HEATHCOTE will be trying to snap the North Bendigo hoodoo in this Saturday’s seventh round in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
The Saints make their way to North Bendigo’s ground at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street for a clash which starts at 2.20pm.
In recent years the trip to the kennel has not gone well for Heathcote.
Last season the Bulldogs won their home game with the Saints by 122 points.
Previous two showdowns between the clubs at North Bendigo ended in wins for the red, white and blue by 50 and 17 points.
It’s a different Heathcote team which makes its way north this time.
Newcomers for the Saints include Hugh Freckleton, Dillon and Sean Williams who will play key roles in attack or midfield.
A Heathcote line-up coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, is now fourth after winning its past two games.
The Saints played brilliant football to win at Colbinabbin in round six by 13 points.
Best in Heathcote’s win against Elmore last Saturday were Liam Jacques, Dylan Johnstone, Sean Williams and Rhys Bolton.
North Bendigo drew last Saturday’s rematch of the ’25 grand final with Mount Pleasant in Toolleen.
A Bulldogs’ attack which includes Jake Dean, Dylan Klemm, Darcy Richards and Cody Riddick will test the Saints.
Key links to supply for the forwards include co-coach Ryan Hartley, Bailey Cain, Liam Dillon and ruckman Jordan Hargreaves.
A team which has the experienced Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach knows a defeat could put it out of the top five.
Another important match will be at Elmore where the Bloods hosts Leitchville Gunbower.
Although it has just the one win the competitiveness and improvement of the Luke Freeman-coached Elmore was shown in matches against Colbinabbin, Mount Pleasant, White Hills and Heathcote.
The Bloods were outran in the final quarter of last Saturday’s match against Heathcote at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
In-form players for Elmore include Matt Filo, Rhys Holmberg, Lachie Munro and Charlie O’Toole.
The Bloods’ squad includes James and Joseph Harney, Xavier Coghill, Ashton Sinn, Lachie Gawell and Matt O’Dwyer.
Massive test for the red and white as Leitchville Gunbower fights to stay in touch with the five.
The Joel Donheue-coached Bombers will be determined to avoid a hat-trick of defeats.
Key players for LG include ruckman Jobee Warde, Matt McLellan, Billy Hawken, Jye Keath, and James, Tom and Will Brereton.
The Bombers also have Blake and Jack Dye to take on the Bloods.
White Hills is back on its turf in Scott Street to play the unbeaten Mount Pleasant.
After a two-nil start to the season the Demons were beaten the next three leading into last Saturday’s bye.
It’s a daunting task for the Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons against the reigning premier.
Pressure from the Demons at stoppages will be crucial to disrupting Mount Pleasant’s run.
Key players in the red and black include Seth Boyd, Mitch Dole, Patrick Eefting, Cohen Kekich, Jack Lawton, Doolan Nihill and captain Jake Thompson.
A formidable attack for Mount Pleasant includes Ben Weightman, Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Caelan Smith.
The skilful Alex Wharton also rejoins a team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing.
Co-captain and key defender William Wallace does a superb job in limiting the impact of his opponent and also setting up many counter-atacks for the Blues.
Colbinabbin faces Huntly at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin bounced back from defeats to Mount Pleasant, 18 points, and Heathcote, 13 points, to win last Saturday’s match with Leitchville Gunbower in Gunbower by 45 points.
A highlight of this match will watching two of the competition’s best key forwards in Colbinabbin’s Brandyn Grenfell and Huntly’s Sam Dunstan.
The Colbinabbin attack includes Jai Carn, Alex Carr and Laine Fitzgerald.
Huge challenge for Huntly defenders Brodie Fry, Dale Lowry, Will Lee and Mitch Billings.
In the on-ball contests the Grasshoppers have ruckman Jasper McArdle to team with Jude Ryan, Nathan Basile and Will Le Deux against Nathan Dunstan, Todd Stevenson, Steve Kairn and Darby Walsh.
It’s been a frustrating season for Huntly coach Hamish Morcom who is sidelined by injury and watched the brown and gold be beaten by 12, 45, 6, 4, and 23 points.
Although it faces a winless opponent, Colbinabbin cannot afford to take it easy against the Hawks.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 146 per cent, 22 points; Colbinabbin 119, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 104, 16; Heathcote 105, 12; North Bendigo 140, 10; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 8; White Hills 68, 8; Elmore 71, 4; Huntly 76, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
19 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
18 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
17 Ben Weightman, MP.
15 Sam Dunstan, Huntly; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
14 Dylan Klemm, NB.
13 Jake Thompson, WH.
11 Ryan Allan, LG; Jake Dean, NB; Sean Williams, H’cote.
10 James Harney, E.
In the netball…….MOUNT Pleasant steps into the fire of the Demons’ den at White Hills in Saturday’s seventh round of A-grade netball in the Angico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
It’s second against third as the Blues and Demons compete on the Scott Street court from 1.10pm.
The Elley Lawton-coached White Hills returns to the court after last Saturday’s bye.
In the previous round the red and black won on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street by 13 goals.
A Mount Pleasant line-up which has Anthea McCleary as coach and gun goalshooter Kelsey Meade as assistant coach won last Saturday’s clash with North Bendigo by 31 goals in Toolleen.
Only defeat for the Demons and Blues this season was to Colbinabbin.
After a breakthrough victory last round, Elmore’s back on its court to play Leitchville Gunbower from 2.30pm.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore put in a superb team effort to win at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve by two goals.
Back-to-back wins could lift Elmore from the ninth rung to the sixth.
The Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower is on the rebound from a 62-goal loss to Colbinabbin on the Gunbower court.
North Bendigo’s place in the top five is under threat as the Bulldogs take on Heathcote from 2.30pm at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached Bulldogs take a two-three record into this contest.
Been a tough run for North Bendigo which has played White Hills and Mount Pleasant the past two rounds.
The Brooke Price-coached Heathcote will be fired up after a 45-47 loss at home to Elmore.
It’s the Grasshoppers against the Hawks as Colbinabbin hosts Harlowe Huntly Hawks at M.J. Morgan Oval from 2.30pm.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin has dominated many quarters as it chases back-to-back premierships.
The Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock-coached Hawks played well for a 10-goal win against Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve last round.
Colbinabbin brings a high level of pace, skill and defensive pressure to the court.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 207 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 195, 20; White Hills 124, 16; Huntly 95, 10; North Bendigo 76, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 62, 6; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 4; Heathcote 66, 4; Elmore 56, 4.
League ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 143 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 196, 20; Huntly 138, 12; North Bendigo 120, 12; White Hills 119, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 69, 8; Heathcote 64, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 56, 0; Elmore 53, 0.
B-grade:
Mount Pleasant 165 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 194, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 111, 16; Heathcote 102, 12; Huntly 101, 8; Elmore 70, 8; Colbinabbin 82, 4; North Bendigo 75, 2; Lockington Bamawm United 52, 2.
B-reserve:
Huntly 163 per cent, 20 points; Lockington Bamawm United 151, 20; Mount Pleasant 109, 16; White Hills 128, 12; Heathcote 122, 12; North Bendigo 122, 8; Elmore 85, 4; Colbinabbin 47, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 34, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 166 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 202, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 145, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 96, 12; Elmore 85, 10; Colbinabbin 65, 6; Huntly 81, 4; Heathcote 66, 4; North Bendigo 49, 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 207 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 204, 16; Mount Pleasant 112, 16; Heathcote 108, 12; Colbinabbin 91, 8; Elmore 81, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 8; Huntly 57, 4; North Bendigo 38, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 282 per cent, 20 points; Lockington Bamawm United 233, 20; Colbinabbin 139, 16; Mount Pleasant 131, 16; Elmore 114, 12; Huntly 58, 8; North Bendigo 62,4; White Hills 50, 0; Heathcote 12, 0.