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BENDIGO LEAGUE – ROUND 13
STRATHFIELDSAYE v GOLDEN SQUARE
2.20pm Saturday at Strathfieldsaye.
Huge game between two of the flag contenders that are among the group of the three leading teams that all have 9-2 records.
Both are in red-hot form, with the Storm having strung together nine wins in a row to move to top spot, while the Bulldogs have reeled off seven-consecutive wins.
A potential six inclusions into the Strathfieldsaye side will make for a formidable Storm outfit that will also be celebrating Kellan Smith becoming the club's first 200-game player.
Golden Square produced four quarters of pressure against Sandhurst last week in a 36-point win and given what are shaping as tough conditions where winning the contested ball will be at a premium, the Bulldogs will have to bring the same level of intensity to avenge their 15-point loss to the Storm earlier in the year.
A classic "eight-point" game where the winner will be well on the way to locking up a double chance.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 12.23 (95) def Golden Square 12.8 (80).
Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 16; Golden Square 13.
GISBORNE v SOUTH BENDIGO
2.20pm Saturday at Gisborne.
Another ripping contest between fourth and fifth, with the Bulldogs and Bloods both level on 32 points.
The winner will retain at least a two-game buffer safely inside the top five and keep themselves right in the mix for the double chance, while the loser is likely to end the round only one game ahead of the chasing Eaglehawk that is in sixth-place.
There's every chance Gisborne coach Rob Waters has had this date circled since his side was outplayed by the Bloods at the QEO in round four.
South Bendigo's best performance of the season so far was arguably that win over Gisborne when it hunted the Bulldogs for four quarters and was rewarded with a 25-point win.
Playing the Bulldogs at "The Graveyard" is a much tougher proposition, particularly on days like Saturday where the forecast maximum is for nine degrees and possible showers, but it's a challenge the in-form Bloods will relish on the back of four wins in a row.
Last time: South Bendigo 16.7 (103) def Gisborne 11.12 (78).
Head to Head: Gisborne 29; South Bendigo 16.
KYNETON v CASTLEMAINE
1.40pm Saturday at Kyneton.
The two country rivals will meet with some silverware on the line, with the Des Kelly Memorial Challenge Cup to be up for grabs.
In front of their parochial home fans the Tigers should end what is a five-game losing streak where they have been struggling to get out of the blocks having trailed by quarter-time margins of 22 points (v South Bendigo), 44 (v Golden Square), 27 (v Strathfieldsaye), 26 (v Sandhurst) and 35 (v Gisborne) in their five defeats in a row.
While the Magpies will again be underdogs, they will know they have the capacity to serve it right up to Kyneton having led the Tigers late in the third quarter during their round four encounter in their most competitive performance of the season.
Last time: Kyneton 13.24 (102) def Castlemaine 11.6 (72).
Since 1995: Castlemaine 26; Kyneton 24.
SANDHURST v KANGAROO FLAT
2.20pm Saturday at QEO.
Sandhurst will be hunting a bounce-back win when it hosts Kangaroo Flat - a club it has won 18 in a row against.
After last week's loss to Golden Square the Dragons will relish being back on the QEO, while expect a strong response in terms of work-rate given coach Ashley Connick conceded Square "worked harder from contest to contest than we did".
A tough ask for the Roos, but it's another opportunity to learn from a contender at a venue where the big games in September are played.
Last time: Sandhurst 19.22 (136) def Kangaroo Flat 5.4 (34).
Since 1995: Sandhurst 41; Kangaroo Flat 13.
EAGLEHAWK v MARYBOROUGH
2.20pm Saturday at Eaglehawk.
Should be a third win in a row for Eaglehawk and with it, the chance to close the gap to the top five to just four points.
Never easy for a visiting team to Canterbury Park at the best of times, let alone for the undermanned Magpies who have lost nine in a row taking on an Eaglehawk side desperately fighting to save its season.
Last time: Eaglehawk 20.16 (136) def Maryborough 3.5 (23).
Since 1995: Eaglehawk 33; Maryborough 20.
SELECTIONS:
LUKE WEST (47) - Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Kyneton, Sandhurst, Eaglehawk.
ADAM BOURKE (46) - Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Kyneton, Sandhurst, Eaglehawk.
RICHARD JONES (46) - Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Kyneton, Sandhurst, Eaglehawk.
............................................
LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE – ROUND 14
CALIVIL UNITED v BRIDGEWATER
2.15pm Saturday at Calivil.
It doesn't get any easier for Calivil United.
After taking on the undefeated Mitiamo last week, the Demons now confront the second-placed Bridgewater in what shapes as another steep learning curve.
Despite a 134-point margin last week, Demons' coach Glen Scholtes praised his team's commitment to the cause in laying 87 tackles, an effort he will be hoping can be replicated again.
Last time: Bridgewater 31.16 (202) def Calivil United 3.5 (23).
Since 1995: Calivil United 27; Bridgewater 26; Drawn 1.
MARONG v MITIAMO
2.15pm Saturday at Marong.
Mitiamo's unblemished record will be put to the test by the surging Marong.
The Superoos have been the dominant team with their 10-0 record, but face a Panthers' side that since the re-start of the competition has won its four games by an average of 135 points and kicked 96 goals to 13.
While the Panthers are clearly on the charge, this clash will help gauge just how far they've advanced since round five when they were over-run by the Superoos and lost by 44 points.
Although the game itself is huge, the day is about much more than just four points, with it being played in honour of Annette Grant and aiming to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer.
Last time: Mitiamo 14.11 (95) def Marong 7.9 (51).
Since 1995: Mitiamo 39; Marong 14.
MAIDEN GULLY YCW v PYRAMID HILL
2.15pm Saturday at Maiden Gully.
How will Pyramid Hill respond to last week's 83-point belting from Marong when the Bulldogs could muster just four goals and were completely stifled?
The Bulldogs are on the road to face Maiden Gully YCW, which had the chance to freshen up last week with a bye and will need everything to go right for it from here if it's to make a tilt at the finals given the Eagles are two games outside the top five.
Last time: Pyramid Hill 16.19 (115) def Maiden Gully YCW 6.6 (42).
Head to Head: Pyramid Hill 32; Maiden Gully YCW 22.
BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE v NEWBRIDGE
2.15pm Saturday at Serpentine.
The Bears will be aiming to pick up from where they left off last week when they demolished Inglewood by 248 points - the biggest margin in an LVFNL game since 2004.
Importantly for the Bears they are getting a stronger team on the park each week, which should hold them in good stead heading into the back end of the season.
For the Maroons, they will have derived plenty out of pushing Bridgewater for three-and-a-half quarters last week which they can build on against the Bears.
Last time: BL-Serpentine 12.10 (92) def Newbridge 9.5 (59).
Since 1995: BL-Serpentine 27; Newbridge 26; Drawn 1.
SELECTIONS:
ADAM BOURKE (42) - Bridgewater, Marong, Pyramid Hill, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
LUKE WEST (41) - Bridgewater, Marong, Pyramid Hill, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
............................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 13
ELMORE v LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER
2.15pm Saturday at Elmore.
Leitchville-Gunbower continues to hunt it first victory of the season and gets its next crack against Elmore.
It has been a tough fortnight for the Bombers with a pair of triple-figure losses to Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin and now face a Bloods side that has key big man Dylan Gordon, Nick Kellow and Bailey Boyack as three in-form players.
Last time: Elmore 14.10 (94) def Leitchville-Gunbower 5.14 (44).
Head to Head: Leitchville-Gunbower 13; Elmore 8.
COLBINABBIN v NORTH BENDIGO
2.15pm Saturday at Colbinabbin.
Crucial game between two sides that look to be building well at the right time of the season and fighting for the double chance.
The Grasshoppers (32 points) sit in third position, one game ahead of North Bendigo (28), making this a high stakes contest as far as games in July go.
Colbinabbin has the momentum of five wins in a row behind it as it reaps the benefits of getting some personnel consistency, while North Bendigo is also getting the health of its list back in a strong position.
Was a ripper of a contest in round six when North Bendigo won by a goal and this has the makings of another clash that goes down to the wire.
Last time: North Bendigo 9.10 (64) def Colbinabbin 8.10 (58).
Head to Head: North Bendigo 31; Colbinabbin 28.
LOCKINGTON-BAMAWM UNITED v HUNTLY
2.15pm Saturday at Lockington.
LBU coach Brodie Collins will need no reminding that despite having six more wins than Huntly, the Cats can't afford to take the Hawks lightly.
When they last met in round six the Hawks gave the Cats an almighty scare, leading into the final term before going down by 23 points.
It was a missed opportunity for the Hawks to get a major scalp, but they get another crack at it on Saturday against a Cats side that had last week off due to the bye.
Good signs for the Hawks that superstar Ryan Semmel played his best game of the season last week with a five-goal performance in a big win over Elmore.
Last time: LBU 12.12 (84) def Huntly 9.7 (61).
Head to Head: LBU 32; Huntly 9.
MOUNT PLEASANT v WHITE HILLS
2.15pm Saturday at Toolleen.
One of the big questions in the HDFNL at the moment is what's up with White Hills?
While the Demons remain in second position, they are now 2-3 over their past five games during which they've averaged just 53 points following their red-hot 7-0 start.
The Demons' best is damn good, but they are far from it at the moment, which the fifth-placed Blues will be determined to exploit at home.
Last time: White Hills 23.16 (154) def Mount Pleasant 8.12 (60).
Since 1995: Mount Pleasant 42; White Hills 15.
SELECTIONS:
ADAM BOURKE (43) - Elmore, Colbinabbin, Huntly, Mount Pleasant.
LUKE WEST (42) - Elmore, Colbinabbin, Lockington-Bamawm United, White Hills.
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