Crucial game in Bears’ den at Serpentine

FIRST-round winners Bears-Lagoon Serpentine and Newbridge meet in Saturday’s second round of senior footy action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.

The battle of the Bears and Maroons will be played at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve from 2.15pm.

The Justin Laird-coached BLS marked a 13-point victory in the round one clash on 1 April at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.

Andy Gladman and Justin Laird kicked three goals in the season opener and will test Newbridge’s defence.

A new-look coaching set-up of Sam Gale and Daniel Smith at Newbridge will be keen to follow-up from a three-goal win at Calivil.

Key players for Newbridge include Angus Fortune, Dylan Lloyd, Darby Semmens and Dylan Stevens.

Calivil United is back at home to face Pyramid Hill.

The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons face another big test against last year’s preliminary finalist.

Ruckman Justin Hynes will play a crucial role for Calivil United, as will Lachlan Brook, Jake Lawry, Henry Miller and Blair Richards.

Newcomers for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill include Darcy and Tom Hetherington, Tom McGregor, Jesse Sheahan and Declan Slingo, while Zac Alford is also back at the kennel.

Marong will unfurl their 2022 premiership flag at Malone Park before they take on Inglewood.

The Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers showed no mercy in a 128-1 victory at Maiden Gully in round one.

A powerful line-up includes gun forwards Brandyn Grenfell and Kain Robins, Corey Gregg, Nathan Devanny, Matt Riordan and Richard Tibbett.

It’s a massive test for the Darrell Billett-coached Inglewood which fought from six goals down at the start of the last quarter to be within 13-points of the Bears in round one.

Key players for the Blues include Charlie Ingham, Alex Lowe, Luke Matheson, Charlie McGaw, Fergus and Keelan Payne.

Bridgewater kicked off its campaign with a 134-point win at Mitiamo and takes on a Maiden Gully YCW line-up smarting from a big loss at home to Marong.

Josh Martyn kicked 12 goals in the season opener and the Mean Machine’s skipper will test the Eagles defence all match.

Other key players for the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater include Tyler Estrada, Harry Donegan, Charlton Hindle, James and Toby Naughton.

It was a bitterly disappointing start for the Jay McDonald-coached Eagles.

The play of assistant coach Damian Wust, Tyler Miles, Mitch Dean and Josh Worsley will be important to keeping the heat on the Machine in every contest.

Mitamo has the bye.