Eagles dare to bring down Blues

NOT since late April in 2018 has Inglewood chased consecutive victories in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League’s senior footy competition.

Yet, the Blues will do so this Saturday when they meet Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Inglewood.

The Darrell Billett-coached Inglewood marked a memorable start to the 2022 season as it scored a five-goal victory in last Saturday’s first-round match on Calivil United’s turf.

Key players in the Blues win included Bregon Cotchett, Alex Lowe, Luke Matheson and Cody Stobaus.

A highlight of Inglewood’s play was the midfield where it set up plenty of attacks and also applied lots of pressure.

Inglewood is unfamiliar territory, but will be confident of a strong performance against a Maiden Gully YCW line-up that was thrashed by Marong under the Marist College Oval lights in Maiden Gully last Saturday.

Best for the Wayne Mitrovic-coached Eagles against Marong were key defender Steve Turner, Hamish McCartney, Nathan Murley, Cooper Hale, key forward Jason Butty,

Another big match in round two will be at Marong where the Panthers meet a Bridgewater team on the rebound from a 20-point defeat on home turf to Pyramid Hill.

A star-studded Marong attack led by Kain Robins, Brandyn Grenfell and Adrian Pappin will test the Bridgewater defence.

Best for the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong in a 119-point round one win were Robins, Richard Tibbett and Jimmy Gadsden.

A new-look Bridgewater is being coached by Rick Ladson, a premiership-winner with Hawthorn, Golden Square and Bridgewater.

The play of Callum Prest, ruckman Cameron Ross, key forward Josh Martyn, and the classy Harry Donegan were highlights in Bridgewater’s clash with the Bulldogs.

Bears Lagoon Serpentine and Calivil United will be desperate to claim the four points.

The Bears faced a tough start on Mitiamo’s turf at John Forbes Oval and Calivil United’s inaccuracy was costly against Inglewood.

Bears’ coach Justin Laird and Calivil United playing coach Jack Daley will be determined to mark their first wins.

New players in the Demons squad include Ben Daley, Jack Burns and Alex Daniels.

After the first-round bye, Newbridge takes to its turf at Riverside Park against Mitiamo.

It’s a massive task for the Luke Freeman-coached Newbridge whose key players include Harding medallist Harry Whittle, Will Daly, and newcomers Jordan Formosa and Tyler McLeod.

A formidable Mitiamo team coached by Marcus McKern includes Luke Lougoon, Lee Dale, Michael I’Anson and Jack Vinnicombe.

Pyramid Hill has the bye.