SPECTATORS arriving late on Saturday at Golden Square's Country Vet Oval could have been forgiven for thinking they were going to see a tight Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League contest.

Castlemaine led by one point at quarter-time and were still only 27 points down at the main break.

But then premiership favorites Golden Square upped their concentration, teamwork and ball handling to add a match-defining 10 goals in the third term.

With Grant Weeks booting three of his eight goals for the game (he finished with 8.7), and best afield Adrian McErvale and Michael Bateman adding another two each, the Bulldogs scooted 72 points clear by the last change.
They went on to win by 105 points: 26.18 (174) to 10.9 (69). The Magpies battled hard but were outclassed.

Spearhead Daniel Christmas contributed four of the Maine's 10 goals and on-ballers Jeff McMurtrie and Rhys Jenkin ran hard.

Golden Square had dominant midfielders in Adam and Josh Baird, Shaun Young and Matt Klein-Breteler and shut-down
defenders in Anthony Holdstock and Aaron Hawkins.

Bulldog McErvale has been a revelation in the first three rounds. Originally a half-forward who was able to drift unmarked into the goal square, he's now added hard-running on-ball skills to his undoubted goal-kicking ability.

Castlemaine's line-up had to be re-shuffled before the first bounce. Dale Hansford and Rhys Jenkin replaced sore Pioneers' backman Zac Hansford and midfielder Rodney Hickey.

The Magpies took the game right up to the Dogs early on. After Square's Weeks had nailed the opening two majors of the day at the Wade Street end, McMurtrie, Jason Cordy and Christmas booted Castlemaine to the lead close to time-on.

However, centre half-forward Cordy had to leave the field before quarter-time with a hamstring injury. His day was done and he didn't return.

Golden Square looked more determined in the second quarter if not entirely convincing. A return of 7.3 looks good on paper, but the Dogs were not able to completely shake the youthful and pacy Magpies.

Shaun Young found the lurking Hawkins in the Maple Street end goalmouth for a Square major and then Hawkins and Matt O'Toole worked the ball across the face for Weeks to mark and convert.

When Danny Bateman and Mark Lloyd banged home two more Square goals, suddenly the Magpies looked vulnerable.
Josh Baird added two more majors --- the second right on the half-time siren --- either side of Christmas' solitary goal in the latter stages of the term for the Maine.

That was to be the end of the match as a real contest. In the third term McErvale continued to tidy up around midfield and across half-forward, Klein-Breteler used his pace all quarter to run and carry and the goals continued to be poured on.

Castlemaine midfielders Lachlan Ford, Adam Culvenor and McMurtrie were simply swamped by the avalanche of players in blue and gold who continually swept the ball towards Weeks and Michael Bateman in attack.

Golden Square added 7.6 in the last term as Weeks took his tally to eight, with two goals from set shots. Matt O'Toole figured in both moves and the former Ron Best medallist snapped a major of his own as the game wound down.

Castlemaine coach Paul Eyles, although clearly disappointed with the final margin, was proud of his team's first two quarters.

"It was a very encouraging first half. We showed we can play although with 10 new players in the side we don't seem to be able to maintain full pressure for four quarters.

"Time and time again we'd turn the ball over. Time and time again Golden Square players would pounce on the loose ball," Eyles said.

The Magpie coach said he and his selectors would look closely at the match video during the week to see where the club could make improvements for this week's crunch home game against Strathfieldsaye.

GOLDEN SQUARE 2.6 9.9 19.12 26.18 (174)
CASTLEMAINE 3.1 5.6 8.6 10.9 (69)

GOALS - Golden Square: Grant Weeks 8, Michael Bateman, Adrian McErvale, Josh Baird 3, Danny Bateman 2, Adam Baird, Aaron Hawkins, Matthew O'Toole, Mark Lloyd, David McMeekin, Matthew Klein-Breteler, Bryce Curnow. Castlemaine: Daniel Christmas 4, Jeff McMurtrie 2, Clint Hughes, Jason Cordy, Ben Rose, Rhys Jenkin.
BEST - Golden Square: Adrian McErvale (best on ground), Josh Baird, Grant Weeks, Adam Baird, Matthew Klein-Breteler, Anthony Holdstock, Shaun Young, Matthew O'Toole. Castlemaine: Jeff McMurtrie, Rhys Jenkin, Adam Culvenor, Lachlan Ford, Orry Cross.

VOTES

5: Adrian McErvale (Golden Square)
4: Josh Baird (Golden Square)
3: Grant Weeks (Golden Square)
2: Adam Baird (Golden Square)
1: Anthony Holdstock (Golden Square)

* The BFL's three ace full-forwards are in the top trio of goalkickers in country Victoria heading into the Anzac Day weekend.

Kyneton's James Condos booted 12 goals in his club's home game against last season's preliminary finalists Kangaroo Flat on Saturday.

But it wasn't enough to drag the Tigers over the line. At the other end of the park the Roos' Justin Maddern slotted home 11, including six in a match-turning last quarter performance.

The return of 23 goals in one game from the opposing spearheads had BFL historians rummaging through their records on Saturday night. Had such a feat happened before in the BFL's long and proud 130-year history?
At Golden Square's Country Vet Oval Grant Weeks nailed eight majors as premiership favourites Square belted Castlemaine by 105 points, after an even first half.

So after three rounds Condos heads the BFL, and the VCFL, goalkicking table with 25 goals. Maddern is next on 24 with Weeks third on 22.
Equal with Weeks on 22 goals after three rounds is Robert Osborne of Cobram in the Murray League.

By Richard Jones

Article first appeared, The Bendigo Advertiser, April 18th, 2010

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