BRIDGEWATER versus Bears Lagoon Serpentine, and the resumption of the battle of the prolific full-forwards, highlights the opening round of the Loddon Valley football season on Saturday.
The Lachlan Sharp-led Mean Machine is at home to the Bears, who have Josh Mellington back after missing the second half of last season with a severe hamstring injury.
The two players were in a frantic race to the century of goals before Mellington’s year was cut short.
He kicked 93 goals in nine matches, while Sharp went on to boot 138 goals for the season – the second-highest tally in any league in Victoria in 2024.
Sharp is now solo coach of Bridgewater, while Mellington is an assistant to Jake Wilson, adding an extra level of intrigue to their head-to-head battle.
Bridgewater defeated Serp by a point in the second semi-final to knock the Bears out of the finals in straight sets, so there is a bit at stake.
Last season’s runners-up, Pyramid Hill, travel to Newbridge in an early test of where the two clubs stand.
The Maroons made the finals last season but were a class below the top four teams.
They have recruited well, and new coach Matt McArthur welcomed the early crack at the Bulldogs: “Why not play against potentially the best team in the competition to show us where we are at?”
Pyramid Hill has lost Tom McGregor and Damon Hemphill, both of whom made the league’s team of the year in 2024 but have brought in a host of new names, with a focus on strengthening the attack.
Inglewood has the task of taking on Marong as the Panthers set sail after a fourth successive flag.
With a new co-coaching set up, Marong may take a while to gel, giving the Woodies a sniff at home.
Calivil, under new coach Sam Maher, plays a likely improver in Maiden Gully, while Mitiamo has the bye.