EIGHT clubs feature in this weekend’s start to the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL footy finals action.
Qualifying finals will be played on Saturday at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
North Bendigo and Colbinabbin clash in the seniors match from 2.20pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s clashes between these teams.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin won 95-90 on North Bendigo’s turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street in round two.
In the return match a North Bendigo team jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, won the round 11 match at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval by 31 points.
The Bulldogs marked 12 wins, a draw, and three defeats in the run across the home-and-away series.
Colbinabbin finished third on an 11-5 record.
The Bulldogs and Grasshoppers have plenty of goalscoring ability.
A strong attack in red, white and blue includes Dylan Klemm, 36 goals; Cody Riddick, 34; Jordan Ford, 28; Jake Dean, 26; and Storm Giri, 20.
The classy Ryan Hartley who is usually starring in an on-ball role has slotted 27 goals.
Colbinabbin’s defence includes Toby Howlett, Jasper McArdle, Connor Aldous and Alex Van Ruiswyk.
At the other end of the ground Colbinabbin has Brandyn Grenfell, 52 goals; Alex Carr, 33; and Jai Carn.
They pose a huge test for a Bulldogs’ defence led by Matt Gray, Hamish McCartney, Will Gilmore and Dominic Makur.
North Bendigo ruckman Jordan Hargreaves teams brilliantly with the likes of Ryan Gillingham, Bailey Cain and Liam Dillon.
The Bulldogs’ squad of 24 includes the experience of 303-game player and captain Aarryn Craig, along with Ryan Alford and Darcy Richards.
Big roles for the green and gold will be played by Matt Riordan in the ruck or key position, Jude Ryan as ruck-rover, Isaac Carracher as rover, Laine Fitzgerald, Tanner Nally and Aidan Basile.
Huge inclusion for Colbinabbin is Hawthorn premiership player Ben McEvoy. Although he was named in a back pocket, McEvoy is likely to have a far greater impact on this contest in the ruck or attack
The winner will meet Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final at White Hills.
On Sunday it will be Heathcote and Lockington Bamawm United fighting to keep their season alive when they contest the elimination final in Elmore.
It was one-all between the Saints and Cats in the home-and-away series.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU won at Heathcote in round four by 16 points.
A Heathcote team coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, won by 25 points at Lockington in the 13th round.
The Saints welcome back key forward Dylan Johnstone from a one-match suspension and will sweat on the fitness of gun mid/on-baller Stefan Rasinac and centre half-forward Sean Williams.
Both clubs have worked incredibly hard to return to finals action.
The Saints have struck back from a disastrous run in ’25 when it finished eighth on a record of 3-12 and a draw.
LBU has not played finals since the premiership victory in 2022.
Lockington Bamawm United won a great duel with Leitchville Gunbower to claim fifth place.
The Cats finished.21 per cent in front of the Bombers after 18 rounds.
In-form players for the Saints include Hugh Freckleton, Will Tobin, Daniel Butler, and Dillon Williams.
Leading goalkickers for Heathcote are Dylan Johnstone, 55, and Sean Williams, 39.
Heathcote’s squad includes Justin Bateson, Joey Beedle, Daniel Johnstone and Jonty Kelly.
Players to watch in the blue and white hoops include Brodie and Jesse Collins, Jack O’Callaghan, Tyler Phillips and Bowden Stone.
The Cats’ attack is led by Brayden Hull on 23 goals.
A triple winner of the league’s Sam Cheatley Medal as fairest and best, Tyler Phillips has kicked 20 goals in a mix of playing his number one role in the ruck and also in attack.
LBU also welcomes back Thomas Leech from suspension.
In the reserves competition, Huntly and Lockington Bamawm United contest Saturday’s qualifying final in Heathcote from 12.15pm.
The Huntly Hawks won the round six match at home by eight goals.
It was 52-all when they met in the 15th round at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The reserves elimination final on Sunday in Elmore features Mount Pleasant against White Hills.
The Blues have won both duels with the Demons by 69 and 47 points.
In the under-18s, Lockington Bamawm United and Mount Pleasant meet in the qualifying final from 10.20am at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
Both teams are locked on 13-3 records.
The Cats and Blues played out two great matches in the home-and-away series.
Mount Pleasant won at Lockington in round three by 10 points.
When they met in round 12 it was LBU which claimed a 39-35 victory in Toolleen.
On Sunday it will be Huntly against Colbinabbin in the under-18s elimination final.
The Hawks and Grasshoppers will clash from 10.20am in Elmore.
Huntly will start favourite after wins against Colbinabby by 16 and 18 points.
The Heathcote DFNL also marks history when the under-15s finals series kicks off.
Lockington Bamawm United will face Rebels in Saturday’s elimination final at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
It’s an early start of 8.45am.
The LBU Cats have won all four battles with the Rebels by margins of 42, 28, 24 and 10 points.
On Sunday it’s Heathcote against Mount Pleasant in the under-15s elimination final.
Play in Elmore will start at 8.45am.
The Saints have a three-one record against the Blues.
Mounts won the round seven match by 43 points, but since then the Saints have outplayed the Blues to win by six, 16 and five points.
In the netball action……..FINALS time for netball line-ups in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL has arrived.
Heat’s on across the weekend when qualifying finals are played at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve on Saturday, and the elimination finals on Sunday in Elmore.
Mount Pleasant and White Hills renew their rivalry in the A-grade qualifying final.
The Blues and Demons will take to court one at Pigeon Park from 3pm.
Mount Pleasant won both clashes with the Demons in the home-and-away series.
In round seven the Anthea McCleary-coached Blues won 51-43 in the Demons’ den at Scott Street.
Mounts then controlled play in a 58-44 victory against White Hills in Toolleen in the 16th round.
Runner-up last season, Mount Pleasant was beaten just twice in the run to another finals campaign.
Both defeats were against reigning premier, Colbinabbin.
In round four the Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers won 68-56 in Toolleen.
The green and gold surged to a 63-53 victory against the Blues in the 13th round at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Elley Lawton-coached White Hills marked an 11-5 record in the home-and-away series.
A key recruit for Mount Pleasant was goalshooter/goal attack Kelsey Meade from Sandhurst.
A multiple premiership winner with the Dragons, Meade joined the Blues as assistant coach.
Players to watch for Mount Pleasant include Emmie Banfield, Maggie Burke, Ivy Harrop, Maeve Tupper and Matisse Perez.
The Demons’ team is brilliantly led by Anne Spear.
The White Hills squad includes Caitlin McQueen, Holly O’Brien, Caitlin Richardson and Amy West.
It will be the Blues or Demons who face Colbinabbin in the second semi-final on August 22 in White Hills.
On Sunday it will be Elmore and North Bendigo fighting to avoid elimination from the premiership race.
The Bloods and Bulldogs will play at Elmore Recreation Reserve from 2pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the elimination finalists.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo netted a 35-27 win at Elmore in round three.
A goal separated the teams in round 12 as the Adam Boldiston and Steph Donnellon-coached Elmore won 37-36 on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Bloods moved to the fourth rung after North Bendigo was beaten at Huntly last Saturday.
Key players for Elmore include Lily Den Houting, Abbey Hay, Abbey Hromenko, Kelsey Niven and Ashleigh Ripper.
The North Bendigo squad includes Rachael Gray, Courtney Hargreaves, Morgan McClellan and Jeanette Ross.
All nine clubs are represented across this weekend’s netball action.
Mount Pleasant and White Hills have five and four teams to compete.
There are three finalists each from Colbinabbin, Elmore, Heathcote, Huntly, and Leitchville Gunbower.
The Cats and Bulldogs from Lockington Bamawm and North Bendigo have two teams to play.
Final standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
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.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve:
17-and-under, court one at 8.45am: 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.
B-reserve, 12.30pm on court two: Heathcote v Mount Pleasant.
A-reserve, 12.30pm on court one: White Hills v North Bendigo.
A-grade, 2pm on court one: Elmore v North Bendigo.