AFTER blowing its opposition away by an average of 101 points in its first four games, Bridgewater is setting itself on Saturday for the rival looming as the biggest threat to its run at a Loddon Valley Football League record seventh flag in a row.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Mean Machine hosts Mitiamo at Laser Plumbing Bendigo Oval in a game that doubles as not only the grand final rematch, but a clash between the only two undefeated teams after four rounds.
“We’re certainly looking forward to this week… we know it’s a challenge no matter who we play, but when you run into a team that is at the top end of the ladder it’s exciting,” Bridgewater coach Marc Lindsay said on Friday.
While the Mean Machine has won its four games so far by margins of 79, 88, 101 and 139 points, it hasn’t been as smooth-sailing as those one-sided scores would suggest.
Last week in what became a 139-point win the Mean Machine led bottom side Bears Lagoon-Serpentine by just 13 points at half-time – at which stage they had 4.15 on the board – before kicking 21 goals to one after the main break.
And while it may sound like nitpicking, the week before when they beat Inglewood by 101 points they were outscored a combined 32-18 by the Blues in the second and fourth quarters.
“We’ll certainly have to play four good quarters of footy this week to come out with a good result,” Lindsay said.
“We’ll be looking to hit the scoreboard pretty hard early, which we didn’t do last week, to set the game up.”
One of the danger men for the Mean Machine will be Mitiamo full-forward and coach Justin Maddern, who has kicked seven, eight and six goals in his three games to lead the LVFL goalkicking with 21.
“Daniel Nalder does a great job for us at full-back each week on all the key forwards, so if Justin plays deep he’ll get that job,” Lindsay said.
“But Daniel is also good up the field as well. We like to release him like last week when we had him at centre half-back.”
One of the players who has been pivotal in the Mean Machine’s flying start to the season has been new captain Zeb Broadbent, who has been in their best two players in all four games so far.
“He has stepped up really well, which is no surprise to me. He’s leading by example, is a workhorse and a barometer for us. He just keeps getting to the footy and is going to be a big key for us again on Saturday,” Lindsay said.
In what’s a scary proposition for rival clubs, the Mean Machine still have the star quartet of Andy Collins (shoulder), Zac East (foot), Alex Pollock (knee) and Brad Rohde (foot) on the sidelines and to all come back in during the year.
Mitiamo hasn’t beaten Bridgewater since its premiership year of 2009, with the Mean Machine having won the past 13 clashes between the clubs by an average of 68 points.
Saturday’s games – Marong v Inglewood, Newbridge v BL-Serpentine, Bridgewater v Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill v YCW. Calivil United bye.
