Day of the dogfight

Joel Peterson | Bendigo Weekly | 20-Sep-2012

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This weekend’s Bendigo Football Netball League grand final is sure to be a dogfight.
The top two sides in the competition, Gisborne and Golden Square, have progressed to the senior football grand final this Saturday.
Golden Square will attempt to win their fourth straight flag. If they are successful they would become only the fifth team to complete a four-peat, and the first team to do it since Northern United between 1984-87.
Amazingly, one or both of the two sides that go by the Bulldog moniker have taken part in the last 11 grand finals, winning four each, including Golden Square’s current run of three consecutive flags.
The pair recorded the only draw in season 2012 in round 17, and, in another twist of fate, each is the last side to defeat the other this year.
Golden Square’s last loss was at the hands of Gisborne in round eight, but they returned the favour in the second semi-final when claiming a 36-point win over the red, blue and white, who previously hadn’t lost since round seven.
The Bulldogs of blue and gold have been given a significant boost, with star midfielder Jack Geary, utility Luke Hammond and captain Simon Rosa all set to add some big game experience and class to Square’s side.
“We’ve all had fitness tests during the week and the week off helped freshen us up,” Rosa said.
“We’ve got a few young guys who will understandably have some nerves, but most of our side is experienced guys who have been in our grand finals teams and that helps the younger guys.
“I’m mainly trying to keep my mind off it until Saturday.”
Meanwhile, the first ever Strathfieldsaye side to compete in a BFNL grand final will take to the field Saturday, when the Storm run out in the reserves against Sandhurst led by captain and joint-Alan McDonald medal winner Dale Cameron.
The Storm have won three finals from a fifth placed finish in the home and away season, defeating reigning premiers Gisborne along the way.
In an impressive feat in their 150th year, Sandhurst will have seven teams contesting finals across the day.
The Dragons will contest all five grades of netball, in addition to the Sandhurst reserves and U18s football sides also making grand finals.
The action kicks off at the Queen Elizabeth Oval at 9am with the U18s football and 17-and-under netball, with the senior football and A-Grade netball contests starting at 2.20 and 3pm respectively.

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