Storm aims to square ledger

HUMBLED by a fifty-eight-point loss at Golden Square in round nine, Strathfieldsaye Storm will aim to square the ledger in Saturday’s final round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League.

Storm is on home turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane for a qualifying final prelude between the clubs and it’s second against third with both teams are in great form.

Strathfieldsaye won its latest hit-out at Kangaroo Flat by 113 points as Callum McCarty kicked five goals in a best afield performance and James Schischka also booted five.

Storm’s best included Daniel Clohesy, Hunter Lawrence, Jake Moorhead and Bode Stevens.

Golden Square inflicted the ladder leading Gisborne’s second defeat of the season in a hard-fought 10-point victory on a muddy Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.

The Bulldogs best in that clash were onballer Ryan Hartley, Jon Coe, Jack Hickman and captain Jack Geary.

Storm and Square both have plenty of running power, skilful onballers and powerful forward lines.

Key targets in Strathfieldsaye’s attack include Lachlan Sharp and Harry Conway who take on a strong Dogs’ defence which had Jon Coe and Liam Barrett star in their latest victory.

Gisborne returns to Gardiner Reserve to take on Eaglehawk.

The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs had a costly lapse in concentration on either side of half-time at Golden Square.

A talented Gisborne attack includes Pat McKenna, Josh Kemp and Jack Scanlon that will test the Hawks all match.

Others to watch in the red, white and blue include Jack Reaper and Liam Spear in defence, onballers Flynn Lakey and Scott Walsh.

The Travis Matheson-coached Hawks are sixth, but more than 12 per cent adrift of the fifth-placed Sandhurst.

Eaglehawk will be determined to perform well against the top team.

Best in the Two Blues’ win against Castlemaine were Billy Evans, Dillon Williams, Brady Rowles and Liam Marciano.

After a 23-point loss to Sandhurst, Kyneton has dropped to seventh and needs to beat Maryborough at home and rely on Sandhurst and Eaglehawk to be defeated to regain a finals berth.

The Tigers are likely to finish with a 10-8 record, but fall agonisingly short of fifth as the Ash Connick-coached Sandhurst makes the trek to Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.

South Bendigo tackles Kangaroo Flat at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Key players for the Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods who have a 10-7 record include Kaiden Antonowicz, Michael Herlihy and Cooper Leon.