FOR much of the season, tonight’s Bendigo Football League second semi-final was expected to be a clash between Golden Square and South Bendigo.
The Bulldogs and Bloods had established themselves as the two clear standout teams of the home and away season, both ending the 18 rounds with 17-1 records and a percentage above 200.
But while Golden Square coach Nick Carter has great respect for South Bendigo, he’s not surprised that the Bulldogs’ opponent tonight at the Queen Elizabeth Oval is Eaglehawk.
The Hawks last week produced their best performance of the season to defeat South Bendigo by 38 points in the qualifying final and set up a meeting with the Bulldogs for the right to advance directly to the grand final.
“Eaglehawk got itself into a situation last week where it had a side that had given them success in the past, and they just all fired on the night,’’ Carter said yesterday.
“When their side fires, it doesn’t matter who they are playing, they are going to be very tough to beat.
“Obviously, South Bendigo got a couple of injuries last week which didn’t help their team balance, but I certainly always believed that Eaglehawk would be up and about come this time of the year.’’
Golden Square had last weekend off courtesy of its first top-of-the-ladder finish since 1989.
The Bulldogs will enter the finals having won seven games in a row by an average of 74 points, and hungry for back-to-back premierships.
Golden Square will be close to full strength against an opponent it has easily defeated in their two meetings this year by margins of 70 and 47 points.
The Bulldogs named an extended squad of 24 players on Thursday night, with Anthony Holdstock, Matt O’Toole, Bendigo Bomber James Bristow and Bendigo Pioneer Tom Paterson coming in.
The only listed out from the side that smashed Strathfieldsaye by 142 points in round 18 is Dale Lowry (ankle).
Bristow was unable to take his place in the Bendigo Bombers’ VFL elimination final team last week because of a knock to his knee, but Carter says the versatile big man will be fit to play tonight.
“He will be fine. He has been down to see the specialist and there’s no problem there, so he will be right,’’ Carter said.
Of the Bulldogs’ squad of 24, 17 players were part of last year’s premiership side.
The Bulldogs sat on top of the ladder for all 18 home and away rounds, with their sole defeat of 2010 remaining a 17-point loss to South Bendigo at the QEO in round 11.
“We’ve kept to the plan that we set at the start of the year,’’ Carter said.
“At the moment that plan is still on track.
“Obviously, this is a second semi-final, but the focus will very much be similar to what we’ve done for most of the year.’’
The winner of tonight’s match between the Dogs and Hawks will advance to the Bendigo FNL grand final on September 18.
“With the way conditions have been over the past three or four weeks, bodies are going to be a bit tired, so if you can get that week off it will be a big help,’’ Carter said.
History also shows just how big an advantage it is to win the second semi-final.
Since 1950, the team that has won the second semi-final has gone on to win the BFL premiership in 43 of the 60 years.
Golden Square and Eaglehawk’s last meeting in a final was the memorable 2008 grand final when the Hawks won by six points, 14.11 (95) to 12.17 (89).
Since then the Bulldogs have won their past four games against the Hawks by an average of 70 points.
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