MARONG will be primed for the challenge of playing Bridgewater in this Saturday’s 13th round of senior football in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
It’s a crucial match for both teams, especially Bridgewater as it tests premiership credentials against a club which has won the past three grand finals.
Marong has home-ground advantage at Jackal Oval in Malone Park for a showdown which starts at 2.15pm.
When these teams met in round four it was the Panthers who roared to a nine-goal win on Bridgewater’s ground.
Both line-ups have plenty of goalkicking power.
A Marong attack which includes co-coach Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor and captain Nathan Devanny will test Bridgewater defenders Harry Symons, Harry Conway and Josh Martyn.
At the other end of the ground, Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp has kicked 70 goals to again be leading the Valley’s goalkicking race.
It’s not all about Sharp as Bridgewater team-mates Oscar McKinley and Oliver Watt have kicked 21 and 17 goals.
Midfield and on-ball duels will be a highlight.
Across the centre Marong has Jacob Ede, Corey Gregg and Todd Davies to take on Jack Symons, Darcy Wood and Jack Milligan.
Marong has Michael Bradbury starring in the ruck and attack, and Lachlan Lee and Jimmy Gadsden as ruck-rover and rover.
The Panthers have Paul Thomson as non-playing co-coach.
The Mean Machine will rely a lot on the play of Luke Ellings, Tyler Estrada and Jack Neylon in and around the packs.
Bridgewater will be without Boden Alexander after he lodged an early guilty plea and was handed a one-match ban for striking.
Another big match will be at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park where the Bulldogs take on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
It’s second against fourth.
When these teams met earlier in the season the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs won in the Bears’ den at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve by 40 points.
A talented Pyramid Hill which has a nine-two record includes Zach Alford, Ben Bisset, Kai Daniels, Ben Knight, Mitch Langan, Ryan Semmel and Lachlan Sidebottom.
The Bears had the bye last round.
In round 11 the Jake Wilkinson-coached BLS won at Inglewood by 31 points as Tyler Miles, Josh Taig, Farran Priest and Jaxon Addlem were best.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine’s squad includes the experienced Andy Gladman, Ross Turner, and last season’s Harding medallist in Justin Laird.
After soaring to the fifth rung, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles will be determined to build on winning momentum against Mitiamo at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Eagles who are coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, have achieved four wins and a draw in 11 matches to lead the sixth-placed Inglewood by two points.
In round four, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles won at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval by two goals.
Players to watch for the Eagles include ruckman Daniel Russell, captain Josh Worsley, Todd Delahey at centre half-forward, Ed Crisp and Mitch Hill in defence.
Across the centre Maiden Gully YCW has Bryce Franzini, Mitch Whitham and Nathan Murley.
Massive plus for Mitiamo is the return of premiership-winning player Doug Thomas for his first match since the round seven clash with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Thomas was named in the centre for Saturday’s clash.
Superoos’ captain Ryan Duncan will play an important role in the ruck where he will team with on-ballers Cody Tuohey and Zac Morrison.
The Superoos have Brayden Baines, Andrew Cussen and Seth Wright as main targets in attack.
Best for Mitiamo in last Saturday’s clash at Pyramid Hill were Matt Gilmour, Zak Myers, Cody Tuohey, Dylan Marshman, coach Luke Lougoon and Tyler Rasmussen.
Inglewood will be back on home turf at Centre State Scaffolding Oval to play Newbridge.
In round four the Fergus Payne-coached Blues won on Newbridge’s turf at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval by 82 points.
It’s a must-win match for Inglewood to keep the heat on the fifth-placed Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Goalkicking is likely to have been a focus at training after Inglewood scored 4.13 at Bridgewater last round.
Best for the Blues in that match were Liam Marciano, Bregon Cotchett, Cody Stobaus, Harry Veitch, Daniel Polack and Lachlan Ford.
Newbridge was stung by a four-point loss to the Eagles last Saturday.
Billy Schilling led the Maroons’ attack on four goals as Brandon Dimech and Jed Zimmer kicked three each.
Ben McKinley, Andrew Padbury, Jed Zimmer, Will Copland, Billy Schilling and Jack Teasdale were best in the latest hit-out for the Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge.
The Maroons’ squad includes Chris Dixon, Jackson Hufer, Dylan Lloyd, Caleb Sanders and ruckman Corey Van Aken.
Calivil United has the bye.
Loddon Valley senior footy ladder:
Marong 233 per cent, 44 points; Pyramid Hill 212, 36; Bridgewater 161, 36; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 122, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 71, 18; Inglewood 104, 16; Newbridge 51, 8; Mitiamo 44, 8; Calivil United 42, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
70 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
55 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
48 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
45 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
36 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
27 Kain Robins, Marong.
27 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
23 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
21 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
20 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
19 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
18 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
18 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
17 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
17 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
15 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
15 Michael Bradbury, Marong.
14 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
14 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
13 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
12 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
11 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
11 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
11 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
11 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
11 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
11 Jed Zimmer, Newbridge.
10 Boden Alexander, Bridgewater.
10 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
10 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
10 Jack McCaig, Marong.