General News
8 September, 2023
From one coach to another: yours to lose
MARONG is poised join an elite band of Loddon Valley football clubs if it wins Saturday’s grand final against Pyramid Hill. The reigning premiers are raging favourites to go back-to-back with one former premiership coach predicting a five-goal...
MARONG is poised join an elite band of Loddon Valley football clubs if it wins Saturday’s grand final against Pyramid Hill.
The reigning premiers are raging favourites to go back-to-back with one former premiership coach predicting a five-goal margin.
Calivil coach Anthony Dennis, who steered the Demons to September glory in 2017 and ended Bridgewater’s run of seven successive flags, says the 2023 battle will be decided in the midfield.
“This will be a a battle of the mids and who gets the cleanest delivery going forward,” Dennis has told The Loddon Herald’s Editor and The Oracle grand final week podcast.
He says the small Inglewood ground would suit Marong and give challenges to Pyramid Hill to contain Panthers’ Brandyn Grenfell and Kain Robins around goal.
“Marong is a top quality side,” Dennis said. “(Pyramid Hill ruckman Lachlan) Sidebottom and Michael Bradbury should have a good tussle.
“It will definitely be who gets the hand on the ball first,” said Dennis.
”And keeping key forward quiet - Grenfell and Robins, keeping the delivery sub-standard and defenders rolling over (play) and cutting them out will go a long way,” Dennis said in analysing tactics Pyramid Hill could use to negate a side that finished the home and away season with a massive percentage of 578.73.
Dennis, who returned to the Demons this season, said premierships were won by the bottom five players in a side.
He said that if Pyramid Hill’s bottom handful outplayed Marong’s, it would be game on.
“But Marong have the runs on the board and if Pyramid Hill plays well ... Marong still has the edge ... four or five goals,” Dennis said.
“Whoever clicks first will take the cake.”
Calivil and Bridgewater have dominated Loddon Valley football over the past two decades.
A win on Saturday would see Marong retain its title and go one better than last year by being both premiers and champions.
The Panthers have not dropped a game all season and their last defeat was at the hands of Pyramid Hill early last season.
While Dennis says the 2024 flag is Marong’s to lose, other tipsters have gone for underdog Pyramid Hill.
Coaches Linton Jacobs and Nathan Fitzpatrick are expected to have full lists available for selection when sitting around the table after training runs tonight.
And unlike last year’s blowout result for Marong, Dennis believes Saturday’s contest will be a solid and entertaining tussle.