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BENDIGO ADVERTISER

Monday April 18, 2016

bendigoadvertiser.com.au

SPORT LODDON VALLEY FOOTBALL-NETBALL LEAGUE

Blues
pipped
in a
thriller
Demons survive
Inglewood scare
ROUND 2
BY LUKE WEST

ALIVIL Uniteds
winning streak
against Inglewood
in the Loddon
Valley Football League has
extended to 28 games but
only just after the Demons
hung on to beat the Blues by
two points on Saturday.
The Demons survived a
second-half fightback from
Inglewood, clinging on
to win 13.10 (88) to 12.14
(86) at Just Trees Central
Vic Oval.
However, the defeat may
come at a heavy price for the
Demons with a knee injury
to Anthony Dennis that has
the first-year coach fearing
the worst that his season
could be over.
I blew my knee out
Ill go in on Monday and
get some scans, but its not
looking good at this stage.
Its obviously not what I
wanted, Dennis said.
The Demons who had
three less scoring shots also lost Nathan Ryan with
a foot injury in the first
quarter, while star recruit
Mitch Farmer left the field
early in the final term with a
knee concern.
Luke Marchesi kicked four
goals for the Demons and
was one of the best players,
with another new player
in Matthew Magee also a
strong performer for Calivil
United, which had held
a handy lead at half-time
before the Blues fought back.
Inglewood was really
good with their pressure,
their full-ground press was
impressive and we probably
played into their hands a
bit, but theres no doubt
they will surprise quite a few
teams this year, Dennis said.
Ben Knight, veteran Glen
Richardson, Dennis and
Clinton Angove all chipped

ROUND 2
Results

ON THE BURST: Danny Childs sends Bridgewater into attack during the Mean Machine's 88-point win over YCW at
Backhaus Oval on Saturday in round two of the Loddon Valley league. Pictures: LUKE WEST

Calivil United d
Inglewood by 2
Pyramid Hill d Newbridge
by 47
Mitiamo d BL-Serpentine
by 81
Bridgewater d YCW by 88

in with two goals apiece for

the Demons.
Shane Harris kicked
four goals and was the best
player for the Blues, who
still havent defeated Calivil
United since 2002.
Pyramid Hill notched
its first win of the season
with a comfortable 47-point
victory over Newbridge at
Mitchell Park.
After a high turnover of
players, new coach Brad
Fawcett said pre-season he
was unsure what to expect
from his new-look side, but
he liked what he saw from
the Bulldogs in their 14.12
(96) to 6.13 (49) triumph.
The boys gelled together
a lot better this week and we
controlled the game for most
of it, Fawcett said.
Around the footy we were
really good in getting our
hands on it and flicking it
out to our runners, which is
going to be our strength this
year, so that was pleasing.
Nathan Fitzpatrick and
Dean Selkrig kicked three
goals each for the Bulldogs,
whose best included
ruckman Trent Barri on his
birthday, young wingman
Steven Gunther and onballer
David Price.
Newbridge coach Matt
Dillon was scathing of his
sides performance.
I wish I had some
answers for today we were
the total opposite to what
we were last week (win over
Marong), Dillon said.
We didnt handle the

GOTCHA: Bridgewater's Angus McKinley

tries to avoid the grasp of YCW's Jake
Cardinal.

CLEARING KICK: YCW's Nick Waterson switches play in the Eagles'

defensive 50, where the ball spent much of the game in Bridgewater's
17.13 (115) to 4.3 (27) victory.

ground well, were lazy,

undisciplined and putrid
with the footy. Its one of the
most disappointed Ive been
after a game we were just
really poor all day.
The Maroons squandered
plenty of opportunities in
the first half when they had
1.10 on the board and were
trailing by 33 points at the
main break.
There were a couple of
easy goals we should have
kicked early, but we missed
and we just kept making it
hard for ourselves all day,
Dillon said.
Our decison-making was
really poor and to be honest,
it was some of the dumbest
footy Ive seen.
The Maroons cause
wasnt helped when
they had Caleb Argus
yellow-carded, while
Newbridge also gave away at
least four 50m penalties.

Three of them resulted

in goals, so that all falls into
the undisciplined stuff,
Dillon said.
Sam Kennedy kicked
three of the Maroons
six goals, while ruckman
Connor Toohey was named
their best player.
Mitiamo slammed on
nine goals in the third quarter en route to an 81-point
win over Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Serpentine.
The Superoos won 18.18
(126) to 6.9 (45) and for the
first time since 2011 have
started the season 2-0.
Mitiamos half-time lead
against the young Bears
was 26 points, before the
Superoos piled on 9.5 to 1.2
in the third term.
Serp pressured us really
well early, made us fumble
and we couldnt get any
clean ball into our forward
line, Superoos chairman of

WRAPPED UP: YCW's Jake Klemm is

tackled during Saturday's defeat to power
side Bridgewater.

selectors Rowan Warfe said.

In the second half we
were able to get some
cleaner touch, not over-use
it through the middle and
get it into our forward line a
lot quicker.
And our half-back line
was really good with their
run and overlap.
New Superoos coach
Justin Maddern booted eight
goals to now have 15 after
two rounds, while the best
for the victors was Dylan
Clohesy off half-back.
In the Bears first game
of the season after a round
one bye, Nick Arthur (two
goals) was named their
best player, while veteran
midfielder Nathan McNally
also battled hard.
Bridgewater held YCW
to just seven scoring shots in
its 88-point victory over the
Eagles at Backhaus Oval.
The Mean Machine pre-

vailed 17.13 (115) to 4.3 (27)

to maintain their spot at the
top of the ladder a position
they have held for the past
34 rounds.
It was a good four-quarter performance. We started
the game well, worked
hard and got a good, even
contribution from everyone,
Bridgewater coach Marc
Lindsay said.
For the second week in
a row newly-appointed
skipper Zeb Broadbent
through the midfield was the
Mean Machines best, with
Deon Jones and Ben Galea
(two goals) other dominant
performers, while Alex
Collins was their leading
goalkicker with four.
Young gun Liam Collins,
Jake Cardinal and key
defender Matthew Watkins
were named the best for
the Eagles, who were held
scoreless in the first term.