THERE were dramatic finishes to three contests in Saturday’s eighth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season.
Match of the day was at Gardiner Reserve where Gisborne took on Golden Square in the battle of the Bulldogs.
The Christian Carter-coached Golden Square made a great start to lead 25-8 at quarter-time, but Gisborne hit back to lead 41-34 by the main break.
The blue and gold won the third term, 22-13.
In the last it was the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne which scored 3.5 to a goal to seal a 77-62 victory.
Josh Kemp led Gisborne’s attack on three goals as Matt Merrett and Matt Panuccio added two each.
Gun forward Joel Brett booted three goals for Golden Square.
In-form ruckman Braidon Blake was best afield for Gisborne as Jaidyn Owen, Matt Panuccio, Brad Bernacki, Jake Normington and Liam Rodgers played key roles in the team’s eighth win in a row.
Best for Golden Square were Liam Barrett, Jon Coe, Hamish Morcom, Jack Hickman, Jack Geary and Jarrod Fitzpatrick.
The Tiger Army was in full cry at Kyneton Showgrounds.
In pursuit of a fourth consecutive victory, Kyneton trailled 38-48 at three quarter-time of a great contest with Sandhurst.
The Dragons led by five points late in the game, but some Rhys Magin magic to goal from an acute angle and then added his sixth shortly after clinched a 73-62 victory for the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Magin, and Cameron Manuel, two goals.
The Ash Connick-coached Sandhurst had nine individual goalkickers.
Tigers’ on-ballers Dean Bartrop and Hamish Yunghanns were best as Bailey McGee, Rhys Magin, Jake Safstrom an Louis Phillips played key roles for the yellow and black.
Sandhurst’s best were ruckman Hamish Hosking, James Coghlan, Liam Ireland from a half-back flank, Noah Walsh, Blair Holmes and Lee Coghlan.
It was agony for Castlemaine’s players and supporters in a one-point loss to Eaglehawk at Camp Reserve.
The Don Moran-coached Castlemaine kept the pressure on an under-strength Eaglehawk all match.
Scores were locked on 19-all at quarter-time before the Hawks kicked away to lead 46-32 at half-time.
The Pies won the third term, 9-7, and then dominated most of the final quarter to add three goals to 1.1.
At the final siren it was the Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk which led 60-59.
Eaglehawk’s leading goalkickers were Billy Evans, Liam Marciano and Matt Noden on two each.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Tommy Horne, three; Brad Keogh and Callum McConachy, two.
Best for the Borough were Sam Thompson, Dillon Williams, Joel Mullen, Billy Evans, Noah Wheeler and Jacob O’Brien.
The hot form of Tommy Horne continued as Riley Pedretti, Will Moran, John Watson, Jackson Hood and Dakota Slingo all played well for the Magpies.
Strathfieldsaye was ruthless against Kangaroo Flat at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
The Storm led 83-2 at half-time on the way to a 176-17 victory.
An outstanding season by James Schischka rolled on as he kicked nine goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for Storm were Riley Clarke and Riley Wilson, four; Jye Formosa, three; and Joseph Mayes, two.
Jake Hywood booted both of the Roos’ goals.
Best for the Darryl Wilson and Shannon Geary-coached Storm were Callum McCarty, Jake Moorhead, James Schischka, Riley Wilson, Tim Hosking and Jye Formosa.
On a tough afternoon for the Roos it was Ryan O’Keefe, Brodie Fry, Nick Lang, Ethan Roberts, Liam Collins and Sam Barnes who were best.
South Bendigo withstood a spirited challenge from Maryborough to win by 51 points at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bloods were under pressure from the Magpies throughout a lot of the first half.
The Nathan Horbury-coached South Bendigo led 59-33 at half-time and won a low-scoring third term, 17-8, before it added 4.2 to 1.4 in the last quarter.
Michael Herlihy kicked four goals in a best afield performance for the Bloods as Brock Harvey and Will Keck added two.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Chris Freeman on four.
Best for the Bloods were Michael Herlihy, Cameron Taggert, Oscar White, Isaiah Miller, Sam Langley and Braydan Torpey.
It was a comeback to the playing field for Maryborough coach Rick Andrews, a premiership winner with the Magpies and Sandhurst.
Best for the Pies on Saturday were Kya Lanfranchi, Thomas Gardam, Chris Freeman, Jayden Hooper, Lucas Hurse and Jacob Lohmann.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Gisborne 294 per cent, 32 points; Strathfieldsaye 221, 28; Golden Square 230, 20; Eaglehawk 128, 20; Kyneton 108, 20; South Bendigo 94, 16; Sandhurst 117, 12; Kangaroo Flat 51, 8; Castlemaine 35, 4.
Leaders in the Ron Best Medal goalkicking award:
44 Joel Brett, GS.
30 Rhys Magin, Kyn.; Pat McKenna, Gis.
27 Jayden Burke, GS.
23 Brock Harvey, SB; Josh Kemp, Gis.; James Schischka, S’saye.
22 Cameron Manuel, Kyn.
20 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Lachlan Sharp, S’saye.
16 Darcy Richards, Eh; Braydon Vaz, GS; Joel Wharton, Sh.
15 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Chris Freeman, Mb; Liam Marciano, Eh; Matthew Merrett, Gis.
13 Jack Scanlon, Gis.; Lachy Wilson, KF.
12 Kallen Geary, S’saye; Matthew Panuccio, Gis.; Ryan Pretty, Kyn.; Mitch Rovers, KF; Matt Thornton, Sh.
11 Ben Thompson, Eh.
In next Saturday’s ninth round, Golden Square plays Strathfieldsaye at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Eaglehawk takes on Gisborne at Canterbury Park.
Maryborough and Kyneton clash at Princes Park.
Kangaroo Flat faces South Bendigo at Dower Park.
Sandhurst and Castlemaine play at Queen Elizabeth Oval on the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend.
Written by Nathan Dole.