General News
30 August, 2024
Swings of momentum - Bulldogs on up
FOR MANY, Saturday’s Loddon Valley second semi-final between Marong and Pyramid Hill is a likely preview of the grand final. The two teams have fought out a series of classics in the past two seasons. The Panthers won the flag in 2023 by 16 points...
FOR MANY, Saturday’s Loddon Valley second semi-final between Marong and Pyramid Hill is a likely preview of the grand final.
The two teams have fought out a series of classics in the past two seasons.
The Panthers won the flag in 2023 by 16 points over the Bulldogs. Marong won the first clash this season by eight points, and Pyramid Hill turned the tables by five points in round 12, handing the Panthers their first defeat for three seasons.
A major question this weekend is how ready to play Marong will be. One match in three weeks is not ideal preparation for a tough, highly competitive finals series.
The Panthers will be fit and well rested, certainly, but may potentially be a little slow out of the blocks given their lack of competitive footy in recent weeks.
They had a bye in round 17, thrashed Inglewood a week later by almost 20 goals, and then sat out last week as the qualifying and elimination finals were fought.
Pyramid Hill co-coach Nathan Fitzpatrick was reluctant to read anything negative into Marong’s extended rest: “I think to be honest at this time of the year having fresh bodies as opposed to banged-up bodies is ideal.”
He said it had been hard to gauge his team’s form coming into the finals, but last week’s big finals win over Bears Lagoon Serpentine had shown how well the players could perform against quality opposition.
“We believe if we bring what we brought on the weekend to the table, we have the ability to beat anybody on any given day,” Fitzpatrick said.
The Dogs have had a string of huge wins since their round 15 bye – 115 points over Newbridge, 135 points over Inglewood, 114 points over Maiden Gully, and then last Saturday’s 88-point thumping of Serp in the qualifying final.
It’s rare form to be in at this time of the year.
Marong, of course, has only dropped one game since round four of 2022, so the Panthers have the score on the board, and are gunning for their third successive flag.
Both teams have potent forward lines and quick, skillful midfields. Dogs’ co-coach Zach Alford now has 60 goals for the season, while Marong has three players in the top six of the league goalkicking. And Bailey George is always good for a few for the Dogs.
Everything points to a tight and bruising match at Bridgewater.