MACORNA has a great chance to seal a place in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy finals by winning Saturday’s round 17 clash with Pyramid Hill.
A point separated the Tigers and Bulldogs when they played at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park in round eight.
The Fergus Payne-coached Macorna has a nine-seven record in its first season in the league after crossing from the defunct Golden Rivers FNL.
A tough run for the Tigers includes Saturday’s clash with Pyramid Hill and then at Bridgewater to cap the home-and-away series.
Macorna showed plenty of fight to claim an 11-point win at home in last Saturday’s showdown with Calivil United.
Best for the yellow and black were Kieran Foley, Matt Colak, Jackson Hall, Laing Whinfield, Will Canham and Fergus Bear.
The Tigers’ squad includes Seb Erharter, Will Meharry, Spiros Sklavenitis and Josh Whittle.
Pyramid Hill has plenty of firepower to test Macorna’s defence.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly has kicked 41 goals in his past three matches to now be on 102.
A strong squad coached by Jarrod Fitzpatrick includes the experienced Zac Alford, Gavin James, Ben Knight and Dylan Morison.
The Bulldogs also have Isaac Brill, Jayden Dick, Will Perryman and Lachlan Sidebottom aiming to tame the Tigers.
Inglewood tackles Newbridge at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Jackson Hood-coached Blues won the Indigenous Round match at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park by 70 points.
Fourth in the premiership race on a nine-seven record, Inglewood can seal its final berth by winning this clash with the Maroons.
Players to watch for the Blues include Charlie Aitken, Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett, Mischa Fraillon, Tom Kennedy, Liam Marciano and Gabe Nevins.
A hat-trick of defeats has put Newbridge out of finals contention.
The Jayden Cordy-coached Maroons will be determined to take the points from the Blues.
Key players for Newbridge include Baxter Ash, Will Copland, Chris Dixon, Kobe Friswell, Dylan Lloyd, Zebb Murrell and Corey Van Aken.
It’s the Panthers against the Eagles as Marong and Maiden Gully YCW meet at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
An Eagles’ team coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, is a win and 10 per cent behind Macorna.
Maiden Gully YCW capped a brilliant fightback to win last Saturday’s clash at Inglewood by two points.
They now take on the Panthers who are gunning for a fifth consecutive premiership.
Key match-ups for Marong include key defenders Brodie Hartland and Matt Willox opposed to Todd Delahey and Ed Crisp.
Panthers’ captain Nathan Devanny will be in the centre against Mitchell Lines.
A strong attack for Marong has Cooper Hale, Shaun Knott and Ryley Taylor as key targets.
It will be a massive test for Eagles’ defenders Daniel Russell, Tahlan Brook and Anthony Robins.
Marong on-ballers Michael Bradbury, Jai Gretgrix and Jimmy Gadsden will take on Matthew Crooks, Mitch Whitham and Josh Worsley.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine is back on home turf at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to play Mitiamo.
After starting the season with seven consecutive defeats, Mitiamo beat the Bears in the Indigenous Round match on the Superoos’ ground at John Forbes Oval.
The Bears are on the rebound from a 107-point loss to Pyramid Hill.
Best for BLS at Pyramid Hill were Callum Draper, coach Jake Wilkinson, Nathan Twigg, Tyler Miles and Tanner Rayner.
It’s been a tough season for the Luke Lougoon-coached Mitiamo which has a 1-15 record.
Mitiamo’s best in last Saturday’s clash at Bridgewater were Kobe Galvin, Bryce Laird, Jayden Matthews, Scott Baldwin, Joey Mizzi and Zach Morrison.
Calivil United faces Bridgewater at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Huge challenge for the Sam Maher-coached Demons against the ladder-leading Mean Machine.
The Calivil United defence will rely a lot on the midfield and on-ballers impacting the quality and quantity of supply to Bridgewater coach Lachlan Sharp.
After a 25-goal haul last round, Sharp is now on 125 and in striking distance of the league record of 143 set by Marong’s Brandyn Grenfell in the 2022 season.
The Demons’ squad to tackle the Mean Machine includes Will Allan, Kade Blow, Sam Green, Jack Maher, Henry McCarthy, Tyler Rasmussen, Ryan Strauch, Zac Tickell and Brodie Wagner.
Multiple goalkickers for Bridgewater against Mitiamo were Logan Moss, Josh Martyn and Luke Ellings.
A formidable squad in red and white includes Bailey Cossar, Charlton Hindle, Jack Merrin, Jack Milligan, James and Nic Naughton.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder after 16 rounds:
Bridgewater 228 per cent, 56 points; Marong 173, 56; Pyramid Hill 152, 52; Inglewood 124, 36; Macorna 103, 36; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 93, 32; Newbridge 77, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 75, 16; Calivil United 48, 8; Mitiamo 48, 4.
Match of the day in next Saturday’s 17th round will be Macorna against Pyramid Hill from 2.15pm in the Tigers’ den at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine takes on Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Inglewood and Newbridge clash at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Marong tackles Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Calivil United faces Bridgewater at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
125 Lachie Sharp, B.
102 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH.
47 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
44 Cooper Hale, Mar.
37 Oscar McKinley, B.
33 Mischa Fraillon, I; Henry McCarthy, CU; Farran Priest, BLS.
24 Seb Erharter, Mac.
22 Bregon Cotchett, I; Todd Delahey, MGYCW; Caleb Sanders, N.
21 Shaun Knott, Mar.
20 Tye Bedford, MGYCW; Brodie Carr, New.; Mitch Hill, MGYCW; Angus Monfries, MGYCW.
19 Zach Alford, PH; Michael Bradbury, Mar.; Noah McCaig, Mar.; Seth Wright, Miti.
18 Kieran Foley, Mac.; Ryley Taylor, Mar.
IT’S fourth against second on the A-grade netball ladder as Inglewood faces Newbridge in Saturday’s 17th round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Inglewood Blues have home-court advantage at Centre State Scaffolding for the showdown with the Maroons.
First centre pass will be at 3pm.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Inglewood is still a chance of climbing into the top three and earning the double chance at finals time.
Not only must the Blues beat Newbridge and then Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, but also rely on the third-placed Bridgewater being defeated by Calivil United or Macorna.
Inglewood faces a huge test in taking the points against Newbridge.
When these teams met in Indigenous Round it was Newbridge which claimed a 10-goal victory.
The Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge won 56-46 on its court at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park.
After last Saturday’s play, Inglewood moved to a win tally of 10 ½ as it defeated Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by 45 goals at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Newbridge withstood a strong challenge from Marong to win at home by 13 goals.
Fighting to grab a spot in the top five, Pyramid Hill makes its way to Macorna Recreation Reserve.
The Pyramid Hill team rolls into this contest two points behind Marong.
Earlier in the season the Bulldogs won their home game against Macorna at Mitchell Park by 35 goals.
The Bulldogs’ line-up jointly coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Amber Dingwall and Darci Tierney will play at Macorna and then head to Newbridge to complete the home-and-away series.
Huge test for the Brooke Allison-coached Macorna which is chasing its first A-grade victory in its debut season in the Loddon Valley competition.
Marong will be on its court at Jackal Oval in Malone Park to take on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Panthers scored a 21-goal victory on the Eagles’ court at Marist College Oval in round eight.
A Marong team coached by Bridget Willox and Bianca Garton cannot afford to drop this match as Pyramid Hill is poised to jump to the fifth rung.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles will be determined to have an impact on just who does qualify for the finals.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine takes on the unbeaten Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
In round eight the Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo scored an 88-28 victory against the Bears at John Forbes Oval.
The Superoos are in superb form as they chase a premiership hat-trick.
Mitiamo won last Saturday’s clash with Bridgewater by 32 goals.
A young BLS team coached by Erin Varker will be striving to keep the pressure on Mitiamo for as long as it can.
Calivil United is back on its court to play Bridgewater.
The Indigenous Round match between these clubs ended in a 30-goal win for Bridgewater on its court.
A Calivil United team coached by Annie Blow and Alex Ingram has done well to achieve six wins this season.
The Demons won last Saturday’s match at Macorna by 17 goals.
A Bridgewater team coached by Lou Dupuy and Carly Wild will be determined to rebuild confidence and form rolling into the 18th round and then possibly a qualifying final appearance.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL netball competitions after 16 rounds:
A-grade:
Mitiamo 190 per cent, 64 points; Newbridge 126, 48; Bridgewater 145, 44; Inglewood 101, 42; Marong 106, 38; Pyramid Hill 112, 36; Calivil United 87, 24; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 63, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 62, 12; Macorna 53, 0.
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 204 per cent, 64 points; Newbridge 151, 52; Marong 154, 50; Calivil United 116, 42; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 109, 34; Pyramid Hill 106, 34; Mitiamo 75, 16; Inglewood 78, 12; Macorna 52, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 33, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 255 per cent, 64 points; Bridgewater 154, 56; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 106, 40; Marong 107, 38; Calivil United 106.3, 36; Inglewood 106.2, 36; Pyramid Hill 84, 16; Macorna 76, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 74, 14; Mitiamo 35, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 181 per cent, 60 points; Calivil United 130, 52; Newbridge 141, 44; Inglewood 110, 42; Marong 127, 36; Mitiamo 118, 36; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 94, 26; Pyramid Hill 94, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 51, 8; Macorna 29, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 324 per cent, 64 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 172, 56; Mitiamo 130, 48; Bridgewater 113, 40; Marong 111, 36; Pyramid Hill 101, 32; Macorna 52, 20; Newbridge 34, 12; Inglewood 34, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 383 per cent, 64 points; Calivil United 530, 56; Marong 257, 48; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 175, 44; Bridgewater 91, 40; Pyramid Hill 41, 20; Mitiamo 40, 16; Inglewood 38, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 12; Macorna 30, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 940 per cent, 64 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 380, 60; Mitiamo 149, 48; Newbridge 130, 40; Marong 113, 36; Bridgewater 86, 32; Inglewood 41, 16; Pyramid Hill 34, 16; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 23, 8; Macorna 12, 0.