Panthers begin finals campaign against Dogs

MARONG’S senior footy team kicks off its Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football League finals campaign against Pyramid Hill this Saturday.

The Panthers and Bulldogs will meet in the second semi-final at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve at 2.15pm.

After a 15-1 run to finish on top of the ladder, Marong had a rest in the first week of the finals as Pyramid Hill beat Mitiamo by 50 points in Saturday’s qualifying final at Marong’s Malone Park.

This season’s meetings between Marong and Pyramid Hill stand at one-all.

In round four, Pyramid Hill won by two goals in the Panthers’ den.

The return match at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park was dominated by Marong as century goalkicker Brandyn Grenfell booted six majors in a 114-68 victory.

Just how to stop Grenfell, who has kicked a league record 143 goals in 16 matches, will be a huge challenge for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill.

The Panthers have plenty of scoring options in Kain Robins, Ryley Taylor and Cory Jacobs.

Key players for the Bulldogs include Braidy and Ryley Dickens, Dylan Collis, Bailey George, Adrian Holland, Bryden Morison, Seb Relouw and captain Steven Gunther.

Two of the Valley’s greatest rivals, Mitiamo and Bridgewater clash in Sunday’s first semi-final at Calivil.

The Marcus McKern-coached Superoos will aim to bounce back from defeat to stay in the premiership race.

It will not be an easy task against a Bridgewater team which scored a 97-42 victory in Sunday’s elimination final against Bears Lagoon Serpentine at John Forbes Oval at Mitiamo.

Although it finished a rung below Mitiamo after 18 rounds, Bridgewater won the Superoos’ ground by 23 points in round nine and by 10 points at home in the 18th round.

Key players for Mitiamo include Lee Dale, Tom Grant, Doug Thomas and Russ Turner.

The Superoos will also look for plenty of dare from Luke Lougoon, Jarryd Wiegard and Brayden Baines.

Bridgewater has the goalscoring power of Josh Martyn and Andy Collins, and the skill and workrate of Harry Donegan, Callum Prest, Emile Pavlich and Alex Pollock to trouble Mitiamo in every quarter.

In the reserves’ competition, Marong takes on Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final at 12.30pm, and Bridgewater faces Newbridge in the first semi-final.

It’s a showdown between Marong and Bridgewater in the under-18s second semi-final to be played on Saturday from 10.40am at Serpentine.

Inglewood dominated last Saturday’s first semi against East Loddon.