Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BENDIGO LEAGUE
EAGLEHAWK v GISBORNE
PRELIMINARY FINAL
3.10pm Saturday at QEO.
Second meeting of the BFNL finals series between the Hawks and Bulldogs.
The Hawks knocked over the Bulldogs by 38 points in the qualifying final a fortnight ago, but Gisborne heads into Saturday on the back of a confidence-restoring win over Golden Square last Sunday.
The Bulldogs bounced back with a clinical 63-point belting of Golden Square last week in the first semi-final - a performance in which they won all four quarters and kicked 16 goals in the wet.
It was a strong response from the Bulldogs given the way they folded in the second half against Eaglehawk the previous week when after leading by 12 points at half-time they were outscored by 50 points after the break.
The Hawks must regroup from last week's 72-point belting from Strathfieldsaye in the second semi-final.
Having been so good for so long, the Hawks were never allowed the chance to get into the game by the Storm and copped a hiding.
But you don't lose your ability overnight and up until last week the Hawks were an imposing team that had won 12 games in a row.
There's bound to be plenty of interest at the selection table with injury clouds over two of Gisborne's prime-movers in Ethan Minns (knee) and Matt Goodyear (broken nose), while the Hawks will be hopeful of regaining defender Oscar Madden (ankle), the classy Trent Bacon (hamstring) and utility Sam Harper (arm).
Both teams have played some scintillating football throughout the year and it's invariably going to come down to who can produce their best for long enough with the pressure of a grand final berth on the line.
All four finals so far have gone the way of the higher-ranked team and if it happens again it will be the Hawks into a third-straight grand final, but if the galvanised Bulldogs can replicate last week's four quarter-performance and build on that momentum they will give themselves every chance of setting up a crack at the Storm for the flag next week.
Season meetings:
Round 7 - Gisborne 17.23 (125) def Eaglehawk 15.5 (95).
Round 16 - Eaglehawk 13.7 (85) def Gisborne 5.14 (44).
2nd semi-final - Eaglehawk 13.11 (89) def Gisborne 7.9 (51).
Head to head: Eaglehawk 26; Gisborne 26.
RESERVES:
Eaglehawk v South Bendigo - 1pm.
Last time - Eaglehawk 8.10 (58) def South Bendigo 5.4 (34).
UNDER-18S:
Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat - 11am.
Last time - Kangaroo Flat 11.3 (69) def Strathfieldsaye 8.12 (60).
............................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE
COLBINABBIN v NORTH BENDIGO
GRAND FINAL
2.20pm Saturday at Huntly.
First grand final clash since 1998 between the Grasshoppers and Bulldogs.
Hopefully, though, this is much closer than their meeting 21 years ago when the Grasshoppers belted the Bulldogs by 58 points.
The ledger this season is 2-1 in favour of North Bendigo, although, their last meeting in the second semi-final a fortnight ago was a comfortable 26-point victory to the Grasshoppers.
The midfield battle promises to be a beauty as North Bendigo's three Cheatley medallists in captain Jarrod Findlay, Joel Helman and Tyson Findlay take on Colbinabbin's Todd Bryant, Sam Vale and tackling machine Lachlan Ezard and co.
Season meetings:
Round 9 - North Bendigo 8.12 (60) def Colbinabbin 6.11 (47).
Round 18 - North Bendigo 13.10 (88) def Colbinabbin 11.11 (77).
2nd semi-final - Colbinabbin 16.8 (104) def North Bendigo 11.12 (78).
Head to head: North Bendigo 29; Colbinabbin 28.
RESERVES:
White Hills v Leitchville-Gunbower - 11.50am.
Last time - White Hills 13.10 (88) def Leitchville-Gunbower 3.2 (20).
UNDER-17S:
Mount Pleasant v White Hills - 9.30am.
Last time - Mount Pleasant 9.11 (65) def White Hills 5.3 (33).
............................................
NORTH CENTRAL LEAGUE
SEA LAKE NANDALY v BIRCHIP-WATCHEM
2.30pm Saturday at St Arnaud.
The Tigers and Bulls have been the two power teams of the competition and go into the grand final with combined records of 32-3 and percentages of 541.0.
The Tigers hold a 2-1 advantage this season over the Bulls, who have the added motivation of trying to atone for grand final defeats the past two years.
Season meetings:
Round 5 - Sea Lake Nandaly 15.4 (94) def Birchip-Watchem 7.6 (48).
Round 12 - Birchip-Watchem 6.9 (45) def Sea Lake Nandaly 5.5 (35).
2nd semi-final - Sea Lake Nandaly 15.10 (100) def Birchip-Watchem 10.13 (73).
Head to head: Birchip-Watchem 6; Sea Lake Nandaly 5.
RESERVES:
Sea Lake Nandaly v Wedderburn - 12.45pm.
Last time - Sea Lake Nandaly 15.4 (94) def Wedderburn 4.5 (29).
UNDER-16S:
Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip-Watchem - 10.55am.
Last time - Sea Lake Nandaly 8.11 (59) def Birchip-Watchem 7.4 (46).
UNDER-13S:
Boort v Sea Lake Nandaly - 9.30am.
Last time - Boort 5.7 (37) def Sea Lake Nandaly 3.3 (21).
............................................
SELECTIONS:
BENDIGO LEAGUE
Luke West (82) - Eaglehawk (14)
Adam Bourke (81) - Eaglehawk (12)
Richard Jones (80) - Eaglehawk (17)
Kieran Iles (75) - Eaglehawk (17)
Anthony Pinda (75) - Gisborne (2)
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT
Luke West (65) - Colbinabbin (6)
Adam Bourke (62) - North Bendigo (10)
Anthony Pinda (59) - North Bendigo (7)
Kieran Iles (59) - Colbinabbin (22)
NORTH CENTRAL
Luke West - Sea Lake Nandaly (28)
Adam Bourke - Sea Lake Nandaly (25)
Anthony Pinda - Sea Lake Nandaly (17)
Kieran Iles - Birchip-Watchem (3)
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.