgewater will be without in-form playmaker Harry Symons who accepted a two-match ban after an early guilty plea to rough conduct.
The Mean Machine have Tyler Estrada, Josh Martyn, Jack Merrin, Nic Naughton, Jack Neylon and Darcy Wood capable of winning many contests.
It’s the Panthers against the Tigers as Marong meets Macorna at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Playing at Marong for the first time will be a massive challenge for Macorna, especially as the Panthers are on the rebound from a rare defeat.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong will be fired up after a 40-point loss in last Saturday’s clash on Bridgewater’s turf.
Panthers’ fans can expect a strong response led by the likes of Michael Bradbury, Jimmy Gadsden, Corey Gregg, Cooper Hale, Ryley Taylor, Richard Tibbett and Matt Willox.
It’s been an impressive debut season by Macorna in the Loddon Valley FNL as the Tigers are fifth on an eight-six record.
The Fergus Payne-coached Macorna marked an 18-point win at Newbridge last Saturday as Josh Whittle, Kieran Foley, Xavier Wishart and Seb Erharter were best.
Macorna’s team to tackle the Panthers includes Hunter Anset, Fergus Bear, Matt Colak, Ryan Dee, Dimiti Fasoulis, Toby Whinfield and Broden Wishart.
The Tigers will be without Laing Whinfield who was handed a two-match ban after an early guilty plea to striking.
A tough run for Mitiamo rolls on as the Superoos host Pyramid Hill at John Forbes Oval.
The Luke Lougoon-coached Mitiamo was beaten at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park by 113 points in round six.
The Superoos were defeated by 155 points in last Saturday’s match on Inglewood’s ground at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Best for Mitiamo in that match were Anthony Huismann, Zak Myers, Kobe Galvin and Zach Morrison.
Pyramid Hill bounced back from a 32-point loss at Marong to win last Saturday’s home game against Calivil United by 76 points.
Gun forward Jhye Baddeley-Kelly kicked 14 goals against Mitiamo last time.
A strong Bulldogs’ team coached by Jarrod Fitzpatrick includes Zach Alford, Brodie Carroll, Mitch Gunther, Ben Knight, Dylan Morison and Cameron Ross.
Calivil United will be back on its turf to play Inglewood.
The Sam Maher-coached Calivil United was beaten by 98 points when it played at Inglewood in round six.
Key players for the Calivil United Demons include Kade Blow, Sam Green, Jack Maher, Henry McCarthy, Cody Thompson, Zac Tickell and Riley Wagner.
After a nil-three start, Inglewood now has an eight-six record and is fourth in the premiership race.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues are chasing a hat-trick of wins.
Players to watch for Inglewood include Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett, Mischa Fraillon, Tom Kennedy, Liam Marciano, Gabe Nevins and Daniel Polack.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Bridgewater 191 per cent, 48 points; Marong 164, 48; Pyramid Hill 136, 44; Inglewood 122, 32; Macorna 110, 32; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 107, 28; Newbridge 86, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 74, 12; Calivil United 46, 8; Mitiamo 49, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
88 Lachie Sharp, B.
70 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
47 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
37 Cooper Hale, Mar.
33 Mischa Fraillon, I.
32 Oscar McKinley, B.
31 Farran Priest, BLS.
29 Henry McCarthy, CU.
21 Seb Erharter, Mac.; Caleb Sanders, N.
19 Shaun Knott, Mar.; Seth Wright, Miti.
18 Michael Bradbury, Mar.; Todd Delahey, MGYCW.
17 Zach Alford, PH; Brodie Carr, N; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Angus Monfries, MGYCW; Mitch Patten, B.
In the netball…….IT’S a rematch of last season’s A-grade netball grand final when Mitiamo faces Pyramid Hill in this Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL action.
Unbeaten in its pursuit of a premiership hat-trick, Mitiamo has home-court advantage at John Forbes Oval for a 3pm showdown with the Bulldogs.
Last September it was the Jen Wilson-coached Superoos who scored a 54-48 victory against Pyramid Hill in the grand final at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
When these teams met in the sixth round of this season it was Mitiamo which won 69-51 at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Superoos were in superb touch as they won last Saturday’s match at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval by 43 goals.
A Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney won 68-56 at home against Calivil United.
The Bulldogs start this round in sixth place, but just two points behind the fourth and fifth-placed Marong and Inglewood.
After a big loss to the Superoos, Inglewood will be determined to bounce back on Calivil United’s court.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Inglewood beat the Demons by 14 goals.
A Calivil United team coached by Annie Blow and Alex Ingram will have gained a lot of confidence from its play against Pyramid Hill.
It’s the clash of the Panthers and Tigers as Marong takes on Macorna at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
The Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton is in a fierce fight to hold its place in the five.
Marong will have gained a lot from the hit-out against Bridgewater.
Although they were beaten by four goals the Panthers showed they are teaming well and will start favourite against a Macorna team chasing its first win in the league’s top bracket.
The Brooke Allison-coached Tigers played well in a 33-48 result against Marong at Macorna earlier in the season.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles mark consecutive home games at Marist College Oval when they play Bridgewater.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles soared to a 19-goal win against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine last Saturday.
A 10-4 record has Bridgewater in second place on the ladder.
The Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Bridgewater defeated the Eagles by 47 goals in round six.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine is back at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to play Newbridge.
It’s another huge test for the Erin Varker-coached BLS team.
The Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge is third in the premiership race and will be determined to play well rolling into upcoming games against Marong, home; and at Inglewood.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL netball competitions after 14 rounds:
A-grade:
Mitiamo 198 per cent, 56 points; Bridgewater 153, 40; Newbridge 122, 40; Marong 103, 34; Inglewood 94, 34; Pyramid Hill 112, 32; Calivil United 85, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 66, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 64, 12; Macorna 52, 0.
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 208 per cent, 56 points; Marong 154, 46; Newbridge 140, 44; Calivil United 112, 34; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 112, 30; Pyramid Hill 97, 26; Mitiamo 78, 16; Inglewood 77, 12; Macorna 53, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 34, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 244 per cent, 56 points; Bridgewater 144, 48; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 113, 40; Marong 109, 34; Inglewood 109, 32; Calivil United 103, 32; Macorna 78, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 81, 14; Pyramid Hill 77, 8; Mitiamo 34, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 186 per cent, 52 points; Calivil United 124, 44; Newbridge 137, 40; Inglewood 114, 40; Mitiamo 116, 32; Marong 115, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 100, 24; Pyramid Hill 92, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 53, 8; Macorna 30, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 294 per cent, 56 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 176, 52; Mitiamo 132, 40; Bridgewater 113, 36; Pyramid Hill 105, 32; Marong 99, 28; Macorna 56, 20; Inglewood 40, 8; Newbridge 34, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 384 per cent, 56 points; Calivil United 477, 48; Marong 281, 44; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 183, 40; Bridgewater 87, 32; Inglewood 43, 16; Mitiamo 36, 16; Pyramid Hill 35, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 12; Macorna 34, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 838 per cent, 56 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 364, 52; Mitiamo 150, 40; Newbridge 118, 32; Marong 100, 32; Bridgewater 93, 32; Inglewood 58, 16; Pyramid Hill 30, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 8; Macorna 13, 0.