Bendigo Advertiser | CALIVIL United celebrated its 125th anniversary weekend with a win that has the Demons now firmly on track to return to the Loddon Valley Football League finals.
CALIVIL UNITED 11.8 (74) d MITIAMO 8.17 (65).
In front of a bumper crowd at Calivil’s 5 Star Stockfeeds Oval, the Demons made more of their scoring opportunities to win 11.8 (74) to 8.17 (65) against Mitiamo in what was a battle of the LVFL’s two most improved sides this year.
“It was a scrappy game, but obviously fantastic to get the win on what was a massive weekend for the club,” Calivil United coach Andrew Freemantle said.
“It was a massive crowd… we kicked to the home end in the last quarter and that helped get us over the line.
“Having been on the 125th committee and seeing how much work had gone into putting on the weekend, there was a fair bit of pressure to get the job done today, so it was a big relief.”
In what was a dour struggle, just six goals were kicked in the first half as Calivil United held a five-point lead at the main break.
Although, the Superoos had plenty of first-half opportunities to impact the scoreboard, but wasted opportunities, kicking 2.11, including 0.7 in the second quarter.
The Demons made the Superoos pay for their missed chances when they skipped away to a 17-point lead at three quarter-time after adding four goals to two during the third term.
The Superoos made a charge at the Demons in the final quarter and threatened to spoil their party, but Calivil United steadied to grind out the nine-point win.
Anthony Dennis played a starring role through the midfield and inside 50, kicking three goals, to be Calivil United’s best player.
“He was super for us for four quarters today. He dominated all over the ground and kicked some crucial goals for us as well,” Freemantle said.
While Dennis was the standout, the Demons’ best players were dominated by defenders, with Blair Richards, Caleb Smith, Alex Davis and Brad Masson all playing fine games in the defensive 50.
Having missed finals the past two years, Calivil United looks headed for a return to the big stage, with the Demons now 7-6 and two games, plus 26 per cent, clear of sixth-placed Marong with only three rounds remaining.
“We’re not there yet, but today was a good stepping stone to getting back to the finals, which is what we set our goal on at the start of the year,” Freemantle said.
Star midfielder Doug Thomas again led the way for the Superoos, who also had good players in James Rozynski, the consistent Terry Reeves and Luke Lougoon.
Steven Tolongs was the Superoos’ only multiple goalkicker with three.
The loss put a dent in the top-three aspirations of Mitiamo, but like the Demons, the Superoos are headed for a return to the finals.
BEARS LAGOON-SERPENTINE 13.20 (98) d NEWBRIDGE 11.10 (76).
BEARS Lagoon-Serpentine overcame a 20-point half-time deficit to defeat Newbridge.
The Bears trailed 8.4 to 4.8 at half-time, but kicked nine goals to three after the break to win 13.20 (98) to 11.10 (76) in a win that keeps them on track for the double chance.
“Newbridge came to play and got away to a great start,” Bears coach Mick Ring said.
“But from half-time we used the footy more smartly from the back half to peg them back and kick on with it in the last quarter.”
Andrew Gladman, Brayden Scott and Jye Sandiford were the best players for the Bears, who had Mathew Davidson kick four goals, while Shaun Knott in his first game of the year was Newbridge’s best.
Billy Price kicked four goals for the Maroons.
BRIDGEWATER 17.19 (121) d MARONG 9.8 (62).
BRIDGEWATER won its ninth game in a row, while handing Marong its fifth-consecutive loss.
The Mean Machine kicked away from the Panthers in the second term to set up their 17.19 (121) to 9.8 (62) triumph at Marong.
Bridgewater coach Andrew Collins again starred, bagging seven goals, while onballer Zeb Broadbent was also prominent.
Marong is now two games outside the top five. Matt Frecker was the Panthers’ best, and Nathan Devanny kicked three goals.
PYRAMID HILL 11.12 (78) d YCW 3.4 (22).
PYRAMID Hill returned to the winner’s list with a 56-point win over YCW at Mitchell Park.
Coming off its second loss of the season last week when beaten by Bridgewater, the Bulldogs hit back with an 11.12 (78) to 3.4 (22) victory over the Eagles.
Nicholas Dundon (three goals) was Pyramid Hill’s best, while Bendigo Pioneer-listed Liam Collins was the pick of the players for the Eagles.
Pyramid Hill centre half-forward Nathan Fitzpatrick kicked four goals, but injured his hamstring late.