MOUNT Pleasant withstood a spirited final quarter fightback by North Bendigo in Saturday’s senior footy grand final to raise the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL premiership cup for a 21st time.
It was the first time the Blues and Bulldogs had met in a seniors grand final.
The Blues were in control for a lot of the contest at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve as it answered several repeated comebacks by the Bulldogs.
Hundreds of fans were again treated to another thriller as the previous two hit-outs between the grand finalists had been three and six points.
Mount Pleasant had experienced on-ballers Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches, and Cameron Carter who was playing coach of the premiership teams of 2005 and ’06 as director of coaching.
A Bulldogs’ line-up coached by Rob Bennett who was non-playing coach of the premiership teams in 2015 and ’16 was beaten just twice in the run to the grand final.
Both of those defeats were against Mount Pleasant.
The Bulldogs went into the grand final chasing the “Triple Crown” after the reserves and under-18s teams had captured premiership wins by five and 17 points.
Mount Pleasant made a flying start to the seniors grand final when Brodie Leonard-Shannon marked and goaled after just 62 seconds.
First of a match-high five goals by North Bendigo’s Dylan Klemm was kicked in the fifth minute.
Mounts replied quickly as Jesse Tuohey capped excellent run and linking pass by team-mates with a goal.
The Blues again won the centre break and it was Caelan Smith who goaled on the run.
Mounts’ early dominance at stoppages was capped by Jack Hickman’s goal on the run after Baird won a contest on the wing and worked the ball to Leonard-Shannon who handpassed to the running Hickman.
When Mitch Bennett marked and goaled Mounts was up 33-7 in the 22nd minute.
Back in the Bulldogs’ line-up after a two-match ban, Darcy Richards marked a Klemm pass and goaled.
The change for Richards to return was Lachlan Ross being ruled out because of a hamstring injury.
Jake Dean was on target for the Bulldogs just seconds before the quarter-time siren.
At the break it was Mount Pleasant which led 33-19.
Defences were on top for the opening 10 minutes of the second, especially the Blues back six led superbly by co-captain William Wallace who continually outmarked opponents.
When Richards was freed in a marking contest and goaled from near the 50m arc the Dogs were back within eight points in the 11th minute.
After diving to mark the footy, Mitch Bennett goaled for the Blues to lead 41-26 in the 15th minute.
Leonard-Shannon brought up his second major when on target in the 21st minute on the run.
A minute later and it was Hartley’s play from a stoppage which led to a Klemm goal.
It had been an engrossing duel between Mounts’ full-forward Ben Weightman and young gun Will Gilmore.
After being kept goalless in the second semi, Weightman marked on a lead and goaled for the Blue to lead 53-32 in the 24th minute.
By half-time Mounts led 55-32.
The first goal in the third quarter was off the boot of Weightman as he read the flight of the pass to win the marking contest.
Hartley leapt and marked a Tyson Findlay pass for the Bulldogs to cut the deficit to 22 points.
As it had done many times, Mount Pleasant was on the verge of another reply when Weightman marked and handpassed to a running Mitch Bennett who was racing into an open goal.
Bennett stumbled after a suspected Achilles injury and the ball bounced away for the Bulldogs to clear.
A North Bendigo counter-attack from deep in defence was capped with a Klemm goal to make it 61-45 in the 11th minute.
Best known for his defensive play, Bryce Hinneberg marked and goaled for the Blues.
When Weightman was on target the margin was five goals in the 21st minute.
A strong tackle by Klemm was rewarded with a free kick from which he goaled.
Great play by on-baller Ryan Gillingham and Klemm was capped by a Jordan Ford goal in the pocket as the Bulldogs were back with 17 points late in the third.
The Blues began the season’s final quarter holding a 75-59 lead.
In less than 60 seconds it was Hinneberg who swooped on the footy after a marking contest and goaled for the Blues.
A left-foot snap by Weightman was on target as the margin was 28 points after just 2 ½ minutes.
The Bulldogs did not give up the fight.
Hartley roved a contest and snapped truly on his left.
Five minutes later and Storm Giri ran on to the bouncing ball after a Cody Riddick kick and goaled.
North Bendigo’s run and pressure game lifted markedly.
Klemm was freed in a marking contest and goaled.
When Riley Paetow marked a Bailey Cain pass and slotted his set-shot the Dogs were back within four points in the 13th minute.
Play then swung between the 50m arcs for a lot of the next 10 minutes.
North Bendigo did plenty of attacking, but passes were astray or cut off by a desperate Mount Pleasant defence.
What was the final score of the match was a rushed behind for the Blues.
Just as it did in the second semi-final, Mount Pleasant held its nerve to clinch an 89-84 victory in the match which matters most.
The AFL Victoria Country medal for best-on-ground went to Blues’ co-captain and key defender William Wallace.
“We have played three ripping games in a row against North Bendigo,” Wallace said.
“I am so proud of you all,” said the gun defender who returned to the Blues after last season’s stint in the VFL with Northern Bullants.
Jack Hickman, Adam Baird, co-captain and ruckman Chris Down, Josh Hann and Jesse Tuohey were also in the best for the Blues.
North Bendigo’s best were Harrison Jarvie, Dylan Klemm, Will Gilmore, Ryan Hartley, Ryan Gillingham and Nic Waterson.
Incredibly proud was mentioned several times by Cameron Carter and Rob Bennett in the after-match wrap.
Although bitterly disappointed not to have won, Bennett said North Bendigo’s fighting spirit was to the fore.
“There were a couple of times the game looked gone, especially early in the last quarter.
“The way we fought back is something the coaches and all our supporters are super proud about.
“It’s time to re-set, keep working hard and go again next year,” Bennett said of the hunger to again be the league’s Top Dog.
The premiership win for the Blues followed a mid-season slump where they were beaten in three of four matches.
Mounts rounded out the home-and-away series by winning eight in a row.
The streak rolled on as the Blues beat Colbinabbin in the qualifying final, and North Bendigo in the second semi a week later.
“We were tested on so many fronts this season,” Carter said.
“The resolve of our playing group was incredible.”
The desperation to succeed was evident in being able to respond to North Bendigo’s challenges.
“North Bendigo had been the yardstick all season and we knew it was always going to be a tough contest,” Hann said from the presentation dais.
As at all clubs there were many tests thrown at Mount Pleasant this season.
In the third quarter of the grand final the Blues were suddenly down to just 20 fit players after Riley McNamara (punctured lung) and Mitch Bennett (torn Achilles) were out of the game and taken to hospital.
The Blues’ ability to stay focused on the task was superb.
Carter said the big-game experience that Baird, Hann, Down and Wallace brought to the team was so crucial.
“The return of William Wallace was a big signing for us.
“He is a big-time player who always performs in the big games.”
Carter said the off-field support the Blues had was amazing.
“We are a footy and netball club nestled in a farming community in Toolleen.
“Mounts has always drawn a massive crowd, especially to finals.
“Their support means so much to us.”
The Blues had 22 play for glory on Saturday, but many more had played their part across the season in which the club also played off for the reserves flag.
It’s the second time in three years Mount Pleasant has hoisted the senior footy premiership cup.
Mount Pleasant’s premiership-winning team of 2025:
Adam Baird, Joey Bell, Mitch Bennett, Chris Down c, Coby Dunlop, Sam Greene, Seb Greene, Josh Hann, Jack Hickman, Bryce Hinneberg, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Reardon McIvor, Riley McNamara, Mitch Rovers, Caelan Smith, Jack Teasdale, Jesse Tuohey, William Wallace c, Ben Weightman, Bailey White, Fletcher White, Michael Whiting, Deklan Wille.
Co-coaches: Josh Hann and Adam Baird.
Director of coaching: Cameron Carter.