Bendigo Advertiser | A NINE-GOAL second quarter was the catalyst for Bridgewater’s 32-point win over rivals Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in the Loddon Valley Football League on Saturday.
The Bears had more scoring shots, inside 50s and stoppage clearances than Bridgewater, but it was the Mean Machine that won the only stat that mattered - the scoreboard.
The Mean Machine won 16.6 (102) to 9.16 (70) at Serpentine, doing the bulk of their damage on the scoreboard in the second quarter.
After scores had been level at 3.3 apiece at quarter-time, the Mean Machine grabbed the ascendancy in the second term, slamming on 9.1 to 1.3 to open a 46-point buffer at the main break.
“It was a good win by the boys today,” Bridgewater coach Andrew Collins said.
“I thought overall it was a reasonably complete performance right across the board.”
The Mean Machine named half-back Tom Kuhne their best player.
“He’s having a good season for us... his chop-off marking and spoiling has been a real feature and he uses the ball well,” Collins said.
Skipper Darren Clutton in the back half, Daniel Connors (two goals), Andrew Collins and Danny Childs were also named among the best for the reigning premiers.
Ben Galea and Alex Collins each kicked three goals.
The Bears had good players in Andrew Gladman across half-back, Brad Davis, who spent the first half on Andrew Collins, key defender Daniel Hayes and onballer Brayden Scott, while key forward Mathew Davidson (four) was their sole multiple goalkicker.
The Bears squandered opportunities in the third quarter to get back into the game when they scored 1.7.
• Newbridge’s improved form continued as it closed to within a game of the top five after defeating Calivil United by 21 points at home.
The win was a 92-point turnaround on their round two meeting, which the Demons won by 71 points.
The Maroons prevailed 13.8 (86) to 9.11 (65) to win their fourth game from their past six matches since they had sat on the bottom of the ladder after round four.
From 0-4, the Maroons are now 4-6 and only one game behind fourth-placed Calivil United.
“Each week at the moment we’re playing for our season and the boys are responding,” Newbridge coach Matt Dillon said.
“The boys are digging in and getting some reward for effort, which is really pleasing.”
The Maroons led by eight points at three quarter-time, before finishing with six goals to three in the final term.
In his first game for the season after overcoming a knee injury, Rhys Ford was influential for the Maroons in booting six goals.
“He was the leading goalkicker in the league last year, so we knew he was going to make a difference,” Dillon said.
“He hasn’t been able to do a lot of training, so for him to come straight back in and kick six goals was a massive effort.”
Ruckman Angus Fortune was again outstanding for the Maroons for the second game in a row, while prime movers Jordan Gilboy and Lachlan Ford were also prominent.
The best players for the Demons - who led by one point after a low-scoring first half - included Brad Masson, Henry Miller, Anthony Dennis and Jordan Lea.
• For the second time this season, Pyramid Hill dished out a hiding to Marong.
The Bulldogs followed up their 88-point flogging of the Panthers in round two with a 73-point belting in their return bout at Mitchell Park.
In what was their sixth win in a row, the Bulldogs’ accuracy was a feature in their 21.5 (131) to 8.10 (58) victory.
Pyramid Hill’s conversion in the second half was particularly impressive, with the Bulldogs kicking 13.2.
“It was just one of those days where we kicked really straight... some days you get those games where you take your chances, others you don’t,” Bulldogs coach Paul Grayling said.
“Our forward entries were really good and we got the ball closer to goal, which obviously helped when we were having those shots.”
The Bulldogs had a spread of 10 goalkickers, led by five from Grayling in his return from an ankle injury.
Saturday was the fourth time this season the Bulldogs have had at least 10 goalkickers in a game.
For the third game in a row, rover Bryden Morison was named best for the Bulldogs.
Fellow midfielders Jaryd Wishart and Liam Bartels also gave the Bulldogs plenty of drive, while Dylan Morison continued his consistent season down back.
The loss was Marong’s second in a row and cost the Panthers their position in the top five ahead of the bye this week.
Kyle Manley (three goals) continues to impress for the Panthers, who also had better players in ruckman Daniel Young, Zac Turnbull (two goals) and coach Corey Gregg.
• Mitiamo recorded its biggest win since 2011 with a 116-point demolition of bogey side Inglewood.
The Blues had beaten the Superoos in their past two meetings, but there was no upset this time as Mitiamo powered to a 21.13 (139) to 3.5 (23) win at Inglewood.
The victory improved the Superoos to 5-5 and lifted them back into the top five.
Dylan Clohesy (six goals) and Korey Fulton (five) both outscored the Blues off their own boot.
Luke Lougoon played his best game of the season for the Superoos, who were also well served by the consistent Doug Thomas, Tom Grant, Brayden Baines and assistant coach Simon Collis.
The defeat was Inglewood’s seventh in a row, with the best for the Blues including Josh Matthews, Ben Rose and Ben Conley.
