Square stays in premiership race

DESPITE wayward kicking for goal, Golden Square is still in the race for the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League’s senior premiership.

Stung by a qualifying final loss to Strathfieldsaye, Golden Square took on South Bendigo in Sunday’s first semi-final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Bulldogs had dominated the previous two contests with the Bloods, but were wary against a team which had eliminated Sandhurst from the flag race six days before.

Golden Square did plenty of attacking in the air first quarter, but was let down by wayward shots as it tallied 1.6 to 0.2.

In the second the Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs added 5.4 to 2.4 to lead by 28 points at the long break.

Two of Golden Square’s best and most experienced players, Hamish Morcom and Jack Geary used their running power to keep racking up possessions.

The blue and gold charged to a six-goal lead by the final change and then added 2.4 to 2.1 in the last for an 82-43 victory.

Joel Brett’s three goals lifted his season tally to 96 in a match where he was the Bulldogs only multiple goalkicker.

The classy Kaiden Antonowicz, a previous winner of the Ron Best Medal goalkicking award, scored a match-high four goals for South Bendigo.

While it was Morcom and Geary who led the way, Golden Square’s best included Liam Duguid in defence, young guns Zavier Murley and Ricky Monti, and Liam Jacques.

South Bendigo’s best were midfielder Cooper Leon, Kaiden Antonowicz, Isaiah Miller, defender Cameron Taggert, and captain Zac Hare.

A tally of 32 scoring shots to 13 was a reflection of Golden Square’s dominance in general play.

Although bitterly disappointed their season is over, the Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods worked incredibly hard to qualify for the finals and also achieved the club’s first senior finals victory in many years.