READ MORE - weekend football teams
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BENDIGO LEAGUE - ROUND 12
2.20pm today at Eaglehawk.
The Hawks don't need any reminding of the danger the improved Magpies present.
Last time these two sides met the Hawks narrowly avoided the upset of the season when after trailing for the bulk of the day they eventually wore the Magpies down to win by 16 points.
The Hawks conceded 100 points to the Magpies in round three, but are now proving a much tougher nut to crack defensively and are about to inject Brodie Filo into their side.
Winning has become a habit for Maryborough in recent weeks. The Magpies have won four of their past five games in what has been an ultra-productive period for a club whose record the previous four years was 2-70.
...............................................................................................................
2.20pm today at Golden Square.
The Bulldogs would be champing at the bit to have another crack at Strathfieldsaye given the 66-point hiding they copped off the Storm in round three.
This time though the Bulldogs take on the Storm on their home deck where they have already accounted for Gisborne and Eaglehawk.
A massive out for the Bulldogs is Adam Baird, who will be representing Victoria Country against the VAFA at IKON Park on Saturday.
Not only has Baird been a prolific ball-winner, but he's also had an impact inside 50 with 19 goals, making the job all the more harder for the Bulldogs, who haven't got within 11 goals of the Storm in their past three meetings.
...............................................................................................................
2.20pm today at Gisborne.
To say the Bulldogs' defence has been miserly in their past two games is an under-statement.
Gisborne has conceded back-to-back scores of just 0.1 in its past two games against Kyneton and Castlemaine - a pair of wins by a combined 261 points.
The ruthless nature of the Bulldogs' recent performances, combined with the game at Gardiner Reserve, bodes for a mighty tough day for the Roos, who haven't found scoring easy this year.
Star Gisborne forward Pat McKenna has earned a game in the Vic Country team to play the VAFA, which is one less concern for the Roos.
...............................................................................................................
2.20pm today at Kyneton.
It has been tough going all year for the winless Castlemaine, while the season now looks to be taking its toll on Kyneton, which having been 3-3 after six rounds has now lost five in a row.
Both sides over the past two rounds have been held to just one point in games against Gisborne, but at least this week they both turn up with a winning opportunity.
...............................................................................................................
2.20pm today at QEO.
Big day for the Dragons, with one of the club's favourite sons, Nick Stagg, playing his 200th game.
Stagg has long been a heart and soul player for the Dragons, and much like they did for Matt Thornton's 200th earlier in the season, you can bet his team-mates will be hellbent on making sure Stagg's milestone is one to remember.
Already the underdogs, the Bloods will be without coach and classy playmaker Nathan Horbury, who is also playing for Vic Country.
...............................................................................................................
LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE - ROUND 14
2.15pm today at Newbridge.
Massive game for the finals aspirations of the Maroons and Panthers, who both have five wins and sit fifth and sixth - although, Newbridge has one game in hand.
The Panthers were the talk of the LVFNL for their win over Pyramid Hill last week - now the challenge is to back it up it away from home again in the classic "eight point" game scenario given it's hard to see there being enough room in the top five for both these sides come finals.
...............................................................................................................
2.15pm today at Bridgewater.
The Bears are certainly throwing their hat in the ring alongside Mitiamo and Pyramid Hill as genuine premiership contenders.
They've won six in a row, including a victory over Mitiamo last week, and now look strongly-placed to grab the double chance.
With the form the Bears are in they deserve to be warm favourites to avenge their 14-point loss from earlier in the season to the Mean Machine, which copped a triple blow last week in not only losing to Calivil United to drop out of the top five, but the 86-point margin eating into its percentage and ruckman Cameron Ross suffering a calf injury early.
...............................................................................................................
2.15pm today at Maiden Gully.
The Eagles are four positions higher, but the Demons look every bit capable of causing an upset - particularly if they start the way they finished last week.
The Demons are coming off an 86-point win over Bridgewater last week, which included finishing with a 13.3 blitz in the final term.
The Demons, though, are yet to string together two wins in a row this year, while the fourth-placed Eagles are coming off a pair of consecutive victories before last week's refreshening bye.
...............................................................................................................
2.15pm today at Inglewood.
Expect a spirited response from Pyramid Hill given what Bulldogs' coach Adrian McErvale had to say after last week's shock loss to Marong: "I think a few (players) have just been coasting along thinking the job will get done."
From a 10-0 start, the Bulldogs have lost two in a row in a mid-season hurdle, but should be back on the winner's list come 5pm Saturday.
Hopefully, though, for the sake of Inglewood the Blues are much more competitive than the 145-point hiding they copped in round five off the Bulldogs, who they haven't beaten since 2007.
...............................................................................................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT - ROUND 13
2.15pm today at Elmore.
The Bloods and Demons are both chasing their fifth wins of the season.
Despite the two teams being similarly matched on the ladder, it was a one-sided contest in round four when the Demons pummeled the Bloods by 95 points in a game where White Hills' Mitch Dole kicked eight goals.
Not only do the Bloods need to do a much better job of curtailing Dole this time, but they also have to contend with Jed Lamb, who didn't play in the last meeting.
...............................................................................................................
2.15pm today at North Bendigo.
The Bulldogs would have had this once penciled in the calendar since the moment they walked off the Toolleen ground on May 4 having lost to the Blues by 15 points.
It's the only defeat the Bulldogs have suffered so far this year and they will be fiercely determined to get their revenge at home.
Mount Pleasant's upset victory over the Bulldogs earlier in the season was part of a five-game winning streak for the Blues.
Their formline though in recent weeks has deteriorated, going just 1-3 in their past four games ahead of the trip to Atkins Street where they haven't won since 2008.
...............................................................................................................
2.15pm today at Lockington.
Has the makings of an entertaining clash given the Bombers head to Lockington on the back of four wins in their past five games, while the Cats have strung together four victories on the trot.
The Bombers pushed the Cats to 16 points back in round four, but have improved significantly since then - particularly offensively - setting this up to be an intriguing tussle.
...............................................................................................................
2.15pm today at Heathcote.
Massive opportunity for the Saints to finally get on the board with a win this year.
Despite their winless status, the Saints have stuck with top-three teams LBU and Colbinabbin for the first half in recent weeks.
If they can sustain that effort and intensity for the full 120 minutes on their home deck then a long-awaited win against a rebuilding Huntly side looks in the offering.
...............................................................................................................
NORTH CENTRAL - ROUND 11, WEEK 2
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.