Weekend football preview, selections, how they match-up - BFNL, HDFNL, LVFNL

A LOOK at each of the five teams still in the Loddon Valley league premiership hunt ahead of the finals starting on Saturday.

Played - 12

Record - 12-0, 292.7%

Average for - 117

Average against - 40

Quarters won - 40 of 48

Scoring differential:

1^st qtr: +157 2^nd qtr: +277

3^rd qtr: +249 4^th qtr: +238

Record vs finalists: 6-0

def BL-Serpentine 73-50

def Marong 95-51

def Pyramid Hill 107-69

def Bridgewater 69-32

def Pyramid Hill 90-39

def Bridgewater 106-65

Top 5 best player votes:

Max Simpson - 33

Lee Dale - 30

Tyrone Downie - 19

Luke Lougoon - 18

Ross Turner - 18

Top 5 goalkickers:

Tyrone Downie - 42

Ryan Wellington - 30

Tim Brooks - 30

Brent Downie - 20

Andrew Cussen - 10

Coaches comment:

"It has been a strange year for everyone in terms of it being stop-start, but we've been able to do what we needed to to finish on top after the home and away.

"The real stuff starts now and it's going to be different playing finals without crowds, but there still should be a bit of atmosphere with all the different clubs.

"We copped a few minor injuries in our last game, so the week off will be good for us and we'd expect to have everyone fit and available for next week (second semi-final) albeit having to see what happens in regards to our Queensland-based players (Michael I'Anson, Lee Dale, Dylan Mutu and Carl Nicholson)." - Andy Grant.

Played - 12

Record - 10-2, 275.4%

Average for - 124

Average against - 45

Quarters won - 39 of 48

Scoring differential:

1st qtr: +219 2nd qtr: +251

3rd qtr: +267 4th qtr: +212

Record vs finalists: 4-2

def Pyramid Hill 78-75

lt Mitiamo 51-95

lt Bridgewater 77-97

def BL-Serpentine 123-64

def Pyramid Hill 108-25

def BL-Serpentine 144-61

Top 5 best player votes:

Nathan Devanny - 35

Harry Graham - 22

David Johnstone - 21

Richard Tibbett - 20

Corey Gregg - 19

Top 5 goalkickers:

Kain Robins - 49

Brandyn Grenfell - 39

Adrian Pappin - 22

Cory Jacobs - 15

Nathan Devanny - 13

Coaches comment:

"We've pretty much got a full list to pick from apart from a couple of boys based in Melbourne.

"We had a few injuries earlier, but we've been able to get most of the boys back in the back half of the year.

"At the start of the year when I took over we had a big emphasis on making the finals and giving ourselves every opportunity and to the boys' credit, they've done everything right and we've got there in a good position.

"Now it's just about making the most of the opportunity." - Linton Jacobs.

Played - 12

Record - 10-2, 216.5%

Average for - 123

Average against - 57

Quarters won - 35 of 48

Scoring differential:

1st qtr: +199 2nd qtr: +170

3rd qtr: +228 4th qtr: +199

Record vs finalists: 3-2

def BL-Serpentine 132-70

def Marong 97-77

def Pyramid Hill 86-85

lt Mitiamo 32-69

lt Mitiamo 65-106

Top 5 best player votes:

Jarrod Fitzpatrick - 30

Boden Alexander - 24

Alex Powell - 23

Caillum Brady - 21

Joe Mayes - 19

Top 5 goalkickers:

Josh Martyn - 57

Alex Powell - 27

Jarrod Fitzpatrick - 20

Andrew Collins - 20

Lloyd Needs - 17

Coaches comment:

"Fortunately, we'll have fairly close to a full list putting their hand up to play this weekend.

"There's probably going to need to be some tough selection calls that are made and perhaps a couple of players who we will hold back to next week, but overall, it's probably the best we've looked all year in terms of our list.

"The stop-start nature of the season has been frustrating for everyone, but now that finals are here, the boys are all excited to be part of it and, hopefully, we can get a clean run at it now." - Jayden Donaldson.

Played - 12

Record - 7-5, 163.8%

Average for - 97

Average against - 59

Quarters won - 31 of 48

Scoring differential:

1st qtr: +56 2nd qtr: +160

3rd qtr: +43 4th qtr: +192

Record vs finalists: 2-5

lt Marong 75-78

lt Mitiamo 69-107

lt Bridgewater 85-86

def BL-Serpentine 94-49

lt Marong 25-108

lt Mitiamo 39-90

def BL-Serpentine 82-68

Top 5 best player votes:

Matt Ladson - 35

Scott Mann - 32

Billy Micevski - 24

Bailey George - 18

Braidy Dickens - 15

Top 5 goalkickers:

Braidy Dickens - 50

Bailey George - 29

Mitch Cheesman - 22

Matt Klein-Breteler - 12

Jacob Heavyside - 12

Coaches comment:

"Throughout the COVID period we've been fairly ordinary after a pretty good start to the year, but we know our best is around the mark and we've got to start producing it again now.

"There has been a good vibe at training this week and the boys are all really motivated now that the finals are here. We're looking forward to cracking in on Sunday." - Nathan Fitzpatrick.

Played - 11

Record - 5-6, 112.5%

Average for - 91

Average against - 81

Quarters won - 19 of 44

Scoring differential:

1st qtr: +17 2nd qtr: +50

3rd qtr: -37 4th qtr: +81

Record vs finalists: 0-6

lt Mitiamo 50-73

lt Bridgewater 70-132

lt Marong 64-123

lt Pyramid Hill 49-94

lt Marong 61-144

lt Pyramid Hill 68-82

Top 5 best player votes:

Darcy Poulter - 36

Nathan Twigg - 31

Andrew Gladman - 20

Justin Laird - 19

Zac Stone - 15

Top 5 goalkickers:

James Rippingale - 16

Jesse Evans - 15

Tannar Cerrone - 15

Darcy Poulter - 15

Brodie Hawke - 12

Coaches comment:

"We lost a couple last week (Justin Laird and Orion Downing) through injury, but we'll get a couple coming back (Nathan Twigg and James Bailey) from injury.

"It has been a very difficult year with the stop-start season that we've had, but training this week has been very bubbly and they are all looking forward to the challenge on Sunday.

"We've got nothing to lose... we'll go in as underdogs and no-one is expecting us to win. Hopefully, we can put together a good performance and surprise a few." - Greg Gadsden.

Saturday at Serpentine

MARONG v. BRIDGEWATER

Marong

B: J. Cooper, C. Fleming, J. Ede

HB: A. Morrish, H. Graham, D. Johnstone

C: J. McCaig, A. Ward, R. Tibbett

HF: A. Pappin, K. Robins, K. Manley

F: C. Jacobs, B. Grenfell, S. Weekley

R: J. Hynes, C. Gregg, N. Devanny

Int: B. Gregg, B. Hender, C. Thiesz, P. Gretgrix

In: C. Thiesz

Out: C. Ling

Bridgewater

B: J. Donaldson, J. Rusbridge, Z. Hoiles

HB: Z. Broadbent, J. Mayes, C. Brady

C: A. Pollock, L. Jacques, P. Rothacker

HF: L. Needs, A. Powell, J. Symons

F: D. Clutton, A. Collins, J. Martyn

R: C. Ross, J. Fitzpatrick, B. Alexander, H. McKinley

Int: X. Henderson, L. Harrison, T. Broadbent, N. Naughton, M. Baker

In: X. Henderson, A. Powell, L. Harrison, Z. Broadbent, C. Brady, H. Mckinley

Out: J. Naughton, N. Hall, M. Brooks, M. Bourke

Sunday at Marong

PYRAMID HILL v. BEARS LAGOON SERPENTINE

Pyramid Hill

B: M. Bateman, D. Morison, B. Driscoll

HB: B. Ladson, A. Dye, G. James

C: N. Catherwood, S. Mann, B. Goodwin

HF: B. Dalton, M. Cheesman, E. Dorrington

F: E. Caburnay, J. Willcocks, J. Heavyside

R: A. Holland, M. Ladson, B. George

Int: Z. Dingwall, M. Klein-Breteler, J. Blood, J. Hickmott

In: B. Driscoll, M. Klein-Breteler

Out: B. Dickens, M. Dingwall

Bears Lagoon Serpentine

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