COLBINABBIN will try to break Mount Pleasant’s winning streak in Saturday’s senior footy qualifying final in Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL finals action.
The Grasshoppers and Blues will play at Gunbower from 2.15pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between these teams.
They clashed last Saturday at Toolleen where the Blues won on their turf by 27 points.
In the ninth round the Linton Jacobs Colbinabbin marked a 16-point win at the home of the green and gold in M.J. Morgan Oval.
Midfield and on-ball contests will be crucial as both teams have plenty of goalkicking power.
The Blues’ attack is led by Ben Weightman, 36 goals; Brodie Leonard-Shannon, 31; and Mitch Bennett, 31.
At the other end of the ground, Colbinabbin has Brandyn Grenfell, 60; Alex Carr, 41; and Nick Knight, 35.
After missing the finals following the premiership in ’23, Mount Pleasant has bounced back brilliantly.
A coup was the signing of Josh Hann as playing co-coach and the return of Adam Baird as playing co-coach.
Dual premiership coach Cameron Carter is director of coaching for the Blues.
Players to watch for the Blues include William Wallace and Bryce Hinneberg in defence, Jack Hickman, Mitch Rovers, ruckman Chris Down, Caelan Smith, and Sam and Seb Greene.
After a hat-trick of grand final wins with Marong in the Loddon Valley, Linton Jacobs returned to Colbinabbin where he once played to be senior coach in ’25.
The Grasshoppers will look for big games from the likes of gun forwards Brandyn Grenfell and Alex Carr, Nick Knight, Hadleigh Sirett, Clint Shields, captain Will Lowe, Matt Riordan and Connor Aldous.
On Sunday it will be the Harlowe Huntly Hawks and Leitchville Gunbower fighting to stay in the premiership race when they meet in an elimination final.
The Hawks and Bombers will play at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 2.15pm.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks won at Leitchville in round two by two goals.
Next time the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers won 51-45 at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Gun recruit Sam Dunstan has capped a brilliant first season with Huntly by winning the goalkicking title on 75 goals.
Huntly’s squad includes Harry Whittle, Dale Lowry, Mitch Billings, Abe Sladden, ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Ben Daley, captain Steve Kairn, Lachy Wilson and Jacob Greenwood.
The LG Bombers have Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde in the ruck duels.
Leitchville Gunbower also has Chris Horman, Tom Brereton, Blake Dye, Billy Hawken, Max Hagan, Austin Windridge, Jye Keath and Matt McClellan capable of winning plenty of the footy and have a significant impact on the game.
North Bendigo has qualified for second semi-finals in all three footy grades.
The reserves qualifying final features Huntly and Mount Pleasant at noon, as LBU and Colbinabbin meet in the elimination final.
The under-18s kick off qualifying day as White Hills tackles Heathcote at 9.45am.
Mount Pleasant will face Lockington Bamawm United in the elimination final.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Gunbower:
Under-18s at 9.45am: White Hills v Heathcote
Reserves at 11.50am: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street:
Under-18s at 9.45am: Mount Pleasant v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 11.50am: Lockington Bamawm United v Colbinabbin.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Huntly v Leitchville Gunbower.