IT would have been another big weekend of football across the Bendigo, Heathcote District and Loddon Valley leagues this Saturday.
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However, it will now be a weekend without sport given the announcement late Thursday afternoon of a snap Victorian seven-day lockdown.
While the football is now off we have retained our weekly football preview that had been written prior to the lockdown announcement.
Unfortunately, these games won't be played this weekend, but here's what was on the agenda for the Bendigo, Loddon Valley and Heathcote District leagues.
BENDIGO LEAGUE – ROUND 16
KANGAROO FLAT v MARYBOROUGH
2.20pm Saturday at Kangaroo Flat.
One of those rare games where Kangaroo Flat will go in as favourites as the Roos host Maryborough.
Only three wins between the two sides in what has been a challenging 2021 for both that has had the added complication of two COVID lockdown disruptions.
With Maryborough now on the hunt for a replacement to take over from coach Justin Abrams in 2022, hopefully, the Magpies can produce a competitive last month starting Saturday to help sell themselves to prospective candidates.
Last time: Kangaroo Flat 18.10 (118) def Maryborough 15.5 (95).
Since 1995: Kangaroo Flat 27; Maryborough 26.
CASTLEMAINE v STRATHFIELDSAYE
2.20pm Saturday at Castlemaine.
Mighty tough re-start to the season for the Magpies, who confront powerhouse Strathfieldsaye.
Without sounding disrespectful, a starting point for the Magpies on Saturday is at least being able to get on the scoreboard given their previous encounter against the Storm - which was also first-up after a COVID break - they were held scoreless in a 213-point hiding.
That mauling of the Magpies is among nine wins in a row for the Storm.
It will be take two on the Storm celebrating Kellan Smith becoming its first 200-game player after he had been previously due to bring up the milestone three weeks ago against Golden Square before the season was again frustratingly put on hold.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 33.15 (213) def Castlemaine 0.0 (0).
Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 21; Castlemaine 2.
KYNETON v GISBORNE
2.20pm Saturday at Kyneton.
Start of a tough run of three matches for the Tigers with clashes against arch-rival Gisborne, Sandhurst and Strathfieldsaye looming.
The Tigers had lost five in a row leading into the COVID break - all by at least six goals - with slow starts proving costly in all defeats.
As well as rectifying the slow starts - they have been outscored 181-27 in their past five first quarters - coach Paul Chapman will also want his side to tighten up defensively given the Tigers had conceded scores of at least 100 in all five losses in a row.
Gisborne relaunches its season in fourth position with an 8-3 record and coming off a 90-point win over Kangaroo Flat in its previous start.
Last time: Gisborne 22.17 (149) def Kyneton 7.7 (49).
Head to Head: Gisborne 29; Kyneton 10.
SOUTH BENDIGO v GOLDEN SQUARE
2.20pm Saturday at QEO.
First opportunity South Bendigo gets at having another crack against one of the three teams the Bloods have lost to this season.
The Bloods lost to the Bulldogs by 28 points at Wade Street in round seven, but this time get the Bulldogs on their home deck at the QEO where they have played their best football this season.
The No.1 focus at the moment for the Bloods is holding their spot in the top five, of which they have a two-game buffer, but if they can knock over the Bulldogs the door to the top three very much opens up.
Golden Square is sitting in third position and will be hungry to pick up from where it left off given its last outing was its best four-quarter performance of the season when it beat arch-rival Sandhurst by 36 points.
Both teams had been in good nick before the season pause, with the Bulldogs having won seven in a row and the Bloods four on the trot.
Last time: Golden Square 18.18 (126) def South Bendigo 15.8 (98).
Since 1995: Golden Square 37; South Bendigo 25.
EAGLEHAWK v SANDHURST
2.20pm Saturday at Eaglehawk.
Two games outside the top five and only four rounds left to play shows Eaglehawk very much has an uphill battle to make the finals from here, particularly given its remaining games are all against sides in the top five.
Three single-figure losses have put a major dent in the Hawks' finals aspirations - one of which was to Sandhurst by nine points in round seven without their Melbourne-based players.
But with no restrictions on who they can select this week, plus on their home deck where they are always a tough proposition, should make for another competitive tussle against the second-placed Dragons, who had lost two of their previous three before the break.
Last time: Sandhurst 13.8 (86) def Eaglehawk 10.17 (77).
Since 1995: Sandhurst 31; Eaglehawk 24; Drawn 1.
SELECTIONS:
Luke West - Kangaroo Flat, Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Golden Square, Eaglehawk.
............................................
LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE – ROUND 17
CALIVIL UNITED v NEWBRIDGE
2.15pm Saturday at Calivil.
Last game of the season for the Demons, who will be determined to finish 2021 on a positive note by following up last week's 120-point win over Inglewood with another strong performance.
The Demons host a Newbridge side that having had the bye last week hasn't played a game since its loss to Bridgewater on July 10.
With the prospect of the Maroons - who have reappointed Luke Freeman as coach for 2022 - being rusty early, it's an opportunity for the Demons to pounce.
Last time: Newbridge 11.15 (81) def Calivil United 7.8 (50).
Since 1995: Calivil United 37; Newbridge 21.
BRIDGEWATER v PYRAMID HILL
2.15pm Saturday at Bridgewater.
Clash of two finals-bound sides who played out a one-point thriller in their earlier meeting when the Mean Machine scraped over the line by the barest of margins.
Despite a growing injury toll, the Mean Machine has held up well to be 9-1 with the double chance locked away.
While Pyramid Hill is headed for another finals series, the Bulldogs desperately need to regain some spark having copped rare back-to-back losses by 50 points-plus in their past two games against Mitiamo and Marong in which they've managed just nine goals.
Last time: Bridgewater 13.8 (86) def Pyramid Hill 13.7 (85).
Head to Head: Bridgewater 32; Pyramid Hill 25; Drawn 1.
MARONG v INGLEWOOD
2.15pm Saturday at Marong.
Now on their best winning streak since 1994, the red-hot Panthers are eyeing off their seventh in a row against the young Blues.
Shapes as another unrelenting afternoon for the Inglewood backmen trying to shut down the Panthers' gun forwards in Kain Robins (46 goals) and Brandyn Grenfell (38) - both of whom have kicked more goals than Inglewood's team total of 35 for the year.
Last time: Marong 36.24 (240) def Inglewood 0.4 (4).
Since 1995: Marong 36; Inglewood 14; Drawn 1.
MAIDEN GULLY YCW v BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE
2.15pm Saturday at Maiden Gully.
Huge game in the battle for fifth spot.
The scenario is simple. If the fifth-placed Bears win they can't be dislodged from the top five and are safe.
But if the sixth-placed Eagles prevail at home they move within one game of the Bears and keep their finals pulse flickering heading into the last round.
Factor in there was only one point the difference last time they met and the stage is set for a cracking contest.
Last time: BL-Serpentine 11.11 (77) def Maiden Gully YCW 11.10 (76).
Since 1995: BL-Serpentine 31; Maiden Gully YCW 24; Drawn 1.
SELECTIONS:
Luke West - Newbridge, Bridgewater, Marong, Maiden Gully YCW.
............................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE – ROUND 16
WHITE HILLS v HUNTLY
2.15pm Saturday at White Hills.
How will White Hills respond to last week's 134-point thrashing from LBU that has cost its spot in the top three?
Having gone 2-4 in their past six games, the Demons' form has spiraled downwards, while their fellow top-five sides all look to be on an upwards curve.
The Demons' scoring has dried up significantly during their drop-off and won't be made any easier this week with star forward Jed Lamb receiving a one-match suspension for engaging in rough conduct against LBU.
Huntly - which has star Ryan Semmel coming off back-to-back bags of five goals - will be hungry to atone for its near-miss against the Demons in round seven when it had more scoring shots, led at each of the first three breaks, but lost by six points.
Last time: White Hills 8.5 (53) def Huntly 6.11 (47).
Since 1995: Huntly 27; White Hills 27.
NORTH BENDIGO v LOCKINGTON-BAMAWM UNITED
2.15pm Saturday at North Bendigo.
Should be a ripper of a contest between two of the flag contenders.
The undefeated Cats couldn't have been more impressive in their 134-point thrashing of White Hills last week when they produced a superb brand of four-quarter team football, but should face a much sterner test at Atkins Street, where they haven't won since 2013.
North Bendigo is building solidly towards another finals campaign with consecutive triple-figure wins over Elmore (129) and Heathcote (115) that has the Bulldogs back in their familiar position in the top three.
Last time: LBU 13.12 (90) def North Bendigo 7.3 (45).
Head to Head: LBU 23; North Bendigo 20.
COLBINABBIN v MOUNT PLEASANT
2.15pm Saturday at Colbinabbin.
Clash of traditional rivals, but it has been a one-sided rivalry of late, with the Grasshoppers having won their past 11 encounters.
Will be the first game in 28 days for the Grasshoppers after a bye last week, while Mount Pleasant made an impressive return from the season pause with a 121-point thrashing of Heathcote.
Both teams have solid formlines behind them, with second-placed Colbinabbin having won its past five and the building Blues with three wins in a row.
Last time: Colbinabbin 11.9 (75) def Mount Pleasant 10.2 (62).
Since 1995: Colbinabbin 40; Mount Pleasant 24.
HEATHCOTE v ELMORE
2.15pm Saturday at Heathcote.
Has the makings of a tussle that goes right down to the wire if their past two meetings are a gauge - both of which have been decided by a kick and Elmore coming out on top both times by margins of two and one point.
This time, though, the Saints have the home ground advantage.
Last time: Elmore 9.10 (64) def Heathcote 8.14 (62).
Since 1995: Elmore 35; Heathcote 22; Drawn 1.
To reiterate, these previews were written prior to the lockdown announcement and have been retained in their original form to paint the picture of what would have been in store this weekend.
SELECTIONS:
Luke West - White Hills, Lockington-Bamawm United, Colbinabbin, Elmore.
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