Bendigo: Top teams Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye winless at home this season

The Bendigo league’s 2022 grand finalists, Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye, are sweating on key players under injury clouds in the new season.

The fortress-like status that last season’s Bendigo league grand finalists Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye have previously enjoyed at home is being shattered by rival clubs this season.

Reigning premier Gisborne’s home ground, Gardiner Reserve, has long been considered a graveyard for visiting teams.

But the Bulldogs have lost all matches at home this year with their most recent defeat being a shock two-point loss to Kyneton on Saturday.

Strathfieldsaye is also winless at home from three matches with its latest loss being to ladder leaders Eaglehawk by 78 points.

Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye are presently sitting fifth and sixth on the ladder respectively with 2-3 win-loss records heading into a bye this weekend.

Strathfieldsaye's Shannon Geary takes possession ahead of his brother and Eaglehawk player Kallen Geary on Saturday. Picture: SAA Imaging

Strathfieldsaye coach Daryl Wilson said the break had come at a perfect time, with the week off likely to ease some pressure on a long injury list.

He is expecting at least seven players to return for the next game, against another top-five team in South Bendigo.

“I’ve been around footy a long time and just haven’t seen the numbers (out) like we’ve had,” he said.

“But you can’t whinge and carry on. That’s footy.

“We’ve had a mixture of everything.

“We’ve also got four on VFL lists, so you’re never sure when you’re going to have them.”

Key forward Lachlan Sharp, Ben Lester and Riley Wilson are among those expected back after the bye for Strathfieldsaye.

But Jack Exell, who kicked more than 100 goals for Violet Town last year, will remain on the sidelines with an ankle injury he suffered in round 1 against Gisborne.

Cooper Jones is due to return from shoulder surgery in the next month.

Gisborne’s Sam Graham was among the team’s best players in the loss to Kyneton on Saturday: Picture: SAA Imaging

Gisborne coach Brad Fox put the Bulldogs’ loss to Kyneton down to bad kicking in front of goal.

“We just kicked poorly,” he said.

“We had eight extra shots and lost by two points.

“They kicked 12.3 and had been kicking poorly, but kicked well against us.”

A positive for Gisborne was the return of leading goalkicker Pat McKenna, who booted five in his first match of the season.

Fox said the Bulldogs were also set to regain important midfielder Seb Bell-Bartels, who injured his ankle during pre-season and hasn’t played yet.

Kyneton lost its first three matches for the season before winning its last two against Maryborough and Gisborne with star player Cameron Manuel hitting form with four goals against the reigning premiers.