NORTH Bendigo will be striving to end Mount Pleasant’s unbeaten run in Saturday’s sixth round of senior footy in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL.
The Bulldogs make their way to Mount Pleasant territory in Toolleen for the 2.20pm showdown.
Last September it was a Mount Pleasant team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, which beat North Bendigo in the grand final by five points.
The Mounts line-up has changed markedly since then, but not the hunger for success as the Blues are five-nil and top of the ladder.
Key players for Mounts include William Wallace, Bryce Hinneberg and Deklan Wille in defence, Brodie Montague in the centre, Jett Nicholas in the ruck, and Xavier Carter and Jack Hickman as ruck-rover and rover.
A strong attack for the Blues includes Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Caelan Smith, Ben Weightman and Joel Wharton.
They will be opposed by a North Bendigo defence led by Jordan Ford, Will Gilmore, Hamish McCartney and Matt Gray.
A North Bendigo attack that includes Jake Dean, Storm Giri, Dylan Klemm and Darcy Richards will test the Blues.
Bulldogs’ ruckman Jordan Hargreaves teams up with co-coach Ryan Hartley, Liam Dillon and Harrison Jarvie.
North Bendigo has Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach.
A big day for North Bendigo includes Ryan Alford playing his 250th club game.
A triple premiership winner in senior footy with the Bulldogs, Alford’s in the reserves who are unbeaten in their quest for back-to-back premierships.
Alford family links to North Bendigo stretch back decades.
It’s the Hawks against the Cats as Huntly takes on Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
A fifth consecutive defeat would make it incredibly difficult for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks to qualify for the finals.
Huntly’s defeats have been by 12, 45, six and four points.
The Hawks had the bye last round as the Jayden Howe-coached LBU beat Leitchville Gunbower.
Key players for Huntly include Will Lee at centre half-back, Sam Dunstan, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson in attack, ruckman Nathan Dunstan, and Darby Walsh in the centre.
A triple winner of the Sam Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best, LBU ruckman Tyler Phillips has had a superb season in the ruck or close to goal.
Other players to watch for the Cats include Marcus Angove, Charlie Hinks, Thomas Leech, Jeremy Mundie, Jack O’Callaghan and Joseph Wolfe.
After a stunning win at Colbinabbin last round, Heathcote’s back on its turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to take on Elmore.
A Saints’ line-up coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, will be determined to not let standards slip.
Although it’s eighth on a one-three record, Elmore cannot be taken lightly.
The Luke Freeman-coached Bloods won at White Hills in round four by two goals.
Heathcote’s best in the win against Colbinabbin were Will Tobin, Ryan Foster, Dillon Williams and Liam Jacques.
A Saints attack which has the marking power of Dylan Johnstone and Sean Williams, and classy Justin Bateson and Jackson Conforti at ground level will test the Bloods.
Key players for Elmore include Matt Filo, Lachie Gawel, James and Joseph Harney, Rhys Holmberg, Matt O’Dwyer and Ashton Sinn.
It’s sixth against second as Leitchville Gunbower takes on Colbinabbin at Gunbower.
Huge test for the Joel Donehue-coached LG Bombers against a team on the rebound from defeat.
Expect the Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers to be fired up.
The Bombers were overrun after quarter-time of last Saturday’s match at Lockington where the LBU Cats won by 40 points.
Key match-ups for LG include Jye Keath at full-back against Brandyn Grenfell, James Brereton in the centre opposed to William Le Deux, and ruckman Jobee Warde against Jasper McArdle.
The Bombers’ attack will be led by Blake and Jack Dye, Charles Hancock and Billy Hawken.
Colbinabbin’s defence includes Jack Lear,Toby Howlett, Alex Van Ruiswyk and Connor Aldous.
A highlight will be the on-ball duels where LG has Josh Koster and Nic Cattpan against two of Colbo’s best in Jude Ryan and Nathan Basile.
White Hills has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 160 per cent, 20 points; Colbinabbin 110, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 99, 12; North Bendigo 153, 8; Heathcote 97, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 89, 8; White Hills 68, 8; Elmore 71, 4; Huntly 78, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
17 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
15 Tyler Phillips, LBU.
13 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote; Dylan Klemm, NB; Jake Thompson, WH.
12 Ben Weightman, MP.
11 Ryan Allan, LG.
10 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
8 Tom Conlan, WH; Lachie Gawel, E; Bryce Hinneberg, MP.
7 Jake Dean, NB; Mitch Dole, WH; Laine Fitzgerald, C; Ashton Sinn, E; Sean Williams, H’cote.
In netball action, after a breakthrough win last round, Lockington Bamawm United Cats have eyes on back-to-back wins in Saturday’s sixth round of A-grade netball in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
The Cats make their way to Huntly’s Strauch Reserve to play the Hawks from 1.30pm.
The Stacy Bacon-coached LBU won a hard-fought clash with Leitchville Gunbower at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval last Saturday.
The Cats clawed their way to a 56-52 victory.
Refreshed by the bye, Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be wary of the LBU line-up.
In round four the Hawks drew 49-all with Leitchville Gunbower in Gunbower.
A Huntly team coached by Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock starts this round in fifth place.
It’s a huge test for Leitchville Gunbower as the Bombers host reigning premier Colbinabbin at Gunbower.
The Bombers and Grasshoppers showdown will start at 1.30pm.
Colbinabbin scored a 45-13 victory in last Saturday’s clash with Heathcote at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The ladder-leading Mount Pleasant takes on North Bendigo at Toolleen Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
It was a big win for Mounts in last Saturday’s play on Elmore’s court.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues beat the Bloods by 60 goals.
North Bendigo could not halt White Hills on its way to a 13-goal win against the Kiralee Kinder-coached Bulldogs at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Heathcote returns to its court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to play Elmore from 3pm.
The Brooke Price-coached Saints will be determined to mark win number two.
Been a tough run for the Adam Boldiston-coached Bloods who have played Colbinabbin, North Bendigo, White Hills, and Mount Pleasant.
White Hills has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 191 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 191, 16; White Hills 124, 16; North Bendigo 87, 8; Huntly 89, 6; Leitchville Gunbower 75, 6; Lockington Bamawm United 75, 4; Heathcote 61, 4; Elmore 48, 0.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after five rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 135 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 194, 16; North Bendigo 160, 12; White Hills 119, 12; Huntly 125, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 75, 8; Heathcote 56, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 59, 0; Elmore 48, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 194 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 166, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 110, 12; Heathcote 97, 8; Elmore 67, 8; Huntly 83, 4; Colbinabbin 81, 4; North Bendigo 80, 2; Lockington Bamawm United 55, 2.
B-reserve:
Lockington Bamawm United 167 per cent, 20 points; Huntly 180, 16; White Hills 128, 12; Mount Pleasant 108, 12; North Bendigo 133, 8; Heathcote 116, 8; Elmore 90, 4; Colbinabbin 39, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 30, 0.
17-and-under:
White Hills 202 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 162, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 135, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 84, 8; Elmore 80, 6; Colbinabbin 66, 6; Huntly 93, 4; Heathcote 59, 4; North Bendigo 47, 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 203 per cent, 20 points; White Hills 204, 16; Mount Pleasant 96, 12; Heathcote 109, 8; Colbinabbin 91, 8; Elmore 77, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 72, Huntly 61, 4; North Bendigo 39, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 372 per cent, 16 points; Lockington Bamawm United 230, 16; Colbinabbin 161, 16; Mount Pleasant 137, 12; Elmore 95, 8; Huntly 66, North Bendigo 57, 4; White Hills 50, 0; Heathcote 11, 0.