Marong meets Machine in Valley’s finale

MARONG will take on Bridgewater in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League’s senior footy grand final on Saturday.

The Panthers and Machine will clash at Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully.

The Linton Jacobs-coached Marong will start favourite to win its first senior premiership since 1989.

It’s a tough task against a club which won seven consecutive premierships from 2010 to 2016.

The Mean Machine’s run to this decider began in the elimination final when it beat Bears Lagoon Serpentine by 55 points.

The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater ended Mitiamo’s season in a 49-point victory in the first semi and then won a hard-fought preliminary final with Pyramid Hill by 14 points.

There have been many contributors in what’s been a superb run by the Mean Machine in the finals series.

Key players include Andy Collins in an on-ball role or closer to goal, Josh Martyn at full-forward, on-baller Harry Donegan, ruckman Cameron Ross, and Emile Pavlich.

Beaten just once in the home-and-away series, Marong won the second semi-final against Pyramid Hill by 58 points.

In the grand final, Bridgewater must work hard to limit the quality and quantity of supply to a star-studded Marong attack led by Brandyn Grenfell, 145 goals in 17 matches; Kain Robins, Cory Jacobs and Ryley Taylor.

Bridgewater’s defensive unit includes James Naughton, Jake Rusbridge, Zane Hoiles and Lachlan Allison who will rely a lot on pressure from team-mates up the ground.

The Panthers have Corbin Fleming and Nathan Walsh in the key defensive posts and plenty of run from the likes of Will Gadsden, Ben Gregg and David Johnstone.

Others to watch in the Marong line-up are Corey Gregg, Nathan Devanny and Adam Ward.

Bridgewater will look to Jacob Ellings, Nic Hall, Harry and Jack Symons to have a big impact on the contest.

Early games on grand final day include Marong up against Pyramid Hill in the reserves from 12.30pm and Marong and Bridgewater in the under 18s starting at 10.30am.