A PRELUDE to a qualifying final between Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin highlights Saturday’s 18th round in Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
There will be more at stake when they meet on August 23, but the Grasshoppers and Blues will be desperate to take winning form into that match.
Mount Pleasant has home-ground advantage in Toolleen for a 2.30pm showdown with the green and gold.
When these great rivals met in round nine it was the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin which won 56-40 at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Both have win-loss tallies of 12-3.
Mount Pleasant had the bye last Saturday as Colbinabbin marked a nine-goal win at home against Huntly.
A strong squad for Mount Pleasant includes William Wallace, Chris Down, Ben Weightman, Bryce Hinneberg, Mitch Bennett, Caelan Smith and Jack Hickman.
The Blues also have Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches and Cameron Carter as director of coaching.
A Colbinabbin attack which includes Brandyn Grenfell, Alex Carr and Nick Knight will test Mounts.
Ruckman-forward Hadleigh Sirett also returns to the Colbinabbin line-up.
Players to watch for the Grasshoppers include Matt Riordan, Sam Ryan, Angus Martin, Aidan Basile, Will Lowe, High and Jimmy McMurtrie.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be back on their turf in Strauch Reserve to tackle Heathcote.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly will be determined to snap a four-match losing streak leading into its first finals match since 2018.
The Hawks will be wary of an opponent it beat by 37 points at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve in round nine.
It’s been an outstanding first season with Huntly by Sam Dunstan who has kicked 68 goals in 15 matches to be leading the goalkicking race.
The Huntly line-up for this clash with the Saints includes ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Harry Whittle, Mitch Billings, captain Steve Kairn, Lachie Ross and Abe Sladden.
Heathcote has not won away from home this season.
The Saints teamed brilliantly to win last Saturday’s clash with White Hills by seven goals.
In-form players for the Saints include Rhys Bolton, Codie Price, Justin Bateson and Will Tobin.
The height and marking power of Dylan Johnstone who kicked eight goals against White Hills will test the Hawks.
Saints’ co-coach Liam Jacques will serve a one-match ban after he lodged an early guilty plea for striking.
A squad which has Andrew Saladino as non-playing co-coach includes ruckman Aaron Gundry, Jackson Conforti, Joe Beedle, Daniel and Walter Butler.
The ladder-leading North Bendigo will tackle Leitchville Gunbower in the Bulldogs’ kennel at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Bulldogs won a hard-fought contest in round nine at Leitchville by 21 points.
The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower will mark back-to-back matches in North Bendigo as it will face Huntly there in the August 24 elimination final.
Best for North Bendigo in last Saturday’s win on Lockington Bamawm United’s turf included Ryan Gillingham, co-coach Ryan Hartley, and wingmen Bailey Cain and Riley Paetow.
A formidable attack for North Bendigo includes Jake Dean, Dylan Klemm, Darcy Richards and Cody Riddick.
Will be a massive test for Bombers’ defenders Chris Horman, Max Hagan, Bryce Barnstable and Matt McLellan.
An experienced Bulldogs team jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, includes Ryan Alford, Tyson Findlay and Jordan Ford.
The Bombers roll into this contest following a 125-32 win against Elmore at Gunbower.
Blake Dye kicked eight goals against the Bloods and will be a major focus in North Bendigo’s plans.
Players to watch in the LG line-up include ruckman Jobee Warde, Charles Hancock in the centre,
Jett Keam and James Brereton in midfield, Austin Windridge and Jye Keath.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons and Lockington Bamawm United will be aiming for a winning finish when they clash in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
Their round nine showdown ended in a 91-77 win for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU in Lockington.
Key match-ups this time include Jack Lawton against LBU ruckman Tyler Phillips, Demons’ co-coach Ben Taylor in the centre against Matt Hore.
The Demons also have talented youngster Seth Boyd as rover against the experienced Brodie Collins.
Best for White Hills at Heathcote last round included Jake Dickens, Jarrell Ratcliffe and Jake Thompson.
The Demons also have captain Cohen Kekich, Mitch Dole and Nic Wharton in attack.
White Hills has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
The Cats had Bart Phillips kicked four goals in the clash with North Bendigo.
Other attacking options for LBU include Matt Butler and Stuart Taylor.
The Cats will look to Thomas Leech, Patrick Keele, Jack O’Callaghan and Charlie Hinks to lead the way to a sixth victory.
Elmore has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 247 per cent, 56 points; Colbinabbin 205, 48; Mount Pleasant 166, 48; Leitchville Gunbower 108, 30; Huntly 90, 30; Lockington Bamawm United 82, 22; Elmore 57, 16; Heathcote 67, 14; White Hills 47, 8.
Leading goalkickers:
68 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
58 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
43 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
41 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
39 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
38 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
38 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
34 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
34 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
29 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
29 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
26 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
26 James Harney, Elmore.
22 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
20 Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
19 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
19 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
19 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
18 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
17 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
17 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
16 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
16 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
16 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
16 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
15 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
15 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
14 Sam Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
13 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
13 Bailey Cain, North Bendigo.
13 Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Elmore.
13 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
12 Liam Bianco, Elmore.
12 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Patrick Eefting, White Hills.
12 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
12 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.