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BENDIGO LEAGUE – ROUND 9
MARYBOROUGH v SOUTH BENDIGO
2.20pm Saturday at Maryborough.
The injury bug has certainly bitten hard at Maryborough and is making for a challenging season.
The list of unavailable senior players for the Magpies is in double figures, with the focus for the remainder of 2021 on looking to the future.
"I've put a development hat back on and tried to educate. We're getting games into young guys and helping them improve," coach Justin Abrams said this week.
While 2021 is now being played with an eye to the future for the Magpies, for the improved Bloods, they are very much about breaking their finals drought.
A win over Kangaroo Flat last week has the Bloods back in the top five as they hunt their first finals berth since 2012, which Saturday should be another step towards.
Last time: Maryborough 15.11 (101) def South Bendigo 12.15 (87).
Since 1995: South Bendigo 38; Maryborough 15.
KANGAROO FLAT v CASTLEMAINE
2.20pm Saturday at Kangaroo Flat.
Kangaroo Flat has one win on the board, while this shapes as one of the only chances this year the Magpies are going to get of finally ending what is now a 43-game losing streak.
Castlemaine coach Don Moran gave an insight a fortnight ago into the target his side has had on this game when the Magpies had been set to play Kangaroo Flat on June 12 before a fixture re-jig.
"That game has been our aim as to where we wanted to peak and have a good game," Moran said.
It has been a torrid past month for the Magpies following their competitive showing against Kyneton with four losses by a combined 781 points since, but coming up against the team that is only one spot ahead of them on the ladder has to give the side some genuine optimism on Saturday.
Last time: Kangaroo Flat 10.18 (78) def Castlemaine 7.15 (57).
Since 1995: Kangaroo Flat 29; Castlemaine 23; Drawn 1.
GOLDEN SQUARE v EAGLEHAWK
2.20pm Saturday at Golden Square.
A big game for both teams to round out the first half of the season - particularly Eaglehawk.
On the back of three losses in a row for the first time since 2016 the Hawks are staring at the prospect of dropping two games adrift of the top five if they are beaten, making this very much a backs-to-the-wall trip to Wade Street.
Golden Square is going about its business with a minimum of fuss, but at 6-2 and having won four on the trot, the fourth-placed Bulldogs are only percentage off second position.
Midfielders Jack Geary and Ryan Hartley have been in good touch for the Bulldogs and their battle with the likes of Hawks' duo Billy Evans and Noah Wheeler should be good to watch.
Last time: Eaglehawk 8.11 (59) def Golden Square 6.7 (43).
Since 1995: Golden Square 35; Eaglehawk 24.
SANDHURST v GISBORNE
2.20pm Saturday at QEO.
Another ripper of a contest when the top two sides square off at the QEO.
The Dragons remain undefeated at 8-0, but their unblemished record will be very much put to the test by an in-form Gisborne side that will be desperate to make the most of its last trip to the QEO before September.
The Bulldogs were bitterly disappointing in their first QEO outing this year in round four when beaten by South Bendigo, but that showing seems to have stung Rob Waters' side into action, albeit three of their past four wins have come against sides outside the top five.
But as Waters said this week ahead of the Dragons' showdown: "This is what you play footy for. You want to play against quality teams and you're rated by how well you play against quality teams."
Last time: Gisborne 15.8 (98) def Sandhurst 7.11 (53).
Head to Head: Gisborne 24; Sandhurst 23.
STRATHFIELDSAYE v KYNETON
6pm Saturday at Strathfieldsaye.
Huge challenge awaits Kyneton with the trip to Tannery Lane to play the reigning premier Storm under lights from 6pm.
The Storm are hitting their straps with six wins in a row where it's the performances of the younger brigade that is showing just how well the club's successful development program is working.
Shapes as hard yards for the Tigers at a venue where they are yet to win in 10 attempts.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 29.18 (192) def Kyneton 3.3 (21).
Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 18; Kyneton 2.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (33) - South Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, Gisborne, Strathfieldsaye.
Luke West (32) - South Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square, Gisborne, Strathfieldsaye.
Richard Jones (32) - South Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square, Sandhurst, Strathfieldsaye.
............................................
LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE – ROUND 9
BRIDGEWATER v MITIAMO
2.15pm Saturday at Bridgewater.
Only one team will be left undefeated in the competition after Bridgewater and Mitiamo lock horns.
The Mean Machine and Superoos both head into the game with 7-0 records, but Mitiamo has pole position on the ladder courtesy of its superior percentage of 304.2 to Bridgewater's 267.9.
There's contrasting build-ups to the game, though, for the two sides.
Bridgewater is coming off a hard-fought game against Pyramid Hill last week where it won by one point, while Mitiamo hasn't played since May 22, so will have to dust the cobwebs off.
Last time: Mitiamo 14.20 (104) def Bridgewater 5.3 (33).
Since 1995: Mitiamo 29; Bridgewater 25; Drawn 1.
MARONG v NEWBRIDGE
2.15pm Saturday at Marong.
Back-to-back wins for Newbridge against Calivil United and Inglewood in its past two games, but the quality of opposition steps up markedly on Saturday against the third-placed Marong.
The Panthers have put together one of the most imposing forward lines in the competition as shown last week when recruit Brandyn Grenfell (10), Kain Robins (9) and Adrian Pappin (6) combined for 25 goals against Inglewood. And they've still got Simon Weekley to bring back from injury, too.
Last time: Marong 10.8 (68) def Newbridge 6.8 (44).
Since 1995: Newbridge 30; Marong 22.
MAIDEN GULLY YCW v INGLEWOOD
2.15pm Saturday at Maiden Gully.
Should finally be a return to the winner's list for Maiden Gully YCW.
The Eagles started the season 2-0, but have since lost five in a row and are now two games out of the top five.
Was an arduous resumption of the season for the Blues last week when held goal-less in a 236-point hiding from Marong.
Hopefully, for the Blues sake they can find some spark early in this contest to give themselves a chance of being competitive.
Last time: Maiden Gully YCW 27.12 (174) def Inglewood 2.6 (18).
Since 1995: Maiden Gully YCW 41; Inglewood 10.
PYRAMID HILL v BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE
2.15pm Saturday at Pyramid Hill.
Battle of 4th vs 5th, with the Bulldogs and Bears both sharing 4-3 records and coming off one-point games last week: a win for Bears Lagoon-Serpentine and a loss for Pyramid Hill.
While they are both 4-3, the Bulldogs' percentage of 203.9 is more than double that of the Bears' 100.9, which coupled with being played at Pyramid Hill gives the edge to the home side.
Last time: Pyramid Hill 14.15 (99) def BL-Serpentine 9.10 (64).
Head to Head: Pyramid Hill 30; BL-Serpentine 28.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (30) - Mitiamo, Marong, Maiden Gully YCW, Pyramid Hill.
Luke West (29) - Mitiamo, Marong, Maiden Gully YCW, Pyramid Hill.
............................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 10
LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER v HEATHCOTE
2.15pm Saturday at Gunbower.
Shapes as one of the best chances the Bombers are going to have to get a win on the board this season.
They are playing at home against a Heathcote side that has just one win on the board and last week blew a 30-point three quarter-time lead against Elmore.
Might simply come down to which team can make the most of their chances in attack given the Bombers (47.2%) and Saints (47.7%) are two worst converting teams in the competition.
Last time: Heathcote 21.15 (141) def Leitchville-Gunbower 8.4 (52).
Head to Head: Leitchville-Gunbower 14; Heathcote 8.
LBU v MOUNT PLEASANT
2.15pm Saturday at Lockington.
So far so good for Lockington-Bamawm United, which has reached the halfway mark of the season unbeaten.
There's plenty of potency in the Cats' front half - they are averaging 126 points per game - but what would perhaps be most pleasing coach Brodie Collins is their defensive work, with no team having been able to kick more than nine goals against the ladder-leaders yet.
The Blues were blown away early by the Cats when they met in round three - they were down by 50 points at half-time - and will need to avoid a similar slow start.
Last time: LBU 15.16 (106) def Mount Pleasant 9.5 (59).
Head to Head: LBU 29; Mount Pleasant 16.
HUNTLY v COLBINABBIN
2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.
Colbinabbin has got itself back in the top three and will be much better for the run last week with its 13-point win over Mount Pleasant its first game for 28 days.
Huntly starts the second half of the season at 3-5, but given the scares it has already given top two sides LBU (lost by 23) and White Hills (lost by 6 last week) at home certainly looks to have the capabilities of taking a big scalp on the run home.
Could it be Colbinabbin?
Last time: Colbinabbin 15.12 (102) def Huntly 5.7 (37).
Since 1995: Colbinabbin 38; Huntly 17.
WHITE HILLS v NORTH BENDIGO
2.15pm Saturday at White Hills.
You've got to go back to 2008 for the last time White Hills beat North Bendigo twice in the home and away season.
The Demons have the chance to do so on Saturday given they comfortably knocked over the Bulldogs in round three to end North Bendigo's 37-game winning streak at Atkins Street.
At Scott Street this time the Demons would be disappointed if they can't repeat the dose on their home ground in what is a clash of 2nd vs 4th.
North Bendigo is coming off a 45-point loss to LBU last week and hasn't lost two in a row since 2013.
Last time: White Hills 17.19 (121) def North Bendigo 9.10 (64).
Head to Head: North Bendigo 36; White Hills 19.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (32) - Heathcote, Lockington-Bamawm United, Colbinabbin, White Hills.
Luke West (31) - Heathcote, Lockington-Bamawm United, Colbinabbin, White Hills.
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