Dragons turn up heat against Gisborne

A FIRED-UP Sandhurst will look to take it up to Gisborne in Saturday’s tenth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League’s senior footy season.

The Dragons have home ground advantage at Queen Elizabeth Oval and a win against the unbeaten ladder-leader would be the ideal springboard to start the second half of their campaign.

Sandhurst has superior percentage, but is a win behind the fifth and sixth-placed Eaglehawk and South Bendigo who also face big tests against Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square.

A key to Sandhurst’s chances will be the on-ball and midfield contests and Lee and James Coghlan, Zach Pallpratt and Jeremy Rodi all stared last round.

It’s in defence where the Dragons face their greatest challenge and the play of Isaac Ruff, Liam Ireland, Jake and Matt Wilkinson, Tanner Nally and James Coghlan against such a powerful Gisborne attack will be crucial to Sandhurst’s chances.

In-form players for the Bulldogs include ruckman/forward Braidon Blake, Seb Bell-Bartels, Sam Graham and Flynn Lakey.

Another big match will be at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval where the Bulldogs take on South Bendigo.

The Square has had the wood over the Bloods for several years now and will be tough to beat at home, especially after Saturday’s big win against Storm.

South Bendigo will look for big games from the likes of Andrew van Heumen and Zac Hare in defence, Kaiden Antonowicz, Brock Harvey and Michael Herlihy in attack, as well as coach Nathan Horbury, Will Keck and Isaiah Miller.

Reeling from big defeats, Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye clash in the Hawks’ nest at Canterbury Park.

The Two Blues have a talented on-ball division led by Billy Evans and Noah Wheeler, defence that includes Oscar Madden, Joel Mullen and Fraser Verhey, and Shaun Knott, Liam Marciano and Darcy Richards in attack.

Storm was stung at Golden Square and will be fired up with injuries affecting both clubs in recent weeks.

Key players for Strathfieldsaye include Ben Lester, Jake Moorhead, Callum McCarty, Lachlan Gill and Fergus Payne.

Maryborough takes on Kangaroo Flat at Princes Park with the Magpies lifting in the second half of their home game against Kyneton and will be confident of breaking their winless run.

Finally, Kyneton is back at Tigerland to take on Castlemaine. The Tigers are on a five-game winning streak and the yellow and black faithful are roaring.