A DRAMATIC finish to the home and away series in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy played out last Saturday afternoon.
Locked on 28 points going into the 18th round, Leitchville Gunbower and Lockington Bamawm United chased significant wins to lift their percentage.
Both teams won by 53 and 81 points, but it was the Lockington Bamawm United Cats who leapfrogged the LG Bombers to claim a place in the elimination final by 0.21 per cent.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU took on Elmore at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
LBU led 19-3 at quarter-time and 51-11 by the long break.
In the final hour the Cats scored 12 goals and kept the Bloods to a tally of two majors.
When the siren sounded the LBU team led 130-49.
The experienced Jesse Collins led the Cats’ attack on five goals as Brayden Hull kicked four goals and Ed Brentnall, Brodie Collins and Harrie Lahy added two each.
Goalkickers for Elmore were James Harney, Sam Lees and Matt O’Dwyer.
Best for LBU were Jesse Collins, Bowden Stone, Patrick Keele, Ed Brentnall, Jack O’Callaghan and Cooper Mitchell.
Elmore’s best were Rhys Holmberg, Charlie O’Toole, Xavier Coghill, Hayden Trewick, Kynan Sharpe and James Harney.
Cats’ players and fans then endured an anxious wait on the result from Leitchville Gunbower’s clash with White Hills.
LBU will now play Heathcote in next Sunday’s elimination final in Elmore.
The Luke Freeman-coached Elmore ends the season in ninth place on a 2-14 record.
It was a bitter-sweet day for Leitchville Gunbower which beat White Hills in Leitchville, but was knocked off the fifth rung.
The White Hills Demons applied the heat in the first quarter and led 34-20 at the break.
The Joel Donehue-coached Bombers struck back to win the second term, 33-13.
Leitchville Gunbower scored six goals straight in term three, but White Hills worked hard to add 4.4.
The Bombers scored 7.3 in the last and kept the red and black to a goal.
It was a 134-81 victory for LG, but not enough to seal an elimination final berth.
Blake Dye capped a superb match with 13 goals as Billy Hawken kicked three and Blake Dye booted two.
The White Hills attack was led by Ben Irvine on three and captain Jake Thompson with two.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Blake Dye, James Brereton, Jack Dye, Tom Brereton, Matt McLellan and Billy Hawken.
The Demons’ best were Jack Lawton, Doolan Nihill, Dustin Crawford, Seth Boyd, Jake Thompson and Lachlan Martin.
A White Hills team coached by Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer finished eighth on a 2-14 record.
Reigning premier Mount Pleasant finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder after a 51-point victory on Heathcote’s turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
Mounts made a strong start to lead 36-12 at quarter-time.
By the long break the Blues led 56-20 against a Heathcote team which had been hit by injury or suspension to several key players in recent weeks.
A closely-fought third term went Mount Pleasant’s way, 18-16.
The Blues then won the last, 28-15, on their way to a 102-51 victory.
Xavier Carter, Jack Hickman, Caelan Smith and Ben Weightman all kicked two goals for a Mount Pleasant team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing.
Best for Mount Pleasant were Nathan Kay, Jack Hickman, Xavier Carter, Joey Bell, William Wallace and Caelan Smith.
Blues’ gun forward Ben Weightman had hamstring awareness and took no further part after he had kicked two goals.
The Saints’ attack was led by Stefan Rasinac on three goals as Justin Bateson booted two.
Heathcote’s best were Ryan Foster, Dillon Williams, Daniel Butler, Stefan Rasinac, Ben Connelly and Will Tobin.
A concern for the Saints is a leg injury to gun on-baller/mid Stefan Rasinac.
Heathcote will regain key forward Dylan Johnstone for Sunday’s eliminational final against Leitchville Gunbower.
The Blues have a week’s rest and will then meet North Bendigo or Colbinabbin in the second semi-final in White Hills on August 22.
North Bendigo warmed up for another finals campaign by scoring a 59-point win at the home of the Harlowe Huntly Hawks in Strauch Reserve.
The Bulldogs led 17-7 at quarter-time and then slammed on seven goals as it kept the brown and gold to a major in term.
Defences were on top for most of the second half.
After an inaccurate 1.7 in the third quarter, North Bendigo scored 2.2 in the last.
The Hawks scored 3.3 in the second half.
Dylan Klemm and Cody Riddick kicked three goals in an 87-28 victory for the red, white and blue.
Huntly’s leading goalkicker was Abe Sladden on two.
Although he was kept goalless, Hawks’ full-forward Sam Dunstan won the league’s goalkicking race on 56 goals.
Best for North Bendigo were Nic Waterson, key defender Matt Gray, Ryan Gillingham, Bailey Cain, Cody Riddick and Liam Dillon.
Huntly’s best were Todd Stevenson, Mitch Billings, Kyle Forster, Lachy Wilson, Brodie Fry and Lucas Wheelhouse.
A North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, tackles Colbinabbin in next Saturday’s qualifying final at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks end the season on a 5-11 record and in seventh place.
Colbinabbin had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder after 18 rounds:
Mount Pleasant 148 per cent, 52 points; North Bendigo 170, 50; Colbinabbin 133 , 44; Heathcote 113, 42; Lockington Bamawm United 90.2, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 90.0, 32; Huntly 93, 20; White Hills 61, 8; Elmore 53, 8.
Rundown for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve:
Under-18s: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
Reserves: Huntly v Lockington Bamawm United.
Seniors: North Bendigo v Colbinabbin.
Rundown for Sunday’s elimination finals at Elmore Recreation Reserve:
Under-18s: Huntly v Colbinabbin.
Reserves: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
Seniors: Heathcote v Lockington Bamawm United.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
56 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
55 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
52 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
51 Ben Weightman, MP.
48 Blake Dye, LG.
39 Sean Williams, H’cote.
36 Dylan Klemm, NB.
34 Cody Riddick, NB.
33 Alex Carr, C.
28 Jordan Ford, NB.
27 James Harney, Elm.; Ryan Hartley, NB.
26 Jake Dean, NB; Billy Hawken, LG; Abe Sladden, Huntly.
25 Jack Dye, LG; Jake Thompson, WH.
23 Lachie Gawel, Elm.; Brayden Hull, LBU; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
20 Storm Giri, NB; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
19 Patrick Conlan, WH; Laine Fitzgerald, C.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; Brodie Leonard-Shannon, MP.
17 Xavier Carter, MP.
16 Justin Bateson, H’cote; Jesse Collins, LBU; Jack Hickman, MP; Cohen Kekich, WH; Thomas Leech, LBU; Caelan Smith, MP.
In the netball……HUNTLY upset an elimination final-bound North Bendigo in Saturday’s round 18 clash in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball.
In what was Huntly’s last match of the ’26 campaign it was the Hawks who outplayed the Bulldogs at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
When they met earlier in the season it was North Bendigo which won at home by two goals.
This time a Huntly team coached by Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock controlled a lot of the play in a 53-40 victory.
Although disappointed with the result the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo will now focus on a return to A-grade finals when it plays Elmore in next Sunday’s elimination final at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore finished the home-and-away series in fourth place after a 55-43 win on Lockington Bamawm United’s court at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Stacy Bacon-coached LBU Cats end the season in seventh place on four wins.
Closest margin of the afternoon was at Leitchville where Leitchville Gunbower faced White Hills.
The Katie Pollock-coached LG Bombers took it right up to the Demons.
At the final siren the Elley Lawton-coached White Hills clung to a 44-41 lead.
The Bombers achieved 3 ½ wins this season.
White Hills will take on Mount Pleasant in Saturday’s qualifying final at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
A tough season for Heathcote ended with a home game against Mount Pleasant at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Runner-up in ’25, Mount Pleasant passed the century mark against the Saints.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues led 112-20 at the final siren.
Two wins by the Brooke Price-coached Heathcote included success on North Bendigo’s court.
It’s an extended break for the unbeaten Colbinabbin which had the bye.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers have another rest in week one of the finals before they meet Mount Pleasant or White Hills in the second semi-final on August 22 at White Hills.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition after 18 rounds:
Colbinabbin 220 per cent, 64 points; Mount Pleasant 198, 56; White Hills 117, 44; Elmore 84, 32; North Bendigo 91, 28; Huntly 85, 26; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 64, 14; Heathcote 55, 8.
Heathcote DFNL netball, round 18 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Lockington Bamawm United 35 dr Elmore 35, Leitchville Gunbower 32 lt White Hills 40, Huntly 55 d North Bendigo 53, Heathcote 29 lt Mount Pleasant 72, Colbinabbin bye.
B-grade:
Lockington Bamawm United 38 lt Elmore 42, Leitchville Gunbower 46 dr White Hills 46, Huntly 47 d North Bendigo 27, Heathcote 38 lt Mount Pleasant 43, Colbinabbin bye.
B-reserve:
Lockington Bamawm United 78 d Elmore 41, Leitchville Gunbower 18 lt White Hills 80, Heathcote 38 dr Mount Pleasant 38, Huntly 42 d North Bendigo 33, Colbinabbin bye.
17-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 54 d Elmore 33, Huntly 50 d White Hills 24, Heathcote 48 lt Mount Pleasant 49, Leitchville Gunbower 19 d White Hills 0, Colbinabbin bye.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 51 d Elmore 18, Leitchville Gunbower 20 lt White Hills 43, Heathcote 34 lt Mount Pleasant 46, Huntly 25 lt North Bendigo 27, Colbinabbin bye.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 41 d Elmore 11, Leitchville Gunbower 35 d White Hills 9, Heathcote 3 lt Mount Pleasant 49, Huntly 19 lt North Bendigo 22, Colbinabbin bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 18 rounds:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 198 per cent, 54 points; Colbinabbin 132, 52; Huntly 129, 52; White Hills 121, 44; North Bendigo 124, 38; Leitchville Gunbower 77, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 62, 10; Heathcote 51, 8; Elmore 66, 6.
B-grade:
White Hills 156 per cent, 58 points; Mount Pleasant 133, 50; Huntly 122, 46; Leitchville Gunbower 116, 44; Heathcote 101, 40; Colbinabbin 90, 18; North Bendigo 75, 14; Elmore 68, 14; Lockington Bamawm United 61, 4.
B-reserve:
Lockington Bamawm United 174 per cent, 56 points; Huntly 170, 56; White Hills 156, 56; Heathcote 108, 34; Mount Pleasant 102, 34; North Bendigo 108, 28; Elmore 91, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 40, 4; Colbinabbin 39, 4.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 160 per cent, 64 points; White Hills 165, 52; Lockington Bamawm United 142, 48; Leitchville Gunbower 112, 38; Elmore 86, 32; Huntly 93, 26; Heathcote 76, 18; Colbinabbin 59, 10; North Bendigo 54, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 189 per cent, 60 points; Lockington Bamawm United 177, 60; Colbinabbin 107, 36; Mount Pleasant 103, 36; Heathcote 97, 34; Leitchville Gunbower 85, 26; Elmore 73, 18; Huntly 59, 10; North Bendigo 56, 8.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 207 per cent, 60 points; Leitchville Gunbower 272, 56; Mount Pleasant 150, 44; Colbinabbin 135, 44; Elmore 87, 32; North Bendigo 79, 22; Huntly 76, 22; White Hills 58, 8; Heathcote 16, 0.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve:
17-and-under, 8.45am on court one: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
13-and-under, 8.45am on court two: Leitchville Gunbower v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under, 10am on court one: Lockington Bamawm United v Colbinabbin.
B-grade, 11.15am on court one: Mount Pleasant v Huntly.
B-reserve, 12.30pm on court one: Huntly v White Hills.
A-reserve, 1.45pm on court one: Colbinabbin v Huntly.
A-grade, 3pm on court one: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Elmore Recreation Reserve:
17-and-under, 9.30am on court one: Leitchville Gunbower v Elmore.
13-and-under, 9.30am on court two: Colbinabbin v Elmore.
B-grade, 11am on court one: Leitchville Gunbower v Heathcote.
15-and-under, 11am on court two: Mount Pleasant v Heathcote.
A-reserve, 12.30pm on court one: White Hills v North Bendigo.
B-reserve, 12.30pm on court two: Heathcote v Mount Pleasant.
A-grade, 2pm on court one: Elmore v North Bendigo.