Sport
23 May, 2024
Only one team close to Panthers
ONE team potentially stands between Marong and a hat-trick of flags in all three Loddon Valley football grades. The Panthers on Saturday dispatched a depleted Bridgewater by the biggest margin of its encounters with the top tier senior clubs this...
ONE team potentially stands between Marong and a hat-trick of flags in all three Loddon Valley football grades.
The Panthers on Saturday dispatched a depleted Bridgewater by the biggest margin of its encounters with the top tier senior clubs this season.
The 56-point victory had its foundation in the opening quarter and the Panthers, unbeaten since early 2022, only dropped their guard a bit in the second term.
Marong was as emphatic as it has been since rising to dominance three seasons ago, playing the loose man across the midfield and cruelling shutting the gate on opponents looking for forward 50 gains.
Victory against the Mean Machine, missing a handful of key players including its best player so far this season Boden Alexander and Lee Coghlan, was more emphatic than success by 38 over Bears Lagoon Serpentine in round four.
Only Pyramid Hill has shown it has the early season game plan and the players to match it with Marong.
The Bulldogs had their chances back in round three, falling short by eight points.
Marong on Saturday showed depth is still present. Jonty Davis was back from Bendigo Pioneers and Corey Gregg WAS also in the side, Davis one of the best for his work across the midfield.
Kain Robbins and Ryley Taylor were at their mercurial best slotting five goals each.
When Bridgewater was able to get the ball into its half-forward zone, Marong would switch to its flag-winning formula and head straight to the goal square where goals at times came with ease.
Nathan Devanny did just that after an intense opening five minutes of the opening term.
In a show of Bridgewater spirit, veteran Tyler Estrada snapped moments later, Lachlan Sharp across the centre having set up an avenue to goal.
Sharp, for a third week, spent most of his time up the ground where his experience has been needed against more credentialled clubs.
Taking him out of the forward zone has exposed the Mean Machine. Some fumbles late in the fourth quarter also proved costly as full-back Joseph Meyes stood tall against the Marong onslaught.
But a fracas on the flank saw Taylor kick another goal followed by Robins and finally Lachlan Lee to record another big win for Marong.
Bridgewater battled out to the end - Harry McKinley high among those refusing to be run over by the top team heading the senior, reserves and under 18 ladders, Marong showing the depth remains at Malone Park.