-By Nathan Dole
UNBEATEN in its quest for a fourth consecutive senior footy premiership, Marong meets Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in Saturday’s seventh round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Panthers have home-ground advantage at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park when the showdown with the Eagles starts at 2.15pm.
Marong is back on-field after the bye.
The winning streak kept rolling in a 40-point victory against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the fifth round at Jackal Oval.
Best for the Panthers that day were Noah and Jack McCaig, Ryley Taylor and Matt Willox.
Marong’s line-up is bolstered by the return of Richard Tibbett who has not played since round three.
Corey Gregg is also back since he was injured in the round two win against Pyramid Hill.
A powerful Panthers team coached by Kain Robins, playing, and Paul Thomson, non-playing, includes captain Nathan Devanny, ruckman Michael Bradbury, Jimmy Gadsden and David Johnstone.
A record of two wins, a draw and two defeats has put Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in fourth place on the ladder.
The Eagles were outplayed in a 29-89 loss to Bears-Lagoon Serpentine last Saturday.
Best for the Eagles were Anthony Robins, Grayson Brown, Mitch Hill and Mathew Crooks.
The Eagles have Shawn Filo as non-playing coach and former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward/mid Angus Monfries as playing coach.
Maiden Gully YCW’s squad includes captain Josh Worsley, Mitch Whitham, Daniel Russell and Todd Delahey.
The sixth-placed Bears-Lagoon Serpentine will tackle Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears teamed superbly against the Eagles last round.
Best in the 10-goal win in the Eagles’ nest at Marist College Oval were Callum Draper, Jaxon Addlem, Nash Kemp and Andy Gladman.
Players to watch for the purple and gold include Ross Turner, Harry Gadsden, Justin Laird, Farran Priest and Jeremy Hancock.
Mitiamo was beaten by nine points in its home game against Newbridge at John Forbes Oval.
Best for the Superoos were coach Luke Lougoon, Cody Tuohey, Andrew Cussen and Ryan Duncan.
It’s another big test for a Mitiamo squad that includes Doug Thomas, Jackson Falls, Kia Coatsworth, Brayden Baines and Tyler Rasmussen.
It’s the battle of the Bridges as Newbridge hosts Bridgewater at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
A two-three record has the Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge in seventh place.
Bridgewater is third on a four-two tally.
In last Saturday’s play, Newbridge marked a 16-point turnaround in the final quarter to win at Mitiamo.
Will Copland, Jed Zimmer, Tyler Constable and Billy Schilling led the way for the Maroons.
A Newbridge team coached by Matt McArthur includes captain Sam Gale, Oscar Perez, Jackson Hufer, Dylan Lloyd and Thomas Hobson.
It’s a huge challenge for Newbridge this week, especially in defence.
Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp leads the goalkicking race on 39 following a 10-goal haul in the win against Calivil United.
Best for Mean Machine against the Demons were Lachie Sharp, Harry Conway, Ben Derrick and Josh Martyn.
Bridgewater’s squad includes Luke Ellings, Harry McKinley, Jack Neylon and Tyler Estrada.
It’s the clash of the Demons and Blues as Calivil United hosts Inglewood.
Since a draw with Maiden Gully YCW in round one, Calivil United has endured four defeats in a row.
The task does not become easier for the Sam Maher-coached Demons against an Inglewood line-up under pressure to hold its place in the five.
In-form players for Calivil United are Sam Green, Jayden Leach, Lewis Fisher and Riley Walsh.
The Demons will look for big games from the likes of Jake Lawry, Tallis Miles, Thomas Piazza and Tommi Raukola.
Inglewood will have learnt plenty from a 10-goal loss at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Best for the Blues against the Bulldogs were Thomas Kennedy, Bregon Cotchett, coach Fergus Payne and Liam Marciano.
Inglewood’s squad to face the Demons includes in-form forward Seb Erharter, Thomas Guerra, Gabe Nevins, Cody Stobaus, Keelan Payne and Kai Cavallaro.
Pyramid Hill has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 186 per cent, 20 points; Pyramid Hill 158, 20; Bridgewater 115, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 81, 10; Inglewood 116, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 88, 8; Newbridge 76, 8; Mitiamo 60, 4; Calivil United 50, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
39 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
32 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
23 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
20 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
18 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
17 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
15 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
12 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
12 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
11 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
11 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
9 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
8 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
8 Luke Crawford, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
8 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
7 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
7 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
7 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
7 Kain Robins, Marong.
7 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
6 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
6 Jacob Ede, Marong.
6 Jack McCaig, Marong.
6 Noah McCaig, Marong.
6 Matt Willox, Marong.
6 Jed Zimmer, Newbridge.
5 Brodie Carroll, Pyramid Hill.
5 Mitchell Cheesman, Pyramid Hill.
5 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
5 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
5 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
5 Mitch Langan, Pyramid Hill.
5 Jake Lawry, Calivil United.
5 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
5 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
5 Nathan Twigg, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.