MOUNT Pleasant marked a five-goal victory against Colbinabbin in Saturday’s 13th round in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
The Blues made their way to the Grasshoppers’ ground at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval for the showdown between first and second in the premiership race.
A Mount Pleasant team coached by Josh Hann and Cameron Carter made a great start to lead 27-7 at quarter-time.
A high-scoring second quarter went the way of the Blues, 27-19.
Facing a 28-point deficit at half-time the Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers fought back.
Colbinabbin scored 4.4 as Mounts added 3.1 in the third term.
Key forward Brodie Leonard-Shannon went on to kick a match-high five goals as Mount Pleasant marked a 92-61 win against the green and gold.
A key defender for a lot of his career, Blues’ co-captain William Wallace kicked two goals as did Jack Hickman and Jaxson Nihill.
Colbinabbin’s attack was led by Brandyn Grenfell on four goals.
Best for the Blues were Jack Hickman, Jett Nicholas, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Deklan Wille, Xavier Carter and Oliver Bish.
The Grasshoppers’ best were Isaac Carracher, Angus Martin, Jude Ryan, Clint Shields, Alex Van Ruiswyk and Ben Barton.
A strong first half set up Elmore’s win at home against White Hills.
It was the second time this season the Luke Freeman-coached Elmore had beaten the Demons.
Elmore kicked five goals straight on the way to a 30-13 lead at the first break.
Term two also went the way of the Bloods, 21-12.
A White Hills team coached by Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer worked hard to score 3.5 in the third quarter as Elmore was held to a tally of two behinds.
Fans were in for a classic finish as the Bloods were up 53-48 going into the final term.
As Elmore scored 2.5 in the last the Demons added three behinds.
James Harney kicked a match-high four goals as Lachie Munro added two in a 70-51 victory by Elmore.
There were seven goalkickers for White Hills.
Best for Elmore were James Harney, Matt O’Dwyer, Joseph Harney, captain Rhys Holmberg, Hayden Trewick and Jarrad Kyne.
Mitch Dole, Khy Sawyer, Jack Lawton, Jack Monaghan, Doolan Nihill and Kyle Gellatly were best for the red and black.
Heathcote fought on for a 25-point victory on Lockington Bamawm United’s turf at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
It was fifth against fourth.
Heathcote led 15-13 at quarter-time and then scored 3.3 in the second as LBU added 2.2.
Defences were on top in term three as the Saints kicked a goal as LBU added a behind.
Led by play of Dillon Williams, Stefan Rasinac and Daniel Johnstone, Heathcote closed out the contest by winning the last, 29-18.
At the final siren the Saints led 71-46.
Sean Williams led Heathcote’s attack on four goals as co-coach Liam Jacques and Dylan Johnstone added two each.
Leading goalkicker for LBU was Nicholas Sheldon with two.
Sean Williams, Callum Birch and Joey Beedle all played well for an Heathcote team which has Andrew Saladino as non-playing co-coach.
Bowden Stone, Patrick Keele, Charlie Hinks, Cooper Mitchell, Marcus Angove and Tyler Phillips were best for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU Cats.
In a season where it has had 7 ½ wins, Heathcote kept the heat on North Bendigo, 30 points, in the race for a top-three finish and double chance at finals time.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks swooped for a 43-point win on their turf at Strauch Reserve against Leitchville Gunbower.
Huntly led 31-8 at quarter-time and went on to win every term in a 92-49 victory.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks were up 51-22 at half-time and did not let up.
A low-scoring third quarter went Huntly’s way, 9-8.
The Hawks finished with plenty of run as they scored five goals in the last and the Bombers scored three majors.
Sam Dunstan kicked seven goals in a best afield performance as Lachy Wilson slotted three in a 92-49 victory by the brown and gold.
Leading goalkicker for Leitchville Gunbower was Jack Dye on four goals.
Huntly’s best were Sam Dunstan, Todd Stevenson, Dale Lowry, Lachy Wilson, Nathan Dunstan and Brodie Fry.
Jack Dye, Will Brereton, Nic Cattapan, Blake Dye, Darcy Elliott and Josh Koster were best for the Joel Donehue-coached Bombers.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 135 per cent, 40 points; Colbinabbin 124, 32; North Bendigo 156, 30; Heathcote 111, 30; Lockington Bamawm United 88, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 89, 20; Huntly 101, 16; White Hills 65, 8; Elmore 62, 8.
The fourth-placed Heathcote faces a big test when it plays Colbinabbin in next Saturday’s round 14 match at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve from 2.20pm.
Leitchville Gunbower takes on Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville.
Mount Pleasant takes on Elmore at Toolleen.
White Hills faces North Bendigo in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
Huntly has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race: to do
44 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
39 Brandyn Grenfell, C; Ben Weightman, MP.
36 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
27 Alex Carr, C.
26 Sean Williams, H’cote.
25 Cody Riddick, NB.
24 Blake Dye, LG.
23 James Harney, E.
22 Dylan Klemm, NB.
19 Jake Dean, NB; Jake Thompson, WH; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; Ryan Hartley, NB; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
17 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
16 Lachie Gawel, E; Brayden Hull, LBU; Thomas Leech, LBU.
In the netball……ELMORE achieved an upset victory against White Hills in Saturday’s 13th round of A-grade netball in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore teamed superbly on its court to beat the Demons by nine goals.
A 46-37 victory by the Bloods kept the heat on North Bendigo in the fight to be fifth and in the finals series.
It was a superb effort by Elmore to beat the Elley Lawton-coached White Hills which is third in the premiership race on an eight-four record.
Colbinabbin showed it’s going to be incredibly tough to beat in this race for premiership glory.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin won Saturday’s showdown with Mount Pleasant by 10 goals.
It was a rematch of the ’25 grand final as first and second in this season’s title race took to the court at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Grasshoppers withstood a spirited challenge from the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant to score a 63-53 victory.
It was a fast-paced and high-scoring showdown in which the green and gold racked up win number 11.
Colbinabbin was unbeaten in the run to premiership glory in ’25 and is on track to repeat the feat.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks were too strong on their court at Strauch Reserve for Leitchville Gunbower.
When these clubs met in round four it was a 49-all draw on the Bombers’ court in Gunbower.
This time the Hawks dominated most of the play to record a 54-29 victory against the Katie Pollock-coached LG Bombers.
After a tough streak which included hit-outs against White Hills and Mount Pleasant the Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock-coached Huntly has struck back to win its past two matches.
It was a closely-fought contest between Lockington Bamawm United and Heathcote at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
Back in round four it was the Brooke Price-coached Heathcote which beat the LBU Cats by three goals.
This time it was the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU which claimed a 41-36 win against the Saints.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 213 per cent, 44 points; Mount Pleasant 201, 40; White Hills 114, 32; Huntly 86, 22; North Bendigo 89, 20; Elmore 75, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 60, 10; Heathcote 70, 8.
Round 14 on Saturday features White Hills at home on its Scott Street court to play North Bendigo from 2.30pm.
It will also be a 2.30pm start for Leitchville Gunbower against Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville, and Mount Pleasant’s showdown with Elmore in Toolleen.
It’s the Saints against the Grasshoppers as Heathcote faces Colbinabbin at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve from 3pm.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks have the bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball, round 13 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 35 lt Mount Pleasant 62, Elmore 38 lt White Hills 43, Huntly 50 d Leitchville Gunbower 36, Lockington Bamawm United 44 d Heathcote 35, North Bendigo bye.
B-grade:
Colbinabbin 42 dr Mount Pleasant 42, Elmore 33 lt White Hills 65, Huntly 41 dr Leitchville Gunbower 41, Lockington Bamawm United 43 lt Heathcote 46, North Bendigo bye.
B-reserve:
Colbinabbin 17 lt Mount Pleasant 67, Elmore 35 lt White Hills 52, Huntly 85 d Leitchville Gunbower 16, Lockington Bamawm United 59 d Heathcote 25, North Bendigo bye.
17-and-under:
Colbinabbin 16 lt Mount Pleasant 60, Elmore 21 lt White Hills 44, Huntly 45 d Leitchville Gunbower 43, Lockington Bamawm United 73 d Heathcote 36, North Bendigo bye.
15-and-under:
Colbinabbin 42 d Mount Pleasant 20, Elmore 17 lt White Hills 52, Huntly 14 lt Leitchville Gunbower 40, Lockington Bamawm United 59 d Heathcote 17, North Bendigo bye.
13-and-under:
Colbinabbin 26 d Mount Pleasant 16, Elmore 23 d White Hills 19, Lockington Bamawm United 42 d Heathcote 2, Huntly 15 lt Leitchville Gunbower 26, North Bendigo bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 13 rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 140 per cent, 40 points; Huntly 130, 36; Mount Pleasant 190, 34; White Hills 125, 34; North Bendigo 130, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 70, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 62, 8; Heathcote 53, 8; Elmore 64, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 169 per cent, 48 points; Mount Pleasant 132, 32; Huntly 112, 28; Heathcote 99, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 109, 24; North Bendigo 85, 14; Colbinabbin 87, 12; Elmore 69, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 59, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 173 per cent, 44 points; Lockington Bamawm United 158, 40; White Hills 150, 40; Mount Pleasant 106, 28; North Bendigo 112, 20; Heathcote 99, 20; Elmore 96, 12; Colbinabbin 42, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 37, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 166 per cent, 48 points; White Hills 174, 44; Lockington Bamawm United 140, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 102, 24; Elmore 85, 22; Huntly 86, 18; Heathcote 75, 10; Colbinabbin 57, 10; North Bendigo 57, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 188 per cent, 44 points; Lockington Bamawm United 175, 44; Heathcote 102, 26; Mount Pleasant 100, 24; Colbinabbin 98, 24; Elmore 85, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 82, 18; Huntly 58, 6; North Bendigo 51, 4.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 336 per cent, 44 points; Lockington Bamawm United 218, 44; Colbinabbin 130, 32; Mount Pleasant 125, 28; Elmore 96, 24; Huntly 81, 22; North Bendigo 72, 10; White Hills 54, 4; Heathcote 13, 0.