Grand finalists clash in Gisborne’s kennel

THE rematch of last year’s senior footy grand finalists in Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye highlights Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season.

There have been plenty of changes at both clubs going into this match on Gisborne’s turf at Gardiner Reserve.

The Bulldogs’ pursuit of back-to-back premierships will be led by new coach in Brad Fox.

There will be many new faces in the Dogs’ line-up to join the likes of premiership-winning stars such as captain Pat McKenna, ruckman Braidon Blake, Sam Graham, Flynn Lakey and Jack Reaper.

The attack for the Darryl Wilson and Shannon Geary-coached Strathfieldsaye includes Michelsen medallist Lachlan Sharp joined by Jack Exell and Alex Powell.

Another big match will be at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval where South Bendigo takes on Eaglehawk.

The Bloods will be keen to triumph in game one at their new home.

The Nathan Horbury-coached South Bendigo has regained Steven Stroobants, one of the best small forwards in country Victoria.

Stroobants kicked 330 goals in 103 games for the Rochester Tigers.

Another key signing was ruckman Mac Cameron from Monash Blues.

The Hawks bolstered their bid to soar from seventh in ’22 by signing the Geary brothers, Jarryn and Kallen.

After a 207-game career with St Kilda which included being captain, Jarryn Geary’s return to the Borough is a massive plus.

Kallen is a triple premiership winner with Strathfieldsaye and provides plenty of dash off half-back or through midfield.

The Travis Matheson-coached Hawks also have ruckman Connor Dalgleish from Montmorency to team up with the likes of Billy Evans, Joel Mullen and Noah Wheeler.

Golden Square captain Jack Geary will mark game 200 as the Bulldogs take on Kyneton at the Wade Street ground.

A Michelsen medallist and multiple premiership-winning star, Geary’s non-stop run and ball-winning ability is superb.

The Dogs again have Joel Brett and Jayden Burke to lead the attack.

A key for the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton will be workrate at centre clearances and stoppages.

The Tigers welcome back Ethan Foreman from Gisborne.

It’s an all-Magpie showdown as Maryborough hosts Castlemaine at Princes Park.

Coby Perry and Brendan Shepherd will be desperate to mark their first matches as coaches of the club with a victory.

The Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst has brought in plenty of experience and should be too strong for a young Kangaroo Flat line-up coached by Nathan Johns at Queen Elizabeth Oval.