Bloods building momentum, look destined for elimination final

SOUTH Bendigo co-coach Troy Coates believes the Bloods have a golden opportunity over the next two weeks to build momentum heading into their finals return.

The Bloods, who finished seventh last year with four wins, picked up their ninth win of the season with an 87-point win over Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park last Saturday.

In the end a convincing victory, it was not as straight forward as it appeared on paper.

The Bloods led by only six points at quarter-time, with the Roos still in touch at half-time, just 19 points in arrears.

But a 13-goal to two second half was the type of football Coates and playing coach Jack Fallon will be hoping to see come finals.

Given their current ladder standing and win tally, the Bloods look destined for an elimination final showdown against either Strathfieldsaye or Golden Square in the first week of finals.

In a quirk of the draw, South Bendigo will round out its home and away season commitments with a clash this Saturday against Castlemaine, ahead of another encounter against Kangaroo Flat at Harry Trott Oval.

Coates can sense the anticipation building at Harry Trott Oval.

“We are really looking forward to it. Obviously coming from where we did last year, the boys are pretty keen as you can imagine,” he said.

“We are going to finish fourth by the looks, but we still give ourselves every chance to see what we can do come finals.

“I have probably said it all year, we feel like our best footy can match anyone, but we’ve probably been really inconsistent.

“That’s what happens with a new group.

“We had something like 14 new guys roll into our side, so even now, it feels like every week we are learning so much about each other.

“Even us as coaches, but especially the players.

 

“We’d even love a few more rounds to work it all out before finals, but we have to do what we can do.

“We’ve been able to knock off Gisborne twice; and even the second and third quarter, we were on top of Sandhurst.

“We have been really inconsistent, but hopefully we find the key come finals.”

A touch ‘sluggish’ early in the piece against a pumped up and improving Kangaroo Flat, Coates admitted a season with many byes had been tricky to negotiate.

Albeit, not without its advantages too.

“We’ve had a few injury concerns, so it’s probably worked out in our favour a little bit at times,” he said.

“It will be good to get a few games in a row heading into finals.

“Obviously big Macca (Macgregor Cameron) is out for the year, but Isaiah Miller copped an ankle (injury) on Saturday.

“We’re hoping he’ll be back for the first final, but we have a few other niggles.

“Our two key backs (Luke) Darling and (Alex) Davis have both had finger and hand issues, and Tom Brereton has been out, and we’re hoping to get him back this week.

“But we’re seeing a few filter back in for finals.”

The win over Kangaroo Flat was highlighted by a nine-goal effort by Brock Harvey, the biggest individual haul of the season by a senior player.

Callum Crisp was outstanding in the ruck, while Anthony Zimmerman, James Davies (three goals) at centre half forward and Brody Haddow all featured prominently.

Ethan Roberts, Connor Evans, Campbell Smith, Shaun Watson, Jarryd Wiegard (two goals) and Nick Lang (three goals) toiled hard for the Roos.

South Bendigo holds a 2-0 edge over this weekend’s opponent, Castlemaine, after beating the Magpies in their most recent encounter in round 11 by 14 points.

Meanwhile, Sandhurst is just one win away from wrapping up the minor premiership, after defeating Eaglehawk by 19 points at the QEO last Saturday.

It was the Dragons’ second win over Eaglehawk this season, after the Hawks had earlier been within 11 points at three-quarter time.

Saturday’s clash was highlighted by another best on ground performance by Lachlan Tardrew.

Eaglehawk’s four losses this season have all come against either Sandhurst or Gisborne.

Round 14 recap:

Kangaroo Flat 8.12 (60) lost to South Bendigo 22.15 (147); Sandhurst 10.11 (71) defeated Eaglehawk 7.10 (52).

Round 15:

Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye; Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk; Golden Square v Sandhurst; Castlemaine v South Bendigo.