COLBINABBIN and North Bendigo will fight to reach the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL seniors grand final in this Saturday’s preliminary final.
It’s a rematch of the qualifying finalists as they take to Huntly’s Strauch Reserve for the big showdown set to start at 2.30pm.
Stakes are greater than when they met a fortnight ago.
The winner advances to meet reigning premier Mount Pleasant in the grand final.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin outplayed and outran North Bendigo for a lot of the qualifying final.
Nathan Basile, Josh Smithson, Tanner Nally and Isaac Carracher led the Grasshoppers charge to a 74-53 victory.
Finishing second and third meant both teams had the double chance.
Colbinabbin is on the rebound from a 22-point loss to Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final.
A North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, fought on to win the qualifying final against Lockington Bamawm United by eight points.
The Grasshoppers and Bulldogs have plenty of goalscoring power.
Colbinabbin’s attack is led by Brandyn Grenfell, ?? goals; Jai Carn, and Alex Carr.
A huge inclusion for the Grasshoppers is dual Hawthorn premiership ruckman-forward Ben McEvoy who was among the best in both finals played so far.
Colbinabbin’s defence was superb against the Bulldogs a fortnight ago.
The play of Toby Howlett, Connor Aldous, Daniel Hill and Matt Riordan will be crucial for the green and gold.
Colbo’s defence is up against the marking power of Dylan Klemm, Jordan Ford, Jake Dean and Cody Riddick.
It’s a 100-game milestone for Klemm who is a four-time winner of the Bulldogs’ goalkicking award, been a runner-up for the Sam Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best, and been selected in the Heathcote DFNL Team of the Year three times.
There’s plenty of motivation for both teams.
Memories of last season’s grand final defeat are likely to spur North Bendigo players at crucial moments.
The “big game” experience of captain Aaryn Craig, Ryan Gillingham, Storm Giri, Matt Gray, Jordan Hargreaves, Darcy Richards and Nic Waterson is a huge plus for the red, white and blue.
In the reserves competition it’s Lockington Bamawm United against Huntly.
The clash of the Cats and Hawks will start at 12.15pm.
LBU is on the rebound from a 22-point loss to the unbeaten North Bendigo in the second semi-final.
The Hawks soared to a 96-64 victory in the first semi-final against Mount Pleasant.
When Huntly and LBU met in the qualifying final it was the Cats who dominated play to claim a 78-39 win.
Best for LBU in that contest were Joel Felmingham, Cody Betts, Kyle Baker and Henry Peris.
Huntly’s fight to stay in the premiership race by beating Mount Pleasant was led by Jack Burns, Jameson Barber, Jackson Fry and Daniel Artavilla.
The LBU line-up for the preliminary final includes Brodie Collins, captain Paul van der Sluys, Jacob Haines and Luke Saligari.
Huntly’s line-up includes Harry Whittle, captain Thomas Kairn, Lachie Ross and Brad Chalmers.
A big day for LBU includes the under-18s team against White Hills.
The Cats scored an 82-22 win against Huntly in the first semi-final.
After finishing on top of the ladder on a 14-2 record, White Hills played Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final.
A 43-34 win meant Mounts progressed to the grand final.
Best for White Hills against Mount Pleasant were Nathan Finch, Charlie Mortimer, Hunter Middleton and Deklan Cleave.
In-form players for LBU are Nicholas Mitchell, Noah Fletcher, Harrison Keele and Ted Voss.
Preliminary final day kicks off at 8.45am when Lockington Bamawm United meets Heathcote in the under-15s match.
The LBU team is on the rebound from a 43-33 loss to Leitchville Gunbower in the second semi-final.
Heathcote is chasing a hat-trick of wins after it beat Mount Pleasant in the elimination final by nine goals and then fought to beat the Rebels in the first semi-final by four points.
Best for the LBU Cats in the second semi-final were Cody Isherwood, Cody Cook, Kiefer Haines and Raiden Baines.
Players to watch for the Heathcote Saints include Liam Byrne, Max Dellar, Tristan Foster and Tarkyn Langdon.
Schedule for Saturday’s footy preliminary finals at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve:
Under-15s at 8.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Heathcote.
Under-18s at 10.20am: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Colbinabbin v North Bendigo.
In the netball action…….ELMORE’S ability to lift in must-win situations will be tested by Mount Pleasant in the A-grade netball clash on Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL preliminary final day this Saturday.
The Bloods and Blues will play at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve from 2.30pm.
After being two-six at the halfway mark of the season, Elmore has fought back brilliantly under pressure.
The Adam Boldiston and Steph Donnellon-coached Elmore has won eight of its past 10 matches.
Only teams the red and white could not beat in their remarkable run were top teams, Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant.
The red-hot Bloods are now just a win away from a grand final showdown with reigning premier, Colbinabbin at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve on September 5.
To get to the season decider Elmore must defeat Mount Pleasant.
This season’s meetings between the Bloods and Blues have been dominated by the Anthea McCleary and Kelsey Meade -coached Mount Pleasant.
In round five, Mounts marked the trek across to Elmore with an 85-25 victory.
Next time they met was in the 14th round where the Blues won 64-25 on their Toolleen court.
Under the pressure of finals, Elmore has responded superbly.
The Bloods marked a 40-36 victory against North Bendigo in the elimination final played at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
In last Sunday’s first semi-final it was Elmore which ended the run by White Hills in a 45-44 thriller.
The Bloods’ squad includes Lily Den Houting, Abbey Hay, Abbey Hromenko, Kaylah Moon, Ashleigh Ripper and Sophie Sidebottom.
Mount Pleasant takes a one-one record into its third contest in the finals series.
The Blues blitzed in the qualifying final at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park to record a 74-32 against White Hills.
It was a rematch of the ’25 grand final as Mount Pleasant faced Colbinabbin in last Saturday’s second semi-final on the White Hills court in Scott Street.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin won 66-47 to advance to its fourth grand final in a row.
Players to watch for Mount Pleasant include Emmie Banfield, Maggie Burke, Claudia Collins, Ivy Harrop, Kelsey Meade and Maeve Tupper.
In the A-reserve competition, Colbinabbin takes on North Bendigo from 1pm.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin is on the rebound from a 54-36 loss to Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final.
North Bendigo won last Sunday’s first semi-final against Huntly by 10 goals.
In round two, Colbinabbin scored a 57-52 victory on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Another close contest was played out at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval in the 11th round.
The Grasshoppers led 48-44 at the final siren.
Colbinabbin’s squad includes Morghan Hughes, Sadie Martin, Nicole McEvoy, Aggie Minne and Mikayla Palmer.
Players to watch for the Liz Taylor-coached North Bendigo include Rebecca Cluff, Zoe Di Camillo, Tayla Foster, Jasmine Kinder and Morgan McClellan.
It’s the Blues against the Hawks as Mount Pleasant takes on Huntly in the B-grade preliminary final on court one from 10am.
The Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant will be determined to have another showdown with White Hills after the Demons scored a 52-50 win in the second semi-final.
Huntly stayed in the premiership race after a 51-41 victory in the first semi-final against Leitchville Gunbower.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the preliminary finalists.
Mount Pleasant won the round two match in Toolleen by nine goals.
The Benita Hare and Montana Barber-coached Hawks clung on for a 40-39 victory in the 11th round at Strauch Reserve.
The Mount Pleasant squad include Lara Bish, Sarah Mannes, Kristy and Madalyn Nihill, and Jorja Whatley.
Huntly’s team includes Montana Barber, Lauren Campbell, Emamee Davies, Laura Gillespie and Georgia Moulday.
A big day for Huntly includes being in the B-reserve match against White Hills from 11.30am on court one.
The Hawks will be fired up after a 17-goal loss to Lockington Bamawm United in the second semi-final.
In the showdown of the Demons and Saints it was White Hills which won the first semi-final against Heathcote by 28 goals.
This season’s opening round featured the White Hills and Huntly match at the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
The team in brown and gold scored a 43-33 victory.
Next time they met was the 10th round where the Demons dominated in a 47-28 result on the Hawks’ court at Strauch Reserve.
Huntly’s squad includes Jayda Alford, Kiara Cowling, Adele Jeffries, Brittney Shaddock and Maddy Townsend.
A White Hillls team coached by Karly O’Toole includes Ava Broderick, Alexia Carmichael, Kylie Lamb, captain Tannish Murley, and Ashlee Plant.
First-up on court one at 8.45am will be the 17-and-under teams representing Mount Pleasant and Lockington Bamawm United.
Mount Pleasant will be determined to hit back from a 58-55 loss to White Hills in the second semi-final.
The LBU Cats won the first semi-final against Elmore by 24 goals.
Mount Pleasant has won both meetings with the Cats this season.
The Blues won 49-43 at Lockington in round three and charged to a 52-31 victory at Toolleen in the 12th round.
The Kirsten Pollock-coached Mount Pleasant team includes Daisy Costello, Tarli Nihill, Rhylee Pollock, Ellsie Tuohey and Lexie Walsh.
An LBU line-up coached by Jessie Hardess includes Asha Dodd, Jane Fish, Ivy Giorgianni, Sophie Jardine and Taya Tamblyn.
In the 15-and-under competition, White Hills faces Colbinabbin from 10am on court two.
The Demons were beaten in the second semi-final clash with Lockington Bamawm United by five goals.
Colbinabbin netted a 33-26 win against Mount Pleasant in the first semi-final.
Both matches in the home-and-away series between White Hills and Colbinabbin went the way of the team in red and black.
The Kristi Coller-coached White Hills won at Colbinabbin in round three by 21 goals.
It was a 57-36 scoreline when the Demons and the green and gold met in round 12 on the Scott Street court in White Hills.
A talented squad from White Hills includes Ava Christensen, Georgie Charlotte Coller, Milla Cooney, Ruby Hipwell, Jensen Murray and Macey Wright.
The Colbinabbin squad coached by Breanna Cox includes Brydie Anderson, Gracie Cox, captain Audrey McFadzean, Chelsea Plim, Bethany Ryan and Madison West.
First match on court two will be the 13-and-under teams from Lockington Bamawm United and Mount Pleasant from 8.45am.
The LBU Cats took on Leitchville Gunbower in the second semi-final which went the way of the Bombers, 28-26.
Mount Pleasant scored a 25-11 win against Elmore in the first semi-final.
The Cats beat the Blues in both matches in the home-and-away series.
Lockington Bamawm United scored a 20-10 win on its court at Nichol Trading Oval in round three.
When they met in the 12th round in Toolleen it was LBU which claimed a 33-23 victory.
The Lockington Bamawm United team is jointly coached by Beth Howlett and Rebecca Eade.
The Cats’ squad includes Marli Bloomfield, Harriet Giorgianni, Maiyah Hinck, Chloe McIntyre, Elsie Stevens and Liliani Tamburini.
Mount Pleasant’s team coached by Carine Comer includes Remmi Comer, Arian Evans, Evie Kristiansen, Ayla Nihill, Sage Reid and Pippa Shannon.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve:
17-and-under, 8.45am on court one: Mount Pleasant v Lockington Bamawm United.
13-and-under, 8.45am on court two: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
B-grade, 10am on court one: Mount Pleasant v Huntly.
15-and-under, 10am on court two: White Hills v Colbinabbin.
B-reserve, 11.30am on court one: Huntly v White Hills.
A-reserve, 1pm on court one: Colbinabbin v North Bendigo.
A-grade, 2.30pm on court one: Mount Pleasant v Elmore.