BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE – ROUND 3
KANGAROO FLAT (0-2) v GISBORNE (0-2) – 2.20pm Saturday at Kangaroo Flat.
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Two young sides chasing their first wins to kickstart their 2017 seasons.
The Roos at home will want to make more of their chances inside forward 50 having kicked 14.17 in their first two games, but can the Bulldogs step up on the road, having won just three of their past 19 games away from Gardiner Reserve.
Last time: Kangaroo Flat 11.17 (83) d Gisborne 5.11 (41).
SOUTH BENDIGO (1-1) v MARYBOROUGH (0-2) – 2.20pm Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Magpies’ overall losing streak has now reached 40 and round 16, 2014, must seem like an eternity ago when they won their last game against South Bendigo at the QEO by one point.
The drought has to eventually break, but the Bloods, who are sitting in the top five for the first time since 2013 after a 37-point triumph over Gisborne last week, should make it two wins in a row.
Last time: South Bendigo 19.23 (137) d Maryborough 9.6 (60).
STRATHFIELDSAYE (1-1) v EAGLEHAWK (2-0) – 2.20pm Saturday at Strathfieldsaye.
Big clash between two sides that look set to be among the mix jostling for positions in the top three and the double chance at the business end of the season.
The unbeaten Hawks have handled South Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat in the first two rounds, but the opposition steps up a cog in taking on the Storm on their home ground on the rebound from a loss to Golden Square.
Like last year’s first semi-final, this should be another ripper at a ground where the Hawks haven’t won since 2011.
Last time: Eaglehawk 9.15 (69) d Strathfieldsaye 9.9 (63) - 2016 first semi-final.
KYNETON (2-0) v CASTLEMAINE (1-1) – 6pm Saturday at Kyneton.
Big night for the Tigers as they play their first game under lights at home
The Tigers are 2-0, on top of the ladder and look a strong chance to make a 3-0 start to a season for the first time since 1999.
While the Tigers are up and about, how will the Magpies respond to their 199-point drubbing from Sandhurst last week?
The Tigers and Magpies have made a recent habit of playing shootouts against each other. The past six times they’ve met their combined goal tallies has been 36, 33, 31, 39, 35 and 33.
Last time: Kyneton 24.12 (156) d Castlemaine 12.8 (80).
GOLDEN SQUARE (2-0) v SANDHURST (1-1) – 5.30pm Saturday at Golden Square.
The grand final rematch doubles as the first game under the new lights at Golden Square’s Wade Street oval.
Both sides are coming off impressive wins last week – the Bulldogs defeating Strathfieldsaye by 14 points and the Dragons producing an awesome display in dismantling Castlemaine.
What an early-season statement it would be for the Bulldogs if they could topple Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst in consecutive weeks, but if the Dragons pick up from where they left off last week, they may make a statement of their own.
Last time: Sandhurst 12.18 (90) d Golden Square 8.10 (58) - 2016 grand final.
ROUND 3 TIPS:
ADAM BOURKE (8) – Kangaroo Flat (3), South Bendigo (60), Strathfieldsaye (15), Kyneton (48), Sandhurst (14).
LUKE WEST (8) – Gisborne (12), South Bendigo (70), Eaglehawk (6), Kyneton (37), Sandhurst (20).
KIERAN ILES (9) – Kangaroo Flat (21), South Bendigo (66), Strathfieldsaye (11), Kyneton (40), Sandhurst (4).
RICHARD JONES (8) – Kangaroo Flat (8), South Bendigo (73), Strathfieldsaye (15), Kyneton (37), Sandhurst (26).
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LODDON VALLEY – ROUND 5
NEWBRIDGE (3-1) v CALIVIL UNITED (3-0) – 2.15pm Saturday at Newbridge.
Good opportunity to get a gauge on Newbridge.
The Maroons are 3-1, but their three wins have come against Pyramid Hill, Inglewood and Maiden Gully YCW, which have just two victories between them.
They host the top-of-the-ladder Calivil United, which is undefeated and coming off a 15-day freshen up.
Last time: Newbridge 9.11 (65) d Calivil United 8.7 (55).
MARONG (0-3) v INGLEWOOD (0-4) – 2.15pm Saturday at Marong.
The Panthers and Blues will be hungry for their first wins of the season.
Marong hasn’t kicked more than nine goals in any of its three games so far, while the Blues would be disappointed with a 0-4 start given they looked to be on the right track last year.
Last time: Inglewood 16.7 (103) d Marong 12.7 (79).
BRIDGEWATER (3-1) v MAIDEN GULLY YCW EAGLES (1-2) – 2.15pm Saturday at Bridgewater.
Three wins in a row for the Mean Machine, who have set their trio of victories up with strong first halves in which they have been 50, 32 and 38 points up at the main break.
Difficult assignment for the Eagles, who have lost their past 10 games against the Mean Machine by an average of 101 points.
Last time: Bridgewater 22.18 (150) d Maiden Gully YCW 5.6 (36).
MITIAMO (2-2) v BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE (3-0) – 2.15pm Saturday at Mitiamo.
The resurgence of the Bears has been the story of the season so far. Winless last year, winners of their first three games this year – all against teams that made the 2016 finals.
This is another game against a finalist from last year in the Superoos whose formline over the first four rounds reads LWLW.
Last time: Mitiamo 25.17 (167) d BL-Serpentine 5.4 (34).
ROUND 5 TIPS:
ADAM BOURKE (12) – Calivil United (10), Marong (10), Bridgewater (70), Mitiamo (4).
LUKE WEST (12) – Calivil United (33), Marong (16), Bridgewater (68), Mitiamo (6).
KIERAN ILES (12) – Calivil United (27), Marong (21), Bridgewater (55), BL-Serpentine (6).
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HEATHCOTE DISTRICT – ROUND 4
LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER (2-0) v ELMORE (1-2) – 2.15pm Saturday at Leitchville.
The Bloods face one of the Heathcote District league’s toughest challenges on the road to Leitchville.
Accountability will no doubt be a high priority for Elmore coach Danny Brewster given Leitchville-Gunbower had 14 goal kickers – including Matt Perri who bagged 10 – in last week’s 124-point demolition of Mount Pleasant.
Last time: Leitchville-Gunbower 33.12 (210) d Elmore 6.10 (46).
COLBINABBIN (2-1) v HEATHCOTE (1-2) – 2.15pm Saturday at Colbinabbin.
What shaped as a battle of a season for the rebuilding Saints has already had some success with last week’s 47-point win over LBU.
That result will give the Saints an injection of confidence heading into this clash against the Grasshoppers, who are just quietly going about their business having won two in a row.
Last time: Colbinabbin 12.16 (88) d Heathcote 8.2 (50).
LBU (0-3) v HUNTLY (0-2) – 2.15pm Saturday at Lockington.
One of these winless teams will be singing their song for the first time this season at 5pm Saturday.
The Cats were touted pre-season as being an improver, but there has been no sign of that yet, while the out-of-sorts Hawks look nothing like a team that many predicted would be challenging at the business end come September.
Last time: Huntly 25.8 (158) d LBU 5.7 (37).
WHITE HILLS (3-0) v NORTH BENDIGO (2-0) – 2.15pm Saturday at White Hills.
The Demons have made a 3-0 start to a season for the first time since 2005, but how legitimate a contender are they? Saturday will help answer that question.
How will their gameplan stand up against the might of the Bulldogs, who have flogged the Demons by 120, 183 and 106 points in their past three meetings and head into this match having kicked 55 goals to six in their first two games of 2017.
Last time: North Bendigo 19.28 (142) d White Hills 3.4 (22).
ROUND 4 TIPS:
ADAM BOURKE (9) – Leitchville-Gunbower (50), Colbinabbin (25), Huntly (28), North Bendigo (32).
LUKE WEST (9) – Leitchville-Gunbower (74), Colbinabbin (31), Huntly (46), North Bendigo (72).
KIERAN ILES (9) – Leitchville-Gunbower (49), Colbinabbin (40), Huntly (40), North Bendigo (27).