Weekend footy games - BFL, LVFL, HDFL

Classic “eight point” game between two top-three aspirants.

Both sides started with two wins, but were beaten last week to now be among five 2-1 teams.

The Hawks have defeated the Bulldogs just once in their past 22 meetings, while Golden Square’s conversion has been abysmal this year with a combined 23.45.

Last time: Golden Square 11.13 (79) d Eaglehawk 9.6 (60) - 2016 preliminary final.

GISBORNE (1-2) v STRATHFIELDSAYE (2-1) - 2.20pm Saturday at Gisborne.

The Bulldogs will be buoyed after their first win of the season against Kangaroo Flat last week by 16 points.

But to be any chance of knocking over the Storm for the first time since 2013 they can’t afford to wait until the third quarter like last week to click into gear.

The dynamic Lachlan Sharp (18 goals) in his return from a knee injury and midfielder Trent Donnan are both in good form for the Storm.

Last time: Strathfieldsaye 20.13 (133) d Gisborne 6.9 (45).

SANDHURST (2-1) v KYNETON (3-0) - 2.20pm Saturday at QEO.

Plenty of focus on the Tigers to see how they stack up against the reigning premiers in their only QEO home and away game.

The 3-0 Tigers are the only undefeated team left standing in what has been their best start to a season since 1999 and their confidence should be sky high after a 155-point demolition of Castlemaine last week, but the level of competition goes up significantly this week on their first three games.

The Dragons have won their past two against Castlemaine and Golden Square in which Joel Wharton has been their best player in both games.

Last time: Sandhurst 17.14 (116) d Kyneton 12.11 (83).

CASTLEMAINE (1-2) v SOUTH BENDIGO (2-1) - 6.30pm Saturday at Castlemaine.

What will Castlemaine dish up this week? Coach Derrick Filo didn’t shy away from talking up finals in the pre-season, but on their past two games the Magpies are a long way off challenging for a berth in September.

They’ve lost their past two games to Kyneton and Sandhurst by a combined 354 points and been outscored 63 goals to eight.

The Magpies’ struggles present a genuine chance for South Bendigo to win its third game in a row, having beaten Maryborough (159) and Gisborne (37) its past two matches, with X-factor recruit Kaiden Antonowicz making his presence felt early with 18 goals in those two victories.

Last time: South Bendigo 10.9 (69) d Castlemaine 9.14 (68).

MARYBOROUGH (0-3) v KANGAROO FLAT (0-3) - 2.20pm Sunday at Maryborough.

Can’t see Maryborough getting too many better chances this year to snap what’s now a 41-game losing streak by taking on the Roos on their home ground.

However, if the Roos can display four quarters of what they produced in the first half against Gisborne last week in what was a Jekkyl and Hyde performance, they should get on the board.

Last time: Kangaroo Flat 13.24 (102) d Maryborough 6.4 (40).

• ROUND 4 TIPS:

KIERAN ILES (13) – Eaglehawk (11), Strathfieldsaye (44), Sandhurst (26), South Bendigo (19), Maryborough (5).

LUKE WEST (12) – Golden Square (12), Strathfieldsaye (38), Sandhurst (25), South Bendigo (42), Kangaroo Flat (36).

ADAM BOURKE (12) – Golden Square (5), Strathfieldsaye (24), Sandhurst (30), South Bendigo (56), Kangaroo Flat (15).

RICHARD JONES (12) – Golden Square (9), Strathfieldsaye (31), Sandhurst (16), South Bendigo (66), Kangaroo Flat (58).

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CALIVIL UNITED (4-0) v BRIDGEWATER (4-1) - 2.15pm Saturday at Calivil.

Arguably the most anticipated-match of the season so far as the seven-time defending premier Bridgewater meets the team that at this stage is shaping as the biggest threat to ending its extraordinary run of flag success in the Demons.

The Demons – who haven’t beaten Bridgewater since 2010 – are the only unbeaten team in the Loddon Valley, while the Mean Machine aren’t the force they have been in years gone by, but still a healthy 4-1.

Last time: Bridgewater 24.15 (159) d Calivil United 11.5 (71).

MAIDEN GULLY YCW EAGLES (1-3) v MARONG (1-3) - 2.15pm Saturday at Maiden Gully.

There was a lot to like about the way the Eagles went about it for three quarters against Bridgewater last week before fading in the last term, while the Panthers will be aiming to pick up from where they left off last Saturday after overcoming a three quarter-time deficit against Inglewood.

Last time: Marong 18.14 (122) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 6.12 (48).

INGLEWOOD (0-5) v BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE (3-1) - 2.15pm Saturday at Inglewood.

The Bears are on the rebound from their first loss of the season against the battling Blues, who need to get out of the blocks much better having been an average of 16 points down at quarter-time in all five of their losses and been forced to play catch-up footy.

Last time: Inglewood 13.15 (93) d BL-Serpentine 12.9 (81).

MITIAMO (3-2) v PYRAMID HILL (1-3) - 2.15pm Saturday at Mitiamo.

The Superoos – who have a 21-day break after Saturday – have started to build some momentum on the back of two wins in a row and at home should be too strong for the 1-3 Pyramid Hill, which needs a scalp of note to kickstart its season.

Last time: Mitiamo 14.17 (101) d Pyramid Hill 10.6 (66).

• ROUND 6 TIPS:

ADAM BOURKE (13) – Calivil United (10), Maiden Gully YCW (2), BL-Serpentine (40), Mitiamo (45).

LUKE WEST (13) – Calivil United (12), Maiden Gully YCW (13), BL-Serpentine (37), Mitiamo (27).

KIERAN ILES (13) – Bridgewater (7), Marong (11), BL-Serpentine (28), Mitiamo (20).

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ELMORE (1-3) v MOUNT PLEASANT (1-2) - 2.15pm Saturday at Elmore.

The Blues are coming off the bye, but before that kicked just nine goals in their previous two losses to Leitchville-Gunbower and Colbinabbin.

At home if the Bloods can re-produce the competitive effort they showed agaisnt Colbinabbin a fortnight ago they may take some beating.

Last time: Elmore 14.12 (96) d Mount Pleasant 9.6 (60).

NORTH BENDIGO (3-0) v LBU (0-4) - 2.15pm Saturday at North Bendigo.

This has all the hallmarks of an ugly scoreline as the undefeated Bulldogs take on the winless Cats at home.

The past four times they have met since LBU ran over the top of North Bendigo in the second half of the 2014 grand final the Bulldogs have won by margins of 166, 157, 142 and 149 points and kicked 109 goals to 16.

Last time: North Bendigo 29.20 (194) d LBU 7.3 (45).

HEATHCOTE (1-3) v LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER (3-0) - 2.15pm Saturday at Heathcote.

It has been a one-sided start to the Heathcote League season – the average margin across the 16 games played so far is 73 points – and this match looks set to continue that trend.

It shapes as a steep learning curve for the young Saints against the red-hot Bombers, who have kicked a remarkably accurate 53.21 their past two games and had a mix of 27 goalkickers.

Last time: Leitchville-Gunbower 27.15 (177) d Heathcote 8.4 (52).

HUNTLY (1-2) v COLBINABBIN (3-1) - 2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.

Tricky assignment for the Grasshoppers, who have won three in a row.

They travel to meet the Hawks coming off their first win of the season last week against LBU, and have caused the Grasshoppers plenty of headaches in recent years, having won six of their past eight meetings.

Last time: Huntly 16.13 (109) d Colbinabbin 8.9 (57).

• ROUND 5 TIPS:

ADAM BOURKE (16) – Elmore (10), North Bendigo (80), Leitchville-Gunbower (59), Huntly (10).

LUKE WEST (16) – Elmore (5), North Bendigo (116), Leitchville-Gunbower (89), Colbinabbin (8).

KIERAN ILES (15) – Mount Pleasant (10), North Bendigo (99), Leitchville-Gunbower (50), Colbinabbin (22).