Three crucial clashes across the Valley

THREE crucial matches will be played as the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL marks round 13 in this Saturday’s senior footy action.

Marong will be on the rebound from defeat for the first time in 43 matches after a remarkable winning streak was ended in last Saturday’s match at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.

Chasing a premiership hat-trick, Marong makes its way to Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve this Saturday.

Back in round four the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong beat the Bears by 38 points.

A nine-two record has the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears in third place.

BLS won its latest match at Newbridge’s Riverside Oval by 101 points.

Another big clash will be at Bridgewater where the Mean Machine takes on Pyramid Hill.

A massive game between second and fourth.

The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater had gun forward and assistant coach Lachlan Sharp reach the century mark as he kicked nine goals in last Saturday’s victory at Inglewood.

Stung by a 53-point loss at Pyramid Hill in round four, Bridgewater will be desperate to take the points at home.

The task will not be easy as the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs fought on for a 71-66 win against Marong.

Locked on 12 premiership points, Newbridge and Inglewood are fighting to be fifth and earn a place in the finals.

Newbridge starts Saturday’s home game at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval in fifth place.

The Maroons are seven per cent clear of the Blues.

The Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood beat an Inglewood team jointly coached by Sam Gale and Daniel Smith by 25 points in round four.

Mitiamo will be striving to end its winless run when it hosts Calivil United at John Forbes Oval.

The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons won the previous clash with the Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos by 26 points.

Maiden Gully YCW has the bye.