Dragons fight Dogs for Ron Best Shield

IN-FORM teams Sandhurst and Golden Square will fight for the Ron Best Memorial Shield in Saturday’s third round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy action.

It’s the third edition of the match which honours Bendigo FNL legend and goalkicking great Ron Best.

In a 270-game game across stints at Golden Square, Sandhurst and Northern United, Best booted 1624 goals in 14 seasons.

The Dragons will be eyeing a hat-trick of wins in the special contest which will be played at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

It’s second against third after Sandhurst won at Kyneton last Saturday, and Golden Square took a victory away from Strathfieldsaye’s turf.

In-form players for the Dragons include James Coghlan, Hamish Hosking, Bryce Curnow and Lachlan Wright.

A formidable Bulldogs line-up is led by Jack Geary, Joel Brett, Hamish Morcom, Matt Compston and Jayden Burke.

The ladder leading Eaglehawk faces a big test at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.

Co-captain and gun onballer Billy Evans is in hot form as are Noah Wheeler, Joel Mullen, Liam Marciano and Ben Thompson.

The Brad Fox-coached Gisborne will be determined to avoid consecutive defeats at home.

Key players for the red, white and blue are captain Jack Reaper in defence, ruckman Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey and Sam Graham.

South Bendigo and Kyneton will meet in the Bloods’ new home at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.

The Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods have a one-one record after Brady Haddow, Will Keck, Brock Harvey, Alex Smith and Sam Griffiths were among the best in the win at Kangaroo Flat.

It’s been a tough start for the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton which played at Golden Square and then took on Sandhurst at Tigerland.

The yellow and black will look for big games from the likes of Cameron Manuel, Tom Quinn, Harrison Huntley, Hamish Yunghanns and Jordan Iudica.

Maryborough and Kangaroo Flat clash in the Magpies’ nest at Princes Park.

It will be the Coby Perry-coached Magpies or Nathan Johns-coached Roos who mark their first win of ’23.

The Brendan Shepherd-coached Castlemaine is at home to play Strathfieldsaye on the rebound from defeat at Camp Reserve.