Hawks face huge test against Square

EAGLEHAWK will be primed for a big test against the ladder-leading Golden Square in this Saturday’s fourth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy season.

The Hawks will be eyeing a great opportunity to prove they can match the best in the clash at Canterbury Park.

Keys to the Two Blues’ chances include the defensive pressure where Oscar Madden and Clayton Holmes are likely to be opposed to the in-form Joel Brett and Jayden Burke.

Darcy Richards leads the Hawks’ attack that includes Liam Marciano, Shaun Knott, Kobe Lloyd and Ben Thompson.

The winless Sandhurst faces a crucial game against Kangaroo Flat at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Key players for Sandhurst include Zach Pallpratt, Noah Walsh, ruckman Hamish Hosking, Lee Coghlan and Cobi Maxted who kicked six goals against South Bendigo.

The Dragons have averaged just 10 goals a game, so need a dramatic lift in form across the forward 50-meter arc.

The Kangaroos will look to Mitch Rovers, Hakeem Johnson, Mitch Collins and Mitch Trewhella to use their pace on the big ground.

Kyneton takes on South Bendigo at Kyneton Showgrounds.

The Tigers put in a great effort to be within 23 points of Strathfieldsaye at three quarter-time last round.

Rhys Magin looms as a major threat to the Bloods defence as Cameron Manuel and Dean Bartrop set up plenty of play.

The Bloods will be keen to build on the momentum of their win in the Graeme Wright Memorial match against Sandhurst.

Kaiden Antonowicz, Cooper Leon, Liam Byrne and Isaiah Miller are driving forces for the Nathan Horbury-coached South Bendigo.

The league’s two breed of Magpie, Castlemaine and Maryborough face huge challenges.

Held to just two points at Gisborne, Castlemaine is back home at Camp Reserve to take on Strathfieldsaye.

Storm star Lachlan Sharp has dominated recent hit-outs against the Pies.

The Don Moran-coached Magpies will look for big games from the likes of Liam Wilkinson, Tommy Horne, Callum McConachy and David Stephens.

The Rick Andrews-coached Maryborough face a red-hot Gisborne.

It could be another torrid afternoon for a Pies’ defence as it tries to stop gun forwards Pat McKenna and Jack Scanlon.

Bulldogs’ on ballers Brad Bernacki, Seb Bell-Bartels, Sam Graham and Scott Walsh are in great form.

The play of Kya Lanfranchi, Aidan Hare, Coby Perry, Dylan Harberger, Jayden Hooper and Chris Freeman will be a key to the Pies being competitive in every quarter.