BY NATHAN DOLE
Storm fronts a fired-up Dragons
IT WILL be Sandhurst or Strathfieldsaye which qualifies for the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy grand final by winning Saturday’s preliminary final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
A later starting time of 2.50pm applies at the View Street ground to allow for the Bendigo Junior Football League’s under-16 grand final being played on the iconic turf.
Victorious in both home-and-away matches with Storm, the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst will start favourite against Strathfieldsaye.
At stake is a place against Gisborne to vie for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
Although it finished on top of the ladder, Sandhurst could not halt Gisborne’s run to 23-point victory in last Saturday’s second semi-final.
The Dragons have added Darcy Mills to their squad of 23.
Strathfieldsaye showed plenty of fighting spirit to overcome injuries and playing into the breeze in the final quarter to score a 78-70 victory against Golden Square in the first semi-final.
Storm’s depth will be tested as Shannon Geary, Charlie King and Darcy Mulquiny are all out because of injury.
Strathfieldsaye coach Luke Freeman and the match committee have promoted Hugh Behrens, Charles Dole and Carson James for the big clash.
A key factor in Saturday’s contest will be the on-ball and midfield duels.
After facing Braidon Blake last week, Sandhurst ruckman Connor Sexton takes on Tim Hosking.
Their tapwork at centre clearances and boundary throw-ins will be crucial.
Hosking racked up 58 hit-outs against Golden Square.
At ground level Sandhurst has captain Lachlan Tardrew, Noah Walsh and Caleb Connick.
It’s been a big week for Tardrew who was cleared of a striking charge at Wednesday night’s tribunal hearing.
The gun on-baller/midfielder has starred in many of the Dragons’ matches and is among the favourites to claim the Michelsen Medal as league fairest and best on Sunday night.
A talented on-ball group for Storm includes Daniel Clohesy, Lachlan Gill and Matt Harvey.
The firepower of Sandhurst’s attack led by Fergus Greene who claimed the Ron Best Medal, along with Lachlan Wright and Cobi Maxted will test Storm.
At ground level there is Joel Wharton who brilliantly swoops and rarely missing goalscoring chances.
Storm defenders Lachlan Ratcliffe, Patrick Blandford, Caleb Ernst, Ben Lester and Mitch Hallinan face a huge challenge.
At the other end of the ground, Dragons’ defenders Liam Ireland, Bryce Curnow, Isaac Ruff and James Coghlan will be opposed to Malik Gordon, Cooper Jones, Zach Charles and Riley Wilson in Storm’s attack.
Sandhurst’s team:
B: Isaac Ruff, Liam Ireland, Isaac Carracher.
Hb: Harrison Free, Bryce Curnow, James Coghlan.
C: Cooper Smith, Noah Walsh, Caleb Connick.
Hf: Matt Wilkinson, Lachlan Wright, Jake McLean.
F: Fergus Greene, Cobi Maxted, Joel Wharton.
Foll: Connor Sexton, Lachlan Tardrew, Lachie Hood.
Inter (from): Nick Stagg, Tanner Nally, Zach Pallpratt, Darcy Mills, Dayten Uerata.
Strathfieldsaye’s team:
B: Patrick Blandford, Caleb Ernst, Charles Dole.
Hb: Mitch Hallinan, Lachlan Ratcliffe, Daniel Clohesy.
C: Lachlan Gill, Caleb Sheahan, Jye Chambers.
Hf: Zach Charles, Cooper Jones, Carson James.
F: Riley Mulquiny, Malik Gordon, Riley Wilson.
Foll: Tim Hosking, Matt Harvey, Bode Stevens.
Inter: Ben Lester, Shannon Murphy, Hugh Behrens, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy.
In the Drummond Golf reserves competition, Gisborne takes on Strathfieldsaye from 12.45pm.
The Bulldogs are on the rebound from an eight-point loss to Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
A big week for Gisborne kicked off with Jacob Murphy claiming the Alan McDonald Medal as league fairest and best for a second time.
Murphy and his team-mates will be desperate to gain a chance to play for a premiership medal.
They take on a Strathfieldsaye line-up which won the elimination final against Eaglehawk by 16 points and then beat Golden Square in the first semi-final by 25 points.
In this season’s meetings, Gisborne beat Storm by 22 and 73 points.
Key players for the Bulldogs include ruckman Boyd Nalder, Elijah Brereton at full-back, Adam Brancastisano in the centre, Jarrad Lynch on a wing, Matthew Barake at full-forward.
Storm’s line-up includes Declan Lowther at centre half-back, James Blood in the centre, Jai Featherby at half-forward, Abe Sheahan, Siologa Siu, and ruckman Ned Hayes.
It’s the battle of the Bulldogs as Golden Square tackles Gisborne in the Sportspower under-18 from 10.45am.
Most recent meeting was the qualifying final which Golden Square won by 47 points.
The blue and gold went down in a 33-31 thriller against Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
Gisborne won last Sunday’s first semi-final against Castlemaine by 15 points.
Runner-up for the George Symons Medal as league fairest and best, Melvic Pambai will play a crucial role for Golden Square.
Best for the blue and gold in the second semi-final were Oliver Eaton, Lincoln McKern, Riley Dillon and Jack McMahon.
Golden Square’s squad includes Archie Eaton, Lachlan Ross and Bailey Warfe.
Gisborne’s line-up includes captain Lachlan Evans, Brodie Clarke, Campbell Johns, Jye Zerafa, Jacob Floreani and Charlie Ozanne.
Action kicks off with the Bendigo JFL’s under-16 grand final at 8.45am between Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye.