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BENDIGO LEAGUE – ROUND 12
MARYBOROUGH v STRATHFIELDSAYE
2.20pm Saturday at Maryborough.
Last time these two sides met back in round three the margin was 96 points in favour of the Storm.
However, Storm co-coach Shannon Geary was full of praise for the endeavour shown by the Magpies: "I don't think the score is a true reflection of how the game went. Maryborough put a lot of pressure on us," he said.
Since then the Storm have gone from strength to strength, with the reigning premiers now on an eight-game winning streak, while the depleted Magpies have lost eight in a row.
Hard to see this being anything other than a big win for the Storm, but, hopefully, for the Magpies, who have kicked just six goals in their past three games, they can bring that same thirst for the contest as round three and make Strathfieldsaye work hard for 120 minutes.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 24.13 (157) def Maryborough 9.7 (61).
Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 19; Maryborough 4.
KANGAROO FLAT v GISBORNE
2.20pm Saturday at Kangaroo Flat.
Coming off a 43-point loss to Strathfieldsaye last week, Gisborne should be back on the winner's list at the expense of Kangaroo Flat.
Gisborne coach Rob Waters lamented his side's delivery inside 50 and stoppage work last week, so there's a couple of areas the Bulldogs will look to sharpen up against the Roos, who now begin a run of four tough weeks in a row against the BFNL's top four teams.
Last time: Gisborne 23.14 (152) def Kangaroo Flat 4.5 (29).
Head to Head: Gisborne 30; Kangaroo Flat 12.
CASTLEMAINE v EAGLEHAWK
2.20pm Saturday at Castlemaine.
Eaglehawk got back to its winning ways last week with a 126-point victory over Kangaroo Flat, but the Hawks still have the job well and truly ahead of them to make the finals given they remain two games out of the top five.
Barring a massive upset at Camp Reserve they will bank four more points on Saturday against an opponent they have beaten by huge margins of 228, 125, 121, 166 and 212 points in their past five meetings, during which they have outscored the Magpies 144 goals to 14.
While scoring has been tough for the winless Castlemaine all season, it has been non-existent for the Magpies in second quarters since the season re-start.
The Magpies have been outscored 139-0 in their past four second quarters as the opposition has opened the floodgates.
Last time: Eaglehawk 36.23 (239) def Castlemaine 1.5 (11).
Since 1995: Eaglehawk 34; Castlemaine 19.
GOLDEN SQUARE v SANDHURST
2.20pm Saturday at Golden Square.
Has all the hallmarks of a belter of a contest, particularly if their round three meeting is a gauge.
The Dragons on the back of their superb conversion beat the Bulldogs by two points at the QEO in their first encounter and on its home ground this time Golden Square will be hungry for redemption against its arch-rival.
In terms of the overall season picture, a victory for Sandhurst would not only keep the Dragons a game clear in top spot, but also with a healthy two-game buffer inside the top three.
However, should the Bulldogs win the round is likely to end with Sandhurst, Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square all on 9-2 records and the tussle for top spot stepping up a gear in what would provide an added element of excitement to the season.
Last time: Sandhurst 15.3 (93) def Golden Square 13.13 (91).
Since 1995: Golden Square 34; Sandhurst 28.
SOUTH BENDIGO v KYNETON
2.20pm Saturday at QEO.
The scenario is simple for South Bendigo. Keep winning to keep its finals destiny in its own hands.
Off the back of three wins in a row the Bloods are two games clear of Eaglehawk in fifth spot, with a drought-breaking finals berth for the first time since 2012 very much there for the taking.
On their home deck at the QEO you'd expect the Bloods to knock over the Tigers given Kyneton has yet to prove it can beat a team above it, but it does have the feel of a danger game about it for South Bendigo given the recent history of tight tussles between the two, with six of their past eight meetings decided by 10 points or less.
Last time: South Bendigo 13.12 (90) def Kyneton 12.8 (80).
Since 1995: South Bendigo 34; Kyneton 18; Drawn 1.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (42) - Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Eaglehawk, Sandhurst, South Bendigo.
Luke West (42) - Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, South Bendigo.
Richard Jones (41) - Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, South Bendigo.
............................................
LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE – ROUND 13
BRIDGEWATER v NEWBRIDGE
2.15pm Saturday at Bridgewater.
One of the fiercest rivalries in the Loddon Valley league will have its next chapter written.
But it's likely to be a one-sided chapter given the contrasting phases the two teams are at, with Bridgewater back in premiership mode again, while the Maroons are embarking on what the Mean Machine has just gone through of rebuilding.
The Maroons' midfield will need to be at the top of their game to stem the flow of ball going inside Bridgewater's forward 50 where the Mean Machine has Josh Martyn coming off a 15-goal bag against Inglewood last week.
Last time: Bridgewater 21.18 (144) def Newbridge 5.6 (36).
Since 1995: Newbridge 28; Bridgewater 25.
INGLEWOOD v BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE
2.15pm Saturday at Inglewood.
Come 5pm Saturday the Bears should be another step closer to a fourth-straight finals berth with the chance to move two games clear of sixth-placed Maiden Gully YCW, which has the bye.
The young Blues are still searching for that elusive first win since round three of 2018.
It's hard yards for the Blues again, but the young side continues to front up each week and give its all, with Cody Stobaus and Taj Rodwell having been their two most consistent players.
Last time: BL-Serpentine 18.21 (129) def Inglewood 7.3 (45).
Since 1995: BL-Serpentine 39; Inglewood 13.
MITIAMO v CALIVIL UNITED
2.15pm Saturday at Mitiamo.
Should be 10-from-10 for the undefeated Superoos come Saturday night.
The Superoos' defence has had their praises sung all year and to give their average score against of just 39 points per game some context, going back to 1980 the least amount of points conceded per game in the Loddon Valley is Bridgewater's 49 in its undefeated 2014 premiership season.
Good luck to the Demons trying to break through the Superoos' brick wall.
Last time: Mitiamo 31.19 (205) def Calivil United 3.5 (23).
Since 1995: Calivil United 40; Mitiamo 26.
PYRAMID HILL v MARONG
2.15pm Saturday at Pyramid Hill.
Match of the round between third and fourth who were separated by just three points when they clashed in round three, with this contest huge in terms of the double chance ramifications.
If the Panthers can get over the line again they will move two games, plus percentage, clear inside the top three and be hard to dislodge.
But a Pyramid Hill win would leave the two sides with 7-3 records apiece and the double chance tussle between the pair on in earnest.
Last time: Marong 11.12 (78) def Pyramid Hill 11.9 (75).
Since 1995: Pyramid Hill 40; Marong 15.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (38) - Bridgewater, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, Mitiamo, Marong.
Luke West (37) - Bridgewater, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, Mitiamo, Marong.
............................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 12
LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER v MOUNT PLEASANT
2.15pm Saturday at Gunbower.
A chance for Mount Pleasant to do something it hasn't previously accomplished - record an away win over Leitchville-Gunbower.
All five victories the Blues have had over Leitchville-Gunbower since the Bombers joined the league in 2010 have been at Toolleen, but they will travel up to Gunbower as red-hot favourites to collect the four points.
Tick that off and the Blues will remain two games safely inside the top five.
Last time: Mount Pleasant 16.18 (114) def Leitchville-Gunbower 13.6 (84).
Head to Head: Leitchville-Gunbower 16; Mount Pleasant 5.
NORTH BENDIGO v HEATHCOTE
2.15pm Saturday at North Bendigo.
In years gone by you wouldn't think twice about tipping North Bendigo over Heathcote.
While the Bulldogs will go in as firm favourites, they are coming off the bye last week, which always has that danger attached of being a touch rusty, while the Saints competed strongly against White Hills and served it right up to North Bendigo when they last met in round five.
The Bulldogs should win, but expect the Saints to be far more competitive than their past six trips to Atkins Street where they have lost by big margins of 125, 178, 225, 157, 159 and 108 points.
Last time: North Bendigo 13.12 (90) def Heathcote 11.13 (79).
Head to Head: North Bendigo 35; Heathcote 18.
HUNTLY v ELMORE
2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.
All the signs point to what should be a close battle between two sides that are probably now playing to finish as the best of the "also-rans" given the distance to the top five.
Both the Hawks and Bloods are 3-7 and were separated by just one point last time they met when Elmore survived a late charge by Huntly to scrape over the line by the barest of margins.
Last time: Elmore 11.13 (79) def Huntly 11.12 (78).
Since 1995: Elmore 33; Huntly 21.
WHITE HILLS v COLBINABBIN
2.15pm Saturday at White Hills.
A potential prelude to a finals meeting down the road given the Demons and Grasshoppers sit second and third on the ladder.
White Hills has the home ground advantage and handled Colbinabbin comfortably by 32 points in round five, but the Grasshoppers head into their return bout with the superior formline.
The Grasshoppers are 3-0 since the season re-start and coming off a 147-point thrashing of Leitchville-Gunbower last week, while the Demons have been a scratchy 2-2 and could be without their match-winning forward Jed Lamb due to a hamstring concern.
Last time: White Hills 12.13 (85) def Colbinabbin 7.11 (53).
Since 1995: Colbinabbin 43; White Hills 10.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (39) - Mount Pleasant, North Bendigo, Huntly, Colbinabbin.
Luke West (38) - Mount Pleasant, North Bendigo, Huntly, Colbinabbin.
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