BY NATHAN DOLE
North’s stars of ’74 watch showdown with LBU Cats
NORTH Bendigo’s stars of ’74 will gather at Bendigo Club Oval this Saturday to reminisce on the premiership winning feats of the senior and reserves teams of 50 years ago.
As past glories are talked about and fondly remembered the North Bendigo team of ’24 faces a crucial clash with Lockington Bamawm United at the Atkins Street ground from 2.15pm.
Assured of a top two finish and double chance at finals the Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs will be wanting to mark a 12th victory in the league’s 17th round.
The Bulldogs will also be determined to avoid consecutive defeats at home, a feat rarely marked at the kennel in recent seasons.
North Bendigo hit back from a 66-69 loss to Huntly in the 15th round to score a four-point victory on Mount Pleasant’s turf at last Saturday.
As the Dogs won at Toolleen, Lockington Bamawm United outplayed Colbinabbin to win by 63 points at Lockington.
North Bendigo will be wary of what the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU can do.
A key inclusion for the Dogs is the return of captain Aarryn Craig from a two-match suspension.
In attack or midfield, Craig is a key cog in the line-up.
North Bendigo has also brought in Will Bennett for his first senior game.
A first-year player at the club, Will’s dad is senior coach and his grandfather, the late Col Bennett played in the reserves premiership of ’74.
Among those proudly watching on will be Will’s grandmother, Denise Bennett.
Other players to watch in the red, white and blue include Dylan Klemm across half-forward, Nic Waterson, Ryan Hartley, Cody Riddick and Will Gilmore.
There’s plenty of experience in the LBU line-up which includes premiership winners such as Brodie and Jesse Collins, Jeremy Mundie, Jacob Gardiner, Tyler Phillips, Thomas Leech, Joseph Wolfe and Anthony McMahon.
Jack Reiter kicked eight goals in last Saturday’s victory against the Grasshoppers and looms a big threat to the Dogs’ defence.
Another big match will be at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve where Heathcote takes on the Winslow White Hills Demons.
It’s third against first as the Saints face the Demons.
A win will strengthen Heathcote’s grip on a double chance at finals time.
When these clubs met in round eight the Demons charged to a 126-34 victory.
Co-coach Kaiden Antonowicz kicked six goals as Liam Bartels and Callum Crisp chipped in with three each.
The Demons had a spread of 10 goalkickers.
A record of 13-2 has White Hills in a great position in the run to another finals campaign.
Key inclusion for the Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote is talented forward/mid Zak Saad.
The Saints will still be without co-captian Liam Jacques and Braden Padmore.
Players to watch for Heathcote include the run of Rhys Bolton and co-captain Codie Price from half-back, ruckman James Orr, Will Direen and Lachlan Freeman-Taber in defence, and Corey Grindlay from midfield or in attack.
In-form players for a White Hills team which has Jack Fallon as co-coach include Mitch Dole, Jake Pallpratt, James Davies, Cameron Taggert, Patrick Crawford and Ryan Walker.
Elmore will be at home against Mount Pleasant.
Victory would put Mount Pleasant back in the five as fifth-placed Colbinabbin has the bye.
The Blues beat the Bloods by 17 goals at Toolleen earlier in the season.
Huge test for the Nathan Kay-coached Elmore in scoring enough goals to take the points.
Key players for the Bloods include James Harney at full-forward, Rhys Holmberg, Cobi Fitzpatrick, Kynan Sharpe, Nicholas Mayne and Joseph Harney.
Mychael Baker was called up for his first senior game this season.
A talented Mount Pleasant team includes captain and ruckman Chris Down, Bailey and Fletcher White, Daniel and Michael Whiting, Jaxson Nihill and Mitch Rovers.
Coaching set-up is Cam Carter as director of coaching and the skilful Ben Bisset and Jack Hickman as playing coaches.
Leitchville Gunbower will be back home at Leitchville to take on the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower has a chance to regain third place by beating the Hawks and also needs White Hills to win at Heathcote.
Big test for the Bombers against a Huntly team which is not out of the finals equation.
Back in round eight the LG team won by 53 points at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Key players for the Bombers include ruckman Jobee Warde, Blake Dye and Lachlan Sverns in attack, Brad Green in the centre, and a defence led by Chris Horman, Thomas Guerra and co-captains Hoby Bussey and Jye Keath.
Huntly coach Hamish Morcom was not named in this week’s team.
The Hawks have Abe Sladden, Lachy Wilson, Flynn Campbell and Jacob Greenwood to cap off attacking moves.
Harry Whittle, Ben Daley, Jackson Fry, Dale Lowry, Harrison Campbell and captain Steve Kairn will be keen to lead the brown and gold to another victory.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 182 per cent, 52 points; North Bendigo 158, 44; Heathcote 119, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 99, 32; Colbinabbin 91, 28; Mount Pleasant 114, 24; Huntly 74, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 75, 16; Elmore 44, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
55 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
48 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
47 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
45 James Harney, Elmore.
38 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
37 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
32 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
28 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
27 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
26 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
24 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
24 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
23 James Davies, White Hills.
23 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
22 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
21 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
21 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
18 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
18 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
18 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
17 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
17 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
16 Jackson Conforti, Heathcote.
15 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
15 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
15 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
15 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
15 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Caleb Hislop, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
14 Charles Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Jordan Wilson, Colbinabbin.
13 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
13 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
13 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
12 Pat Bogers, North Bendigo.
12 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
12 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
12 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.
11 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
11 Flynn Campbell, Huntly.
11 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
11 Lachlan Sverns, Leitchville Gunbower.
11 Nic Warnock, White Hills.
10 Callum Crisp, White Hills.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.