![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/07\/8c1704c5-cdb7-4d55-8_76684.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“It was crucial,” Andrews said.<\/p>\n
“We kicked three goals to their two in that time. We were obviously worried it could have blown out as they were a few goals up at that point.<\/p>\n
“They could have easily gone well ahead, but the boys really dug in for the fight.”<\/p>\n
Far from perturbed, like his teammates, Schischka returned with a vengeance and finished the game with five goals.<\/p>\n
Jaidi Jackson-Leahy (two goals), Patrick Blandford, Daniel Clohesy and Hugh Behrens were other standout performers.<\/p>\n
While attention for Andrews quickly turned to this weekend’s clash against Castlemaine, he admitted to being happy to have a ticked off at least one win over all their potential finals rivals.<\/p>\n
“More to the point of the way Gisborne play. I think it’s really finals-like,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We need to be able to measure up in that part of the game and we did.<\/p>\n
“It was a real arm-wrestle, which we knew it would be. To prevail gives our boys a fair bit of belief.”<\/p>\n
With time ticking on Castlemaine’s finals hopes and the Magpies in need of a big scalp, Andrews was anticipating a tough test at Camp Reserve this Saturday.<\/p>\n
“I’m expecting a finals-like game to be honest, as it’s starting to get dire for their finals chances,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If they don’t win one in the next couple of weeks, they start to get too far away from Eaglehawk in fifth.<\/p>\n
“We’ll be expecting a fired-up Castlemaine.”<\/p>\n
On the player front, Andrews said returns were nearing for Riley Wilson, Pat Blake, Riley Mulquiny, Jed Brereton and Jed Daniels.<\/p>\n
Encouragingly, Jye Chambers played his first game back following surgery in last Saturday’s reserves game. It was his first hit-out since last year’s elimination final.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brad Bernacki (two goals), Dylan Johnstone (two), Zach Vescovi, Harry Thomas, Jed Denahy (two) and Harrison Bryant rated best for the Bulldogs, while Dominic Sullivan led the Dogs on the scoreboard with three goals.<\/p>\n Elsewhere last Saturday, South Bendigo dealt Castlemaine’s finals hopes a blow, inflicting an 81-point loss defeat on the Magpies.<\/p>\n The Bloods, boosted by five goals from key forward Brock Harvey, won 18.14 (122) to 5.11 (41).<\/p>\n Josh Nitschke, Chase Poyser, Brody Haddow, Alex Davis, Tom Templeton and Zaydyn Lockwood all shone for the Bloods.<\/p>\n Hunter Staples, Callum McConachy, Lloyd Butcher, Bailey Henderson, Darby Semmens all battled hard for the Magpies, who found themselves 49 points down at half-time following a goalless first half.<\/p>\n Castlemaine trails Eaglehawk by a win and a truckload of percentage in the battle for fifth spot, following the Hawks’ crushing 89-point victory over Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park.<\/p>\n Bolstered by the return of co-coach Clayton Holmes, the Hawks showed the Roos no mercy after quarter-time in a convincing 18.18 (126) to 5.7 (37) win.<\/p>\n Callum Heath, Jack Thompson, Noah Wheeler, Lewin Davis, Ben Thompson and Charlie Langford led the way for the Hawks, who got three goals apiece from Jaquin Mifsud, Jack Donat and Holmes. Tyran Farmer, Kyle Symons, Jake Hywood, Zachary Rouse, Flynn Clark and Aaron Nevins won the nod as best for the Roos, who will be aiming for their second win of the season this weekend against Broadford at Harley Hammond Reserve.<\/p>\n Kangaroo Flat won the two clubs’ first meeting back in round 4 by 93 points.<\/p>\n Broadford will not have fond memories of its first trip to Wade Street, with Golden Square scoring a 181-point victory over the Kangaroos.<\/p>\n Best afield Jack McMahon booted six goals as 11 Bulldogs players registered majors. Among the best players, Jack Stewart and Jack Sampson both finished with four goals apiece, while Jordan Rosengren chimed in with three.<\/p>\n Another home game awaits the Bulldogs, who will host Sandhurst this Saturday in the Ron Best Memorial Shield clash.<\/p>\n Round 13 (18 July):<\/p>\n Broadford v Kangaroo Flat;<\/p>\n Eaglehawk v South Bendigo; Castlemaine v Strathfieldsaye; Golden Square v Sandhurst; Gisborne bye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NOT for the first time this season, Strathfieldsaye coach Jeff Andrews has praised his players’ mental strength and ability to weather a storm after engineering a stirring comeback win over Gisborne. The Storm came from 35 points down at the 20-minute mark of the third quarter to kick the next eight goals and seal a […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/07\/1835e6ce-de9d-4150-a_77068.jpg\")