Ron Best Shield up for grabs at Square

THERE’S more than premiership points to be won as Golden Square tackles Sandhurst in Saturday’s fifth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy.

The Bulldogs and Sandhurst will be vying for the Ron Best Memorial Shield for a second time.

Both clubs honour goalkicking legend Best who racked up 1624 goals in a BFNL career which began at Golden Square, rolled on at Sandhurst, back at Square, and then with Northern United.

On form the Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs will start favourite on home turf at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.

A formidable Golden Square attack has Joel Brett and Jayden Burke in hot form, and also talented youngsters Tom Strauch and Braydon Vaz capable of taking many marks.

Sandhurst broke its season ‘duck’ against Kangaroo Flat and a huge plus for the Dragons was the return of Matt Thornton to the attack where he kicked five goals against the Roos.

Talented youngster Cobi Maxted has kicked 12 goals in his past two hit-outs and will test the Dogs’ defence.

Another huge match will be at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane where Strathfieldsaye takes on Gisborne and it’s looking a shoot-out.

Gisborne had Josh Kemp and Jack Scanlon star against Maryborough in the absence of captain and gun forward Pat McKenna.

A multiple winner of the Ron Best Medal, Strathfieldsaye’s Lachlan Sharp has kicked 20 goals. Quick on the lead, Sharp is also a crafty player at ground level.

Kangaroo Flat takes on Kyneton at Dower Park.

The Paul Chapman-coached Tigers make the trek to the Roos’ ground determined to hit back from a three-point loss at home to South Bendigo.

Stars in the Kyneton line-up include Rhys Magin, Dean Bartrop, Hamish Yunghanns and Frazer Driscoll.

The James Flaherty-coached Kangaroos will look for big games from the likes of ruckman/forward Nick Lang, Liam Collins, Mitch Trewhella, and Sam Barnes and Lachy Wilson in attack.

After a 0-2 start, South Bendigo has struck back with wins against Sandhurst and Kyneton.

The Bloods take on Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval with key players including Liam Byrne, Cooper Leon, Brock Harvey and Oscar White.

It’s the Magpies against the Hawks as Maryborough faces Eaglehawk at Princes Park.

Back-to-back home games is a huge plus for Maryborough, but it will need a dramatic lift in form to topple the Two Blues.

Best was just that in goalkicking stakes

A CAREER tally of one thousand six hundred and twenty four goals across fourteen seasons in the Bendigo Football League put the legendary Ron Best in a class of his own.

The champion full forward was a star at Golden Square, Sandhurst, and Northern United.

Inducted to Bendigo’s Star of the Year Hall of Fame in 2004-05, Best excelled at football, basketball, business, and as a politician.

His goalkicking feats were later recognised by the Ron Best Medal being struck for the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s leading goalkicker of each season.

This Saturday will be the second time Golden Square and Sandhurst clash for the Ron Best Memorial Shield.

Action will be on Golden Square’s turf at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.

From the time he kicked 14.9 in his first match for Golden Square in 1968, Best had a dramatic impact on Bendigo footy.

After four consecutive seasons of passing the century mark for the Bulldogs from ’68 to ’71, the spearhead headed north to play for Charlton.

The next season he was back in the Bendigo FNL as coach of Sandhurst at the age of 23 in a massive recruiting coup.

In 1973 led the Dragons to their first senior premiership victory breaking a long drought as the Hurst beat Golden Square by 46 points.

The Best-coached Dragons were runner-up in 74 and 75, but triumphed again in 77 as Best, who had stepped down as coach, starred at centre half-forward.

He was back in the goal square for Golden Square from 78 to 80 before a stint at Boort was followed by two seasons with Northern United.

Best’s final game was the 84 grand final in which he kicked 11 goals as the Tony Southcombe-coached Swallows beat Eaglehawk.

Politics then became his next pursuit and he was the Nationals representative for North West Province for 14 years.