Pyramid stands in Marong’s way

PYRAMID Hill stands in Marong’s way of winning back-to-back senior footy premierships in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL grand final on Saturday at Inglewood.

The Bulldogs take on the unbeaten reigning premier at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery from 2.30pm.

As the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong chases back-to-back senior flags, a first in club history, Pyramid Hill is striving to end a long-running premiership drought.

This season’s meetings stand at three-nil in favour of Marong.

Although it was beaten in the second semi-final by four goals, Pyramid Hill coach Nathan Fitzpatrick and the team will have gained plenty of confidence.

The Dogs were within five points going into the final term.

It was a remarkable effort by Pyramid Hill as Marong had won the clashes in the home-and-away series by margins of seven and 20 goals.

Mindset of the Bulldogs’ team will be “we just to have them once”.

They earned the opportunity to fight for the premiership cup by scoring a 52-point victory against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the preliminary final at Calivil.

The Bulldogs were without Harding medallist Dylan Collis, quad injury, but he will take his place in the match which matters most.

It’s a daunting task for Pyramid Hill in trying to limit a formidable Panthers’ attack that includes Brandyn Grenfell, a century goalkicker across the Valley the past two seasons.

Marong also has Kain Robins, Matt Riordan and Ryley Taylor in the forward 50m arc.

Limiting the quantity and quality of supply to the forwards will be a major goal for Pyramid Hill’s on-ballers and midfielders, not just those stationed in the back six.

The Dogs’ major goalkickers have been Will Perryman, Zach Alford and Jesse Sheahan.

Pyramid Hill also had the classy Bailey George make a welcome return from injury to play in the preliminary final.

Just as it did a year ago, Marong is chasing premiership glory in all three footy grades.

The Panthers take on Pyramid Hill in the reserves clash at 12.30pm.

Grand final day kicks off at 10.40am when the young guns from Marong and East Loddon Rams contest the CVFL under-18s match.