LVFNL - Eagles claim scalp of ladder-leading Bulldogs; top three hopes still alive

READ MORE - SATURDAY SCOREBOARD - July 27, 2019

MAIDEN Gully YCW has kept itself in the hunt for the Loddon Valley league double chance after beating ladder-leader Pyramid Hill on Saturday.

The Eagles applied a constant barrage of pressure on the Bulldogs and executed coach Wayne Mitrovic's plans to win 9.10 (64) to 8.8 (56) at Maiden Gully.

Defensively, the Eagles were superb, shutting down the free-scoring Bulldogs, whose tally of 56 was less than half their season average of 113.

"The amount of pressure we applied was amazing. Every player kept tackling and harassing and didn't give up on any contest," said Mitrovic, who kicked two goals.

"We forced them to change the way they play a bit and our backline was just phenomenal."

Dashing half-back Travis Mercadante was the Eagles' best player, followed by another defender in Hamish McCartney, while Alex Pearson kept the competition's leading goalkicker, Braidy Dickens, to one.

The victory returns the Eagles to the 32 points they had been on before last week being sanctioned for their round 14 player points breach.

The result was a 69-point turnaround from their round seven meeting when the Bulldogs won by 61.

The contest was nip and tuck all game, with the biggest margin that separated the two sides at any of the breaks the 10 points the Eagles led by at three quarter-time.

"We had our opportunities early in the game to get two or three goals ahead, but we didn't capitalise; they got their numbers behind the play and played quite well to restrict us," Pyramid Hill coach Adrian McErvale said

"They moved the ball well off their half-back line with a lot of speed and we couldn't match them in that part of the game today."

The midfield duo of James Sala and Scott Mann have been Pyramid Hill's two most consistent players this year and were again on Saturday.

"Their work-rate and intensity is really good. They get a lot of attention, but thrive on it," McErvale said.

Having won their first nine games, the Bulldogs are now 2-3 in their past five, with Saturday's defeat again opening the top-of-the-ladder door to second-placed Mitiamo, with the two sides level on 11 wins each.

Mitiamo inflicted further pain on Inglewood, dishing out a 139-point belting at home to the Blues.

The Superoos amassed 52 scoring shots and had seven multiple goalkickers in their 28.24 (192) to 8.5 (53) thrashing.

The margin had been 36 points at half-time, before the Superoos piled on 17 goals to two after the break.

"Inglewood took it up to us in the first half and were good with their pressure," Superoos co-coach Tyrone Downie said.

"After half-time the game opened up and we were able to get our hands on it a bit more through the midfield and were a lot better around the ground."

The Superoos' scoring spree featured Justin Maddern (five), Downie (four), Dylan Clohesy (four), Ryan Wellington (four), Brent Downie (three), Tim Brooks (three) and Doug Thomas (two) all kicking multiple goals, while on-baller Terry Reeves was the side's best.

The result was the second game in a row the Blues have been outscored by more than 100 points in the second half.

"It's obviously very disappointing with how the season has gone for us," Inglewood coach Ryan McNish said.

"You've got to try to find some positives and today we started well and had a couple of the young players out of the thirds in Matty Rowe and Taj Rodwell playing good footy, which was really pleasing.

"But Mitiamo kicked into gear in the third quarter and was really slick.

"We're still working hard as a group on trying to stick it out for longer... we're probably playing 80 minutes of solid footy, but in five or six minute lapses in quarters the good sides are really getting on top of us."

McNish labelled the performance of 15-year-old Rodwell as a major positive out of the game for the battling Blues.

"He was a real shining light and, hopefully, the Pioneers are having a look at him... he's going to be a really good player."

Sam Barnes kicked three of the eight goals for the Blues, who now have just two chances left against Maiden Gully YCW and Calivil United to try to get a 2019 win on the board.

Bears Lagoon-Serpentine held Marong scoreless in the last quarter and, in doing so, retained its top three position.

In a pivotal battle between third and fourth, the Bears bounced back from two losses, while putting an end to Marong's run of three wins in a row, with their 12.12 (84) to 9.5 (59) victory at Serpentine.

"We kicked poorly in the first half, but were more accurate in the second and were able to get what I thought was a fairly good win in the end," Bears coach Greg Gadsden said.

"I thought the boys grinded it out really well."

The Bears' off-target 6.10 in the first half was followed by 6.2 in the second.

In his third game since crossing from Eaglehawk mid-season, centre half-back Dylan Hanley was the best for the Bears.

"He would have taken a dozen marks across half-back; he did a sensational job, especially in some tough conditions when it started to rain," Gadsden said.

Ollie Leonard-Shannon in his return from injury cracked in for four quarters to also be one of the standouts for the Bears, whose leading goalkicker was forward Cody Gunn (three).

Down the other end Marong co-coach Taylor Beard slotted five of his side's nine goals in a result that following the bye next week may now have the Panthers needing to travel to Mitiamo in round 18 for a must-win game to play finals.

Jeremy Salinger and Beard led the Panthers' better players.

Bridgewater's finals pulse is beating following a 72-point victory at home over arch-rival Newbridge.

The 17.19 (121) to 7.7 (49) victory kept the Mean Machine just percentage outside the top five with two rounds remaining - the last of which is a bye.

As well as the round 18 bye, Bridgewater also has a big ask at Mitiamo next week, but for the moment they can borrow a line from Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber - "So you're telling me there's a chance".

The Mean Machine's win was headlined by a nine-goal haul from strong-marking big man Alex Powell, while the experienced Darren Clutton added four.

"We haven't been in many comfortable winning positions this year, so it was nice to have a good win. The boys played as a team and used the footy really well," Bridgewater coach Dale Cameron said.

Just like the Maiden Gully YCW-Pyramid Hill game, it was another major turnaround from round seven, with the Mean Machine's 72-point win coming after they lost to Newbridge by 10 points earlier in the year.

As well as Powell, the Mean Machine also had James Naughton and Peter Coghlan among their standouts in what was their seventh win of the season.

The defeat was the third in a row for the Maroons, whose side featured seven teenagers.

"It was a tough day and Bridgewater was just too good for us, but the good thing is we're getting time into some quality young players," Newbridge coach Brad Comer said.

"Nobody likes getting beaten, but our boys gave 100 per cent effort. They all came off the ground having given their all, but Bridgewater was the better side."

Consistent midfielders Tyler Romeril and Jordan Gilboy (three goals) battled hard for Newbridge.

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