Bloods up pressure against Tigers

THE Bloods from South Bendigo head south to Kyneton Showgrounds to tackle the Tigers in Saturday’s twelfth round of senior footy action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

South Bendigo bounced back from a big loss at Eaglehawk in the 11th round to win last Saturday’s clash with Kangaroo Flat at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval by six goals.

The Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods moved to the fourth rung on the ladder, but will be desperate for the points against the yellow and black.

A win for South Bendigo will keep the heat on the third-placed Eaglehawk and in round three the Bloods beat an inaccurate Kyneton by 46 points at Kennington.

A five and six record has the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton in sixth place.

Another big match will be at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street where the Bulldogs take on the unbeaten Sandhurst where it’s second against first.

When these great rivals last met it was Sandhurst which scored a 35-point win at Queen Elizabeth Oval to retain the Ron Best Memorial Shield.

The Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs thrashed Strathfieldsaye by 13 goals last round as the Dragons defeated Kyneton by 51 points.

Should be another great battle between two of the league’s best on-ball and midfield groups.

Key players for Square include Joel Brett at full-forward, ruckman Matt Compston, Liam Barrett and Jack Hickman.

The Dragons had Cooper Smith, Bryce Curnow, Hamish Hosking and Nick Stagg star in their latest win against Kyneton.

Eaglehawk is back on home turf at Canterbury Park to take on Gisborne.

The Travis Matheson-coached Hawks will be wary of a Gisborne line-up which has a four and seven record and could climb another rung should it win and Kyneton be beaten.

In round three the Borough blitzed on Gisborne’s turf to win by 49 points.

Kangaroo Flat is on its home ground at Dower Park to take on Maryborough.

First and third quarter fade-outs were costly for the Jeremy Hayes-coached Roos in the loss to South Bendigo.

Stung by a big defeat on Golden Square’s ground, Strathfieldsaye takes on Castlemaine at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.