THE stage is set for the biggest game of the home and away season when the top two teams clash in round 11 of Loddon Valley football action.
Undefeated reigning premier Marong and second-placed Pyramid Hill enter their clash this Saturday at Mitchell Park in ominous form.
Marong saw off the challenge of fifth-placed Inglewood thanks largely to a powerful second term last Saturday.
After an even first term, the Panthers broke the game open with a five-goal-to-one quarter and there was no way back for the Blues.
Inglewood never threw in the towel, but the Panthers always had their measure in the 14.9 (93) to 9.12 (66) scoreline.
Co-coach Kain Robins kicked four goals for the Panthers, while their defensive unit was superb in restricting Inglewood to nine goals.
Midfielders Lachlan Ford and Bregon Cotchett were best for Inglewood.
Pyramid Hill put Newbridge to the sword with a 10-goal second quarter.
The Bulldogs added 10.1 to 1.4 in the second term to set up their commanding 23.12 (150) to 5.7 (37) win.
The Bulldogs’ midfield dominated around the ball and the chief benefactor of that dominance was key forward Ben Bisset.
Arguably the recruit of the year in the Loddon Valley, the former Mt Pleasant centre half-forward kicked eight goals in a best on ground performance to take his season tally to 44, including 21 in the past three rounds.
Team-mate Kai Daniels, perhaps the number one challenger to the recruit of the year award, continued his great form with another eye-catching effort in the middle.
Ben Knight, Zach Alford (four goals) and Steve Gunther also played well for the second-placed Bulldogs.
Pyramid Hill’s only loss so far this season was a seven-goal defeat to Marong in round two.
William Copland, Ben McKinley, Caleb Sanders were best for Newbridge.
After four-straight losses by big margins of 101, 131, 84 and 113 points, the bye has come at a perfect time for Newbridge.
Maiden Gully needed a final term surge to see off Calivil United and keep its finals hopes alive.
The Eagles trailed the winless Demons by seven points at three quarter-time, but produced a four-goal-to-one last quarter to win 9.13 (67) to 8.6 (54).
Led by Josh Worsley, Mitch Whitham and Nathan Murley, the Eagles outgunned the Demons down the stretch.
It was the second game in a row that the rebuilding Demons had led a higher-ranked team at three quarter-time only to fall short in the last term.
Henry McCarthy, Sam Green and Jack Bombardieri battled hard for Calivil United.
Sixth-placed Maiden Gully is two points and 50 per cent behind Inglewood in the race for fifth spot on the ladder.
The Eagles are away to Bridgewater this Saturday, while Inglewood has the chance to claim its first top-five scalp when it hosts a Bears Lagoon Serpentine side that is low on confidence and won’t have the services of star full-forward Josh Mellington because of a hamstring injury.