Match Previews | EAGLEHAWK charges into a qualifying final showdown with Strathfieldsaye Storm in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy finals series.

It’s a break in tradition as the league has switched week one of the finals away from Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Storm and Hawks will do battle from 2.20pm at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.

It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the clubs.

A great start by the Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye included a 69-62 victory on Eaglehawk’s turf at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park in the fifth round.

The Hawks dominated the return match in the 14th round at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.

An Eaglehawk line-up coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, racked up a score of 13.25 (103) and kept Storm to a season-low 35 points.

A Storm defence led by co-captain Lachlan Ratcliffe, Kya Lanfranchi, Ben Lester and Patrick Blandford faces a huge task against Bailey Ilsley, Jacquin Mifsud, co-coach Clayton Holmes and Nick Blandford.

Major factor will be control at centre ball-ups, stoppages and through the centre.

Strathfieldsaye has Jed Brereton in the ruck to team with co-captain Daniel Clohesy, Riley Mulquiny and Jaidi Jackson-Leahy.

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