HOW THEY STAND – LEAGUE LADDERS
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• BENDIGO LEAGUE – ROUND 4
KANGAROO FLAT v MARYBOROUGH
2.20pm Saturday at Kangaroo Flat.
Genuine winning opportunities are shaping up as few and far between for the Roos and Magpies this season, but Saturday presents one for both.
The Roos and Magpies are the only teams after three rounds yet to post a win and you’d expect two desperate sides hungry to get four points on the board to take to the field at Dower Park.
The Roos have been outscored 26-2, 62-7 and 47-0 – a total of 135-9 – in their first quarters so far, putting them under early scoreboard heat.
Last time: Kangaroo Flat 20.12 (132) d Maryborough 12.12 (84).
Since 1995: Kangaroo Flat 24; Maryborough 24.
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GISBORNE v KYNETON
2.20pm Saturday at Gisborne.
Two arch-rivals both with one win so far.
The big challenge for Gisborne against the Tigers will be to replicate the first-half intensity it dished up to Eaglehawk last week over the full 120 minutes.
The Bulldogs were relentless in their tackling and pressure on the Hawks to set up a 26-point advantage at half-time, but couldn’t sustain it after the break when they conceded 13 goals to two.
The Tigers – who have won six in a row against Gisborne – are also coming off a loss when defeated by Strathfieldsaye by 17 points at home last week.
Last time: Kyneton 17.13 (115) d Gisborne 9.10 (64).
Head to Head: Gisborne 26; Kyneton 8.
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GOLDEN SQUARE v EAGLEHAWK
2.20pm Saturday at Golden Square.
Massive clash at Wade Street between what’s the only two unbeaten teams still standing after three rounds.
The Bulldogs have breezed past Castlemaine (125 points) and Maryborough (118) the past two weeks.
Across the their first three games, which also includes a win over Sandhurst in round one, the Bulldogs have conceded scores of just 34, 42 and 21 – a mere 97 points.
The Hawks were slow to get going against Gisborne last week before winning by 47 points and appeared caught off guard by the pressure the Bulldogs brought to the contest, but that won’t happen again on Saturday against Golden Square.
Last time: Eaglehawk 16.15 (111) d Golden Square 12.13 (85).
Since 1995: Golden Square 34; Eaglehawk 21.
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SOUTH BENDIGO v CASTLEMAINE
2.20pm Saturday at QEO.
After notching their first win against Maryborough last week, the Bloods on a big reunion day that includes honouring their 1993 senior premiership team should make it two on the trot against Castlemaine, which has been outscored 58 goals to four in its past two games.
Last time: South Bendigo 11.22 (88) d Castlemaine 6.5 (41).
Since 1995: South Bendigo 32; Castlemaine 16.
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STRATHFIELDSAYE v SANDHURST
2.20pm Saturday at Strathfieldsaye.
Huge match at Tannery Lane that pits two of the big four against each other, with the winner to improve to 3-1.
Both teams have followed similar paths of a loss in round one, followed by back-to-back wins.
The Storm have home ground advantage for the battle, and it’s a significant advantage given how well they play Tannery Lane, where their record is 50-4 going back to the year they first made the finals in 2012.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 11.11 (77) d Sandhurst 9.8 (62).
Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 13; Sandhurst 9.
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• HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 5
LBU v NORTH BENDIGO
2.15pm Saturday at Lockington.
The Cats are resuming from the bye as they hunt the scalp of the Bulldogs.
To be successful against a quality side like the Bulldogs they can’t fritter away opportunities like they did against White Hills last game when they kicked 14.23.
On their home deck against a 2-2 Bulldogs, it’s a massive opportunity for the Cats to show their improvement given they have lost their past six games against North Bendigo since the 2014 grand final by an average of 138 points.
Last time: North Bendigo 19.9 (123) d LBU 3.7 (25).
Head to Head: LBU 22; North Bendigo 16.
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HUNTLY v HEATHCOTE
2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.
Has the makings of being all one-way traffic given the Hawks (4-0) are undefeated and on top of the ladder, while the Saints (0-3) are winless and on the bottom.
On the back of their strong start to the season, the Hawks are now into $2.75 equal flag favourites alongside reigning premier Leitchville-Gunbower with Sportsbet.
Having lost their past 12 games against Huntly, this is shaping as another tough day against the Hawks for the Saints.
Last time: Huntly 24.16 (160) d Heathcote 7.11 (53).
Since 1995: Heathcote 25; Huntly 23.
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WHITE HILLS v ELMORE
2.15pm Saturday at White Hills.
One of these winless teams will be singing their club song for the first time this season after this game.
At their home ground and on the back of a spirited showing last week against North Bendigo – albeit still a 55-point loss – the Demons will go in as favourites against a Bloods side that has been outscored by a combined 330 points across its first four games.
Last time: Elmore 15.12 (102) d White Hills 13.17 (95).
Since 1995: Elmore 27; White Hills 19; Drawn 1.
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MOUNT PLEASANT v COLBINABBIN
2.15pm Saturday at Toolleen.
The Grasshoppers made the competition stand up and take notice last week with their 24-point victory over Leitchville-Gunbower as they improved to 3-0.
Next for the Grasshoppers is the Blues, who for the first time since early 2016 head into a game off back-to-back victories following wins over Heathcote (22 points) and Elmore (15) the past fortnight.
Last time: Colbinabbin 25.17 (167) d Mount Pleasant 5.5 (35).
Since 1995: Colbinabbin 35; Mount Pleasant 24.
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• LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE – ROUND 4
CALIVIL UNITED v BRIDGEWATER
2.15pm Saturday at Calivil.
The grand final rematch in which the lead-in results from the two teams couldn’t be more contrasting.
Before their bye last week the Mean Machine thrashed Inglewood by 155 points. Yet last week Inglewood bounced back and defeated Calivil United by one point.
With that Inglewood reference in mind, the Mean Machine should be overwhelming favourites, but this is shaping as a Loddon Valley season to expect the unexpected.
Last time: Calivil United 13.16 (94) d Bridgewater 8.12 (60) – grand final.
Since 1995: Calivil United 25; Bridgewater 23; Drawn 1.
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NEWBRIDGE v MARONG
2.15pm Saturday at Newbridge.
A 0-3 record doesn’t do justice to how competitive the Panthers have been, with their three losses by margins of 10, 17 and nine points.
They are finishing games well, but haven’t yet won a second or third quarter, leaving them too much to do in final terms.
The Maroons last week notched their first win of 2018 against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine by 18 points.
Last time: Marong 13.8 (86) d Newbridge 9.12 (66).
Since 1995: Newbridge 28; Marong 20.
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MAIDEN GULLY YCW v INGLEWOOD
2.15pm Saturday at Maiden Gully.
After the euphoria of last week’s drought-breaking win over Calivil United for the first time since 2002, can the Blues back it up again with a second victory on the trot, which the club has only achieved once since 2011.
To do so the Blues will need to topple the ladder-leading Eagles, who are off to a 3-0 start and now a chance to go 4-0 for the first time since 1995.
Last time: Inglewood 10.17 (77) d Maiden Gully YCW 9.5 (59).
Since 1995: Maiden Gully YCW 37; Inglewood 10.
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PYRAMID HILL v MITIAMO
2.15pm Saturday at Pyramid Hill.
There hasn’t been much breathing space in any of their games, but the Bulldogs are 3-0 with two wins by nine points and one by one point, which has given them a solid foundation in which to launch from.
Another tight contest looms against the Superoos, who are coming off a loss to Maiden Gully YCW last week.
Last time: Mitiamo 19.10 (124) d Pyramid Hill 8.9 (57).
Since 1995: Mitiamo 30; Pyramid Hill 19.