THERE will be a finals-type intensity in two of this Saturday’s round 14 matches in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
Heathcote’s on home turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to take on Colbinabbin, and Leitchville Gunbower faces Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville.
Both crucial showdowns in a fight to claim a top-three finish or qualify for finals will start at 2.20pm.
Heathcote will be out to prove its round five win on Colbinabbin’s turf at M.J. Morgan in round five was no fluke.
A Heathcote team coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, has racked up 7 ½ wins to be fourth in the premiership race.
Beat Colbinabbin and the Saints gain or maintain their break on the fifth and sixth-placed Lockington Bamawm United and Leitchville Gunbower.
The Saints won last Saturday’s match at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval by 25 points as Colbinabbin marked a 33-point victory at White Hills.
Key match-ups for Heathcote against the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin will be in defence where Lachlan Freeman-Taber and Hugh Freckleton take on Brandyn Grenfell and Alex Carr.
At the other end of the ground, Saints’ forwards Dylan Johnstone, Sean Williams, Seb Barnett and Justin Bateson will test Colbo defenders Toby Howlett, Alex Van Ruiswyk, Charlie Palmer and Connor Aldous.
In midfield Heathcote has Codie Price, Stefan Rasinac and Joey Beedle opposed to Angus Martin, Laine Fitzgerald and Aidan Basile.
The Saints also regain the hard-running and skilful Rhys Bolton.
There is plenty at stake as Leitchville Gunbower faces Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat and start this round separated by four points.
In round five the Jayden Howe-coached LBU marked an 80-40 win against the Bombers.
Darcy Elliott faces a huge challenge as he rucks for LG against LBU gun Tyler Phillips who is a triple winner of the Sam Cheatley medal as league fairest and best.
At centre bounces the Bombers have Billy Hawken, Charles Hancock and Nic Cattapan up against Harrie Lahy, Jack O’Callaghan and Bowden Stone.
The Bombers have Blake and Jack Dye and Josh Koster in attack opposed by Cooper Mitchell, Marcus Angove and Patrick Keele.
The Joel Donehue-coached Leitchville Gunbower will look to Tom, James and Will Brereton, Jye Keath, and Bryce Barnstable to lead the charge to victory.
Players to watch for the LBU Cats include Ed Brentnall and Charlie Hinks in attack, Brodie Collins, Jeremy Felmingham and Noah Condliffe.
Mount Pleasant is back on its turf at Toolleen to play Elmore.
The Blues scored a 31-point win at Colbinabbin last Saturday as Elmore beat White Hills by 19 points.
Mount Pleasant co-coach Josh Hann is back on field after being sidelined the past three games.
A strong Blues’ squad which has Cam Carter as non-playing co-coach includes Xavier Carter, Sam and Seb Greene, Jack Hickman, Bryce Hinneberg, William Wallace and Deklan Wille.
Elmore’s winless was ended in a 70-51 win at home against White Hills.
Best for the Luke Freeman-coached Bloods in their second victory of the season were James and Joseph Harney, Matt O’Dwyer, Rhys Holmberg, Hayden Trewick and Jarrad Kyne.
The Bloods’ squad includes Xavier Coghill, Matt Filo, Lachie Gawel and Peter Rothacker.
White Hills is back on its Scott Street ground to play North Bendigo.
It’s another daunting task for the Demons as the opposition had the bye last round.
Key match-ups for White Hills include the ruck where the athletic Tamba Basha takes on the experienced Jordan Hargreaves, and in defence where Lachlan Martin and Lennox Barker are opposed to Dylan Klemm and Jake Dean.
The Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons will look to Patrick Crawford, Mitch Dole, Seth Boyd and Jake Thompson to win plenty of contests and keep the heat on when the Bulldogs have possession.
An experienced Bulldogs’ team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, includes Jordan Ford, Ryan Gillingham, Matt Gray, Hamish McCartney and Nic Waterson.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks have 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.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
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 action…………..STUNG by a nine-goal loss on Elmore’s court, White Hills is back home for this Saturday’s round 14 clash with North Bendigo in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball action.
The Demons and Bulldogs will play on the White Hills court in Scott Street from 2.30pm.
As White Hills was defeated last round the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo had the bye.
It’s a crucial match for both teams, especially North Bendigo which is fifth on the ladder, but just four points clear of Elmore.
When the Demons and Bulldogs met in round five it was the Elley Lawton-coached White Hills which scored a 13-goal win at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Latest hit-out for the Bulldogs was at home where they were beaten, 37-36 by Elmore.
Second in the premiership race, Mount Pleasant will be back at Toolleen to take on Elmore.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues beat the Bloods by 60 goals in round five.
An Elmore team coached by Adam Boldiston will be determined to put in a much stronger performance this time.
The Bloods will have gained plenty of confidence from last Saturday’s win against White Hills.
Mounts is on the rebound from a 10-goal loss on Colbinabbin’s court.
Leitchville Gunbower takes on Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville from 2.30pm.
Just four goals separated these teams in round five as LBU fought for a 56-52 win at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower was beaten in last Saturday’s match at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve by 25 goals.
An LBU team coached by Stacy Bacon worked hard for a 41-36 win at home against Heathcote.
The Brooke Price-coached Heathcote is back home at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to take on Colbinabbin.
Another massive test for the Saints against the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin which is unbeaten in its quest for back-to-back premierships.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks have 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.
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.