Gisborne aims to end Storm’s streak

GISBORNE will be striving to end Strathfieldsaye Storm’s unbeaten streak in Saturday’s seventh round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.

The league will also mark Indigenous Round in which Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine contest the feature match on the Roos’ turf at Dower Park.

Further south it will be two of the league’s top three teams, Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye in action at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.

Both teams are on winning streaks going into a contest which starts at 2.20pm.

The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne bounced back from defeat to Sandhurst in the first round at Queen Elizabeth Oval to be on a four-game run.

Storm is chasing a sixth consecutive victory.

Among the many highlights of this match will be the on-ball duels.

Premier Data counted 36 hit-outs for Gisborne ruckman Braidon Blake in the 34-point win at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.

At ground level the Bulldogs have the Brad Bernacki, Jack Cardillo and Flynn Lakey.

The talented trio not only win plenty of the footy, but their workate when opponents have possession is outstanding.

Lakey nailed eight tackles against the Hawks and Cardillo won six clearances.

They are up against a Strathfieldsaye line-up which has many players in hot form.

Matt Harvey earned 50-plus possessions in Storm’s big win against Kangaroo Flat in the split sixth round.

Storm coach Luke Freeman would also be rapt with the form of Daniel Clohesy and Lachlan Gill.

Plenty of goalscoring power in both teams.

Gisborne has Pat McKenna, Harry Luxmoore and Jack Scanlon.

Massive test for a Storm defence that includes Lachlan Ratcliffe, Ben Lester and Patrick Blandford.

Key targets for Storm are James Schischka and Malik Gordon.

Players to watch for Strathfieldsaye include Abe and Caleb Sheahan, Carson James and Riley Wilson.

Gisborne’s back six includes Jed Denahy, Jarrad Lynch and Liam Spear.

Another big match in Indigenous Round will be Sandhurst against Eaglehawk.

Two of the league’s greatest rivals clash in the Dragons’ den at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Maryborough will be on home turf at Princes Park to take on Golden Square.

South Bendigo has the bye.