BENDIGO LEAGUE – ROUND 17
MARYBOROUGH v GISBORNE
2.20pm Saturday at Maryborough.
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Gisborne will make the trip to Maryborough with 10 senior players unavailable for selection due to the travel restrictions preventing Melbourne players from playing in regional competitions.
But what that does is afford an opportunity for some more of the Bulldogs' younger players to step up, press their claim and show their senior worth with finals on the horizon.
Even with the fourth-placed Gisborne being far from full strength, it's still tough to see the Magpies - whose past four games have been losses by at least 107 points - pulling off an upset win on their home deck against an opponent they haven't beaten since 2010.
Last time: Gisborne 21.19 (145) def Maryborough 2.3 (15).
Head to Head: Gisborne 36; Maryborough 5.
KANGAROO FLAT v SOUTH BENDIGO
2.20pm Saturday at Dower Park.
Not since early in the 2017 season has South Bendigo strung together five wins in a row.
But having beaten Kyneton (38 points), Castlemaine (112), Maryborough (134) and Kangaroo Flat (46) in their four games before the season pause, the much-improved Bloods get their shot at five wins on the trot in their return clash against the Roos.
The Bloods, who are finals-bound for the first time since 2012, will have four Melbourne-based players unavailable, but will still go in as warm favourites, while the Roos are unaffected by the travel restrictions.
Last time: South Bendigo 10.17 (77) def Kangaroo Flat 4.7 (31).
Since 1995: South Bendigo 36; Kangaroo Flat 17; Drawn 1.
GOLDEN SQUARE v CASTLEMAINE
2.20pm Saturday at Golden Square.
Golden Square will re-launch its season at home against Castlemaine having won seven in a row before the break.
The third-placed Bulldogs had built a strong force of momentum behind them and will be determined to immediately pick up from where they left off.
The Melbourne travel ban rules out defender Liam Duguid from lining up for the Bulldogs, while the Magpies, who are running out of time to avoid a second winless season in a row, aren't impacted.
Last time: Golden Square 27.24 (196) def Castlemaine 3.0 (18).
Since 1995: Golden Square 38; Kangaroo Flat 14.
SANDHURST v KYNETON
Would have been played at 2.20pm on Saturday at the QEO, but will instead go in the record books as the league's first forfeited senior game since 1996 with the Tigers not fielding a team.
The Tigers informed the league on Wednesday that due to the Melbourne travel restrictions they won't have sufficient numbers to field either a senior or reserves team on Saturday.
As such, second-placed Sandhurst has to endure another frustrating week off as it has to again wait for the chance to atone from its 36-point loss to Golden Square in its last game on July 10, but will also bank four points to move to 10-2 without breaking a sweat.
Last time: Sandhurst 14.16 (100) def Kyneton 7.12 (54).
Since 1995: Sandhurst 41; Kyneton 11; Drawn 2.
STRATHFIELDSAYE v EAGLEHAWK
2.20pm Saturday at Strathfieldsaye.
Always a tough ask for a visiting team headed to Strathfieldsaye's Tannery Lane fortress, which is the task at hand for Eaglehawk.
The Hawks sit in sixth position and are still to beat a side above them, so they are going to have to buck that trend if they are to re-start their season on a winning note against a side they know so well given their recent history of having played three grand finals in a row against each other.
While the Hawks have slid this season, the reigning premier Storm remains a power of the competition and had won nine in a row by an average of 86 points before the latest standstill.
Both teams are expected to have about half-a-dozen players unavailable due to the Melbourne travel restrictions, robbing the clash of some star power.
Among the Storm's unavailability is Kellan Smith, whose cursed 200th game milestone is again put on hold having originally been due to be played on July 17.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 17.20 (122) def Eaglehawk 10.8 (68).
Head to Head: Strathfieldsaye 16; Eaglehawk 15.
SELECTIONS:
Luke West (47) - Gisborne, South Bendigo, Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye.
Adam Bourke (46) - Gisborne, South Bendigo, Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye.
Richard Jones (46) - Gisborne, South Bendigo, Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye.
LODDON VALLEY LEAGUE – ROUND 18
INGLEWOOD v MAIDEN GULLY YCW
2.15pm Saturday at Inglewood.
Last game of the season for both teams, and with it is a final opportunity for Inglewood to get one win on the board in 2021.
Win, lose or draw the Eagles will finish in sixth position in what has been a season coach Wayne Mitrovic last week said had become increasingly difficult to keep players motivated and engaged given the constant uncertainty. The Eagles will be far from full strength, but still should have enough talent on the park to finish the year with a comfortable win.
Last time: Maiden Gully YCW 26.22 (178) def Inglewood 0.1 (1).
Since 1995: Maiden Gully YCW 42; Inglewood 10.
MITIAMO v BRIDGEWATER
2.15pm Saturday at Mitiamo.
A pre-finals warm-up between first and second.
However, defending premier Mitiamo (11-0, 313.0%), which will be missing its Queensland contingent of players, can't be dislodged from pole position by Bridgewater (10-1, 245.0%) due to its far superior percentage, meaning the game doesn't have the added buzz attached to it of being a clash to decide the minor premiership.
So, do both teams just go through the motions and hope to get through unscathed heading into the finals, or do the competitive juices really flow and they both see it as a chance to land a psychological blow on the other given the possibility of what could come in the coming weeks?
Hopefully, it's the latter.
Last time: Mitiamo 9.15 (69) def Bridgewater 4.8 (32).
Since 1995: Mitiamo 30; Bridgewater 25; Drawn 1.
BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE v PYRAMID HILL
2.15pm Saturday at Serpentine.
This match will serve as the entree to the elimination final given the Bulldogs (4th) and Bears (5th) are guaranteed to meet in that final.
Considering there's nothing riding on the outcome, will both teams be content just to get a game back under their belt and get through unscathed to be raring to go for when they are playing for their season eight days later?
Or will the approach be winning form is good form to take into the finals and it will be the pedal to the floor?
Last time: Pyramid Hill 14.10 (94) def BL-Serpentine 6.13 (49).
Head to Head: Pyramid Hill 31; BL-Serpentine 28.
NEWBRIDGE v MARONG
2.15pm Saturday at Newbridge.
After more than a month off, Newbridge returns for its final game against the in-form Marong at home.
Since last playing on July 10 the Maroons have endured two weekends of abandoned matches, then had the bye a fortnight ago when the season resumed, then missed out on playing again last Saturday with another lockdown abandonment.
The Maroons are huge underdogs - but at least they will be fresh!
Last time: Marong 29.12 (186) def Newbridge 4.8 (32).
Since 1995: Newbridge 30; Marong 23.
............................................
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (46) - Maiden Gully YCW, Bridgewater, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, Marong.
Luke West (45) - Maiden Gully YCW, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill, Marong.
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT LEAGUE - ROUND 17
LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER v WHITE HILLS
2.15pm Saturday at Gunbower.
Both teams will be led by their assistant coaches, with Cameron Van Florestein (Leitchville-Gunbower) and Sam Kerridge (White Hills) both unavailable due to being based in Melbourne.
Ayden Walton will take charge of the Bombers and Jack Fallon will coach the Demons in their last hit-out before the finals ahead of the bye next week.
Given White Hills will be without its Melbourne contingent and is in a form slump, the winless Bombers should prove far more competitive than the 146-point hiding they copped off the Demons in round one.
Last time: White Hills 28.18 (186) def Leitchville-Gunbower 5.10 (40).
Head to Head: Leitchville-Gunbower 12; White Hills 9.
COLBINABBIN v ELMORE
2.15pm Saturday at Colbinabbin.
Elmore is very much the walking wounded as the season takes its toll on the Bloods, who have an injury list of 15. Fortunately though for the Bloods, their unavailabilities aren't further exasperated by the Melbourne travel restrictions.
The same can't be said for Colbinabbin, with the Grasshoppers to have 11 Melbourne players ruled out for what will be their first game in 35 days having had the bye, plus three abandoned rounds, since their last game on July 10.
Last time: Colbinabbin 17.14 (116) def Elmore 8.5 (53).
Since 1995: Colbinabbin Elmore 39; Elmore 16.
LOCKINGTON-BAMAWM UNITED v HEATHCOTE
2.15pm Saturday at Lockington.
If taking on the red-hot Lockington-Bamawm United at Lockington wasn't going to be hard enough as is for Heathcote, it's now all the more tougher for the Saints with 12 Melbourne players unavailable.
In contrast, the undefeated Cats will have all but one player to pick from, and given what they showed in their last outing against White Hills when they crushed the Demons by 134 points a fortnight ago, the LBU juggernaut should roll on.
Last time: LBU 13.18 (96) def Heathcote 7.7 (49).
Head to Head: LBU 30; Heathcote 12.
HUNTLY v NORTH BENDIGO
2.15pm Saturday at Huntly.
The Golden City Cup will be up for grabs when the Hawks - who will have six Melbourne players absent - host the Bulldogs, who will have three unavailable, including playmakers Koe Ngawati and Harry O'Meara.
A win for the Bulldogs should lock up yet another double chance for the reigning premiers, who have finished top three every year since 2013 in what's remarkable consistency.
Last time: North Bendigo 11.10 (76) def Huntly 5.12 (42).
Head to Head: North Bendigo 46; Huntly 12.
SELECTIONS:
Adam Bourke (47) - White Hills, Colbinabbin, Lockington-Bamawm United, North Bendigo.
Luke West (46) - White Hills, Colbinabbin, Lockington-Bamawm United, North Bendigo.
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