TOP five aspirations of Heathcote and the Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be tested in this Saturday’s 12th round in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
The Saints and Hawks will play at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve from 2.20pm.
It’s fifth against seventh as Heathcote aims to strengthen its grip on that or a higher rung.
A resurgent Huntly chalked up win number three when it beat reigning premier Mount Pleasant in last Saturday’s clash at Strauch Reserve by seven goals.
It was a one-goal margin when the Hawks and Saints met in round three in Huntly.
A Heathcote team coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, fought on for a 70-64 victory.
The Saints won last Saturday’s home game against Leitchville Gunbower by 13 points.
There’s plenty of firepower in the Heathcote and Huntly line-ups.
A Saints’ attack led by Dylan Johnstone, Hugh Freckleton and Mitch McLean will take on Huntly defenders Brodie Fry, Will Lee and Mitch Billings.
Heathcote will be without gun on-ballers Stefan Rasinac and Rhys Bolton, but still has Dillon Williams, Jake Waters, Justin Bateson and Joey Beedle capable of winning many contests.
In the ruck duels Heathcote young gun Jordan Marcroft takes on Nathan Dunstan.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks have Sam Dunstan, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson as the main marking targets in attack.
Other players to watch in the brown and gold include Stefan Pye, Steve Kairn, Dale Lowry, Judd Gilchrist and Jaydon Cowling.
Stung by its first defeat since round nine of last season, Mount Pleasant will be back on its turf at Toolleen to play Lockington Bamawm United.
In round three the Blues won at Lockington by 59 points.
Key match-ups this time include Mounts co-captain William Wallace against Jesse Collins, Seb Greene against Thomas Leech, Bryce Hinneberg opposed to Luke Saligari.
In midfield the Blues have Jaxson Nihill, Alex and Joel Wharton up against Jeremy Mundie, Bowden Stone and Charlie Hinks.
A Mounts’ attack that includes Ben Weightman, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Brodie Montague and Caelen Smith will test Cats’ defenders Joseph Wolfe, Kale Edwards, Marcus Angove and Nick Smart.
Blues’ ruckman Jett Nicholas will test his skill against the experience of triple Cheatley medallist Tyler Phillips.
Mount Pleasant is jointly coached by Josh Hann and Cameron Carter.
The Cats are coached by Jayden Howe.
Winless since round two, White Hills will be on its turf in Scott Street to play Colbinabbin.
A high-scoring clash between the Demons and Grasshoppers in round three ended in a 127-74 victory for Colbinabbin.
The Demons and Grasshoppers are both on the rebound from defeat.
White Hills defenders Ben Irvine, Khy Sawyer, Patrick Crawford and Kyle Gellatly are up against Brandyn Grenfell, Alex Carr, Jai Carn and Charlie Ryan.
Athletic ruckman Tamba Basha made his senior debut for the Demons at Colbinabbin and is in for his third match at the top level in a team coached by Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer.
Basha will be opposed to Jasper McArdle.
Chances of a big upset by White Hills will rely a lot on the play of Seth Boyd, Mitch Dole, Jack Lawton and captain Jake Thompson.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin has Isaac Carracher, Matt Riordan, Connor Aldous and Aidan Basile capable of winning many contests.
North Bendigo returns to Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to host Elmore.
The Bulldogs won on the Bloods’ turf in round three by 40 points.
The run in June for North Bendigo has included wins against Huntly, 58 points; Lockington Bamawm United, 64; and Colbinabbin, 31.
Having not played since round one at Lockington, gun midfielder Nicholas Waterson was named on the Bulldogs’ ‘from’ bench of five.
Key players for North Bendigo include Bailey Cain, Jake Dean, Jordan Ford, Ryan Gillingham, Will Gilmore, Jordan Hargreaves and Cody Riddick.
The Bulldogs are coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing.
Elmore had the bye last round which followed a 39-point loss at Colbinabbin in the 10th round.
A key for the Bloods will be limiting the damage when the Bulldogs seize control.
Streaks of five or six unanswered goals have regularly hurt the Luke Freeman-coached Elmore this season.
Key players for the Bloods include James Harney, Lachie Gawel and Ethan Sinn in attack, Matt Filo in the centre, Rhys Holmberg, Matt O’Dwyer and Joseph Harney in defence.
Elmore on-ballers Jarrad Kyne, Matt Gilmour and Kynan Sharpe will be working hard to beat or break even with the Bulldogs at centre ball-ups.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 128 per cent, 32 points; Colbinabbin 129, 28; North Bendigo 148, 26; Lockington Bamawm United 96, 24; Heathcote 108, 22; Leitchville Gunbower 94, 20; Huntly 95, 12; White Hills 65, 8; Elmore 62, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
37 Ben Weightman, MP.
31 Brandyn Grenfell, C; Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
30 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
23 Blake Dye, LG.
22 Dylan Klemm, NB; Sean Williams, H’cote.
21 Cody Riddick, NB.
20 Alex Carr, C.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; James Harney, E; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
17 Jake Dean, NB; Jake Thompson, WH.
15 Brayden Hull, LBU.
15: Lachie Gawel, E; Ryan Hartley, NB; Thomas Leech, LBU; Abe Sladden, Huntly; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
In the netball…………..WHITE Hills Demons will turn up the heat against Colbinabbin’s Grasshoppers in Saturday’s 12th round of A-grade netball in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
The Demons have home-court advantage in Scott Street when they play the reigning premiers from 2.30pm.
When these teams met in round three it was the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin which dominated on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval to win by 27 goals.
Both teams take winning form into this clash between third and first.
The Elley Lawton-coached White Hills won last Saturday’s match against Lockington Bamawm United in Lockington by 18 goals.
Pressure from the Demons’ mid-courters and defence will have to be high.
Colbinabbin again passed the 65-goal mark in a 68-51 win at home against North Bendigo last round.
Another important match will be at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve where the Saints host the Harlowe Huntly Hawks from 3pm.
It’s a must-win match for the Brooke Price-coached Heathcote to stay in touch with the top five.
Although it had home-court advantage Heathcote could not halt the Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower from scoring a 49-47 win last Saturday.
Huntly is also on the rebound from a 31-goal loss on its Strauch Reserve court to Mount Pleasant.
The Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock-coached Huntly beat Heathcote in round three by 26 goals.
Fourth in the premiership race, North Bendigo is back on its court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to play Elmore from 2.30pm.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo netted a 35-27 win at Elmore in round three.
As the Bulldogs were defeated at Colbinabbin last Saturday the Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore had the bye.
A win on North Bendigo’s court could put the Bloods on the sixth rung.
Mount Pleasant takes on Lockington Bamawm United at Toolleen Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues have a win-loss tally of nine-one and hold second place in the premiership race.
Mounts won on LBU’s court in round three by 36 goals.
Massive challenge for the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU which has put some great quarters together, but often been undone by defensive lapses in matches.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 212 per cent, 40 points; Mount Pleasant 194, 36; White Hills 131, 32; North Bendigo 88, 20; Huntly 77, 14; Leitchville Gunbower 61, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 8; Heathcote 70, 8; Elmore 69, 8.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 11 rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 144 per cent, 40 points; Mount Pleasant 186, 30; Huntly 119, 28; White Hills 129, 26; North Bendigo 127, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 69, 16; Heathcote 54, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 61, 4; Elmore 62, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 165 per cent, 40 points; Mount Pleasant 129, 28; Huntly 109.6, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 109.5, 24; Heathcote 102, 24; Colbinabbin 92, 12; North Bendigo 81, 10; Elmore 73, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 57, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 153 per cent, 36 points; Lockington Bamawm United 150, 32; White Hills 143, 32; Mount Pleasant 101, 24; Heathcote 119, 20; North Bendigo 112, 16; Elmore 101, 12; Colbinabbin 44, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 41, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 155 per cent, 40 points; White Hills 159, 36; Lockington Bamawm United 146, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 103, 24; Elmore 85, 18; Huntly 83, 12; Colbinabbin 67, 10; Heathcote 76, 8; North Bendigo 56, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 184 per cent, 36 points; Lockington Bamawm United 169, 36; Mount Pleasant 110, 24; Heathcote 114, 22; Colbinabbin 98, 20; Elmore 92, 14; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 14; Huntly 60, 6; North Bendigo 48, 4.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 362 per cent, 40 points; Lockington Bamawm United 204, 36; Mount Pleasant 147, 28; Colbinabbin 122, 24; Huntly 75, 18; Elmore 89, 16; North Bendigo 73, 10; White Hills 52, 4; Heathcote 14, 0.