PYRAMID HILL V NEWBRIDGE
NEWBRIDGE re-claimed top spot on the Loddon Valley league ladder after continuing Pyramid Hill’s slump on Saturday.
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In a clash of two top three sides, the Maroons kicked away in the second half to defeat the Bulldogs by 42 points, 14.10 (94) to 7.10 (52), at Pyramid Hill.
It was a strong response from the Maroons to their loss against Maiden Gully YCW the previous week.
“We spoke during the week that the key to being a good football side is how you respond to a loss and the ultimate challenge for that is going to Pyramid Hill,” Newbridge coach Brad Comer said.
“I was really pleased with the way the boys bounced back from last week, particularly with our ball-use and decision-making.”
The Maroons led by seven points at half-time before grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck with a 6.6 to 0.1 third term, extending their advantage to 48 points at the final change.
The best for the Maroons was ruckman Tyler Romeril, who combined well with clearance machine Tommy Horne as well as fellow midfielder Nathan Bacon.
Newbridge’s Jordan Gilboy – the league’s leading goalkicker – added another five goals to his season tally, while Will Daly worked hard in his run-with role on the Bulldogs’ Billy Micevski.
Having won its first six games of the season, Pyramid Hill has lost three in a row by margins of 35, 45 and 42 points and now only has a one-game buffer inside the top three.
The pacy Matt Klein-Breteler and ruckman Adrian Holland played well for the Bulldogs, whose only multiple goalkicker was Mitch Cheesman (three).
MAIDEN GULLY YCW V BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine inflicted Maiden Gully YCW’s second loss of the season.
The Bears kept within a game of the top five, while the Eagles lost their hold of top spot with the 13.14 (92) to 10.8 (68) result at Maiden Gully.
“It was a really good team performance today. We played out the full four quarters, which was a turnaround from last week (loss to Calivil United),” Bears coach Greg Gadsden said.
“We would liked to have converted a bit better, but overall, the effort was really good.”
Ruckman Nathan Twigg was a tireless performer for the Bears to be their best player, while Shaun Bowles in defence and forward James Rippingale (five goals) were also solid performers.
From a 0-4 start, the Bears have now won four of their past five games.
“If you look in isolation over the past five games, we’ve only had the only loss, but we still have a lot to work on,” Gadsden said.
“It’s a very even competition where any side on their day is going to be a chance to beat any other.”
Hard-running wingmen Brayden Aitken (two goals) and Nick Waterson led the best players for the Eagles, who were held goalless during the second quarter.
Tom Harrington, who was moved to the forward line in the second half, kicked three goals.
“Serp played well today and outplayed us in a lot of areas of the game that all add up to make a big difference,” Eagles coach Wayne Mitrovic said.
“Things like the forward 50 entries, our kicks to the forwards were hanging in the air a bit and giving their defenders a chance to spoil, whereas theirs were good enough where our defenders couldn’t get a fist in.
“They moved the ball well forward of centre and they out-ran us.”
Mitrovic (foot) coached from the sidelines, while assistant coach Mitch Collins (ill) and ruckman Clint Angove (hamstring) were late withdrawals.
BRIDGEWATER V MITIAMO
It was another inaccurate day for Mitiamo, but the Superoos were able to put a dent into the finals aspirations of Bridgewater.
Playing for the Blue Ribbon Cup, the Superoos won their first game at Bridgewater since 2009 with their 11.18 (84) to 9.8 (62) victory that now has the Mean Machine – who have played in every finals series since 2007 and in the past eight grand finals – two games outside the top five.
The victory was Mitiamo’s third in a row and featured a 3.3 to 0.1 final term after the Superoos had been two points up at three quarter-time with the game up for grabs.
“It’s a huge result for the club to keep ourselves in the top five and beating Bridgewater at Bridgewater is something we haven’t done for a long time,” Mitiamo coach Andy Grant said.
RELATED – SATURDAY SCOREBOARD
“It was a big day, particularly playing for the Blue Ribbon Cup, which is something we haven’t won before, so it was a really pleasing result.”
The Mitiamo side featured two mid-season recruits in forwards Ryan Evans from Cohuna and Ryan Wellington from Charlton playing their first games.
Evans was the game’s leading goalkicker with four, while James Rozynski kicked three and was one of the Superoos’ best, along with ruckman Michael I’Anson, who won the best on ground medal.
As they were the previous week, wingman Peter Rothacker and on-baller Liam Jacques were the two best for Bridgewater, which is now on the ropes at 3-6.
Darren Clutton slotted three goals for the Mean Machine.
CALIVIL UNITED V MARONG
Calivil United gave its percentage a valuable boost with a 110-point win over Marong at Raywood that moved the Demons within one game of the top three.
The Demons’ quarter-time score of 50 was already more than the under-manned Panthers kicked for the game as the reigning premiers won 23.10 (148) to 5.8 (38).
The Demons produced two eight-goal quarters – 8.2 in the first and 8.3 in the last as they kicked their highest score of the season.
“Marong was missing quite a few players, which we were able to capitalise on and play with a bit more freedom. It was a very good performance from the boys,” Demons assistant coach Matt Magee said.
“And getting a bit of a percentage boost (from 111.1 to 127.8) is huge given how tight the competition is shaping come finals time.”
In his second game since joining the Demons mid-season from North Bendigo, Daniel Reid provided a strong target up forward with a haul of seven goals.
The Demons also had Vincent Rodi and Jake Lawry kick three goals each.
Defenders Jordan Lea and Henry Miller and ruckman Chris Down led the better players for the Demons, who improved to 5-4.
Zach Turnbull and Ben Millar battled hard for the Panthers, who kicked three of their five goals during the second quarter when they broke even 3.1 apiece with the Demons.
The game was officiated by former VFL/AFL umpires John Russo and John Harvey, who received the best compliment any umpire can receive from a player.
“I didn’t even notice the umpires at all, which if that’s the case in a game of footy then they’ve done a really good job,” Magee said.