Big names rest ahead of title defence

MARONG rested big names Brandyn Grenfell and Corey Gregg for last weekend’s final home and away season match against Mitiamo.

The only difference their absence made was that the Panthers, raging favourites to repeat the grand final domination of 2022, had a winning margin of less than 100 points first the first time in more than two months.

The Panthers were close to achieving the feat until Mitiamo vice-captain Ross Turner booted accurately in the dying minutes of a season that has seen the Superoos comes from the brink of oblivion to being the best of the rest.

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Seniors

GOALS - Newbridge: C. Dixon 3, J. Harkness, W. Daly, J. Murray, A. Fortune. Pyramid Hill: Z. Alford 6, J. Woodward 5, J. Sheahan, W. Perryman, D. Collis 3, H. Goodes, S. Relouw, T. Brennan 2, S. Gunther, B. Micevski.

BEST - Newbridge: W. Copland, T. McLeod, W. Daly, D. Lloyd, L. Nihill, A. Fithall. Pyramid Hill: D. Collis, Z. Alford, T. McGregor, L. Sidebottom, T. Brennan, B. Micevski,.

GOALS - Marong: K. Robins 6, J. Davis, T. Thach, R. Taylor, N. McCaig, M. Riordan 2, M. Grant, J. McCaig, L. Lee, T. Fisher. Mitiamo: B. Baines 2, K. Galvin, R. Turner, J. Rawlings, J. Reynolds.

BEST - Marong: K. Robins, L. Lee, M. Willox, R. Taylor, J. McCaig, T. Fisher. Mitiamo: R. Turner, L. Lougoon, Z. Morrison, E. Spiers, J. Carracher, B. Baines.

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GOALS - Calivil: H. Wall, M. Avard, J. Lawry 2, K. Newton, B. Baker, T. Piazza, A. Dennis. Inglewood: B. Cotchett 4, F. Payne, J. Nevins 2, D. Polack, A. Lowe, C. Ingham, M. Rowe.

BEST - Calivil: J. Maher, M. Avard, A. Dennis, H. Miller, B. Richards, B. Mensforth. Inglewood: B. Cotchett, K. Payne, D. Polack, J. Leach, F. Payne, L. Matheson.

Turner and fellow Mitiamo veteran Luke Lougoon were named the best in a side that did not cave in to Marong. In fact, tackling in defence and across the midfield helped the Superoos contain Marong to three goals in the final term.

The Panthers, however, had the match sown-up with seven-goal hauls in the first and third quarters.

Kain Robins led the way with six goals and another eight chipped in with majors for the day.

Robins was named the Panthers’ best along with Lachlan Lee and Matthew Willox in completing an undefeated home and away season.

Marong will have the first weekend of finals off in all three grades where it has been undefeated, amassing massive percentages and already claiming the minor premierships.

The Panthers, like fellow Loddon Valley club Maiden Gully, face an uncertain future.

Their bids to switch to Heathcote league in season 2024 are up in the air after Heathcote clubs last week deferred a decision for two weeks on the back of AFL Central Victoria proposing options for a restructure of football across the region.

- CHRIS EARL