ELMORE and Lockington Bamawm United need upset wins to stay in striking distance of the top five in this Saturday’s 12th round of senior footy across the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL.
The Nathan Kay-coached Elmore will be on home turf against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks from 2.30pm.
Elmore starts this round in sixth place and six points behind the fifth-placed Leitchville Gunbower.
The Hawks are on the rebound from a one-goal loss to the LG Bombers at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
When the Bloods and Hawks met in round three it was Huntly which fought on for an 87-77 victory.
A key to Elmore’s chances this time will be its defensive intensity.
The Bloods take on a strong Huntly attack led by Sam Dunstan and Abe Sladden.
Key players for Elmore include James Harney at full-forward, Phil Smith, Matt O’Dwyer, captain Rhys Holmberg, Liam Bianco and Cobi Fitzpatrick.
Huge plus for Huntly was the return of coach Hamish Morcom last round.
The Hawks have the experience of Dale Lowry, ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Harry Whittle, Jaydon Cowling and Jacob Greenwood.
Lockington Bamawm United makes its way to Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
As Colbinabbin won last Saturday’s match with Heathcote by 34 points, LBU was beaten in the nearby clash at Toolleen with Mount Pleasant by six goals.
Huge task for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU which has a tally of 3 ½ wins.
In round three, Colbinabbin won at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval by four goals.
A strong attack for Colbinabbin has the marking power of Brandyn Grenfell and Alex Carr and the experienced Nick Knight at ground level.
Players to watch for the Linton Jacobs-coached team in green and gold include Isaac Carracher, Nathan Basile, ruckman Jasper McArdle, Matt Riordan, Hugh McMurtrie and Daniel Hill.
LBU will rely greatly on the play of ruckman Tyler Phillips, captain Brodie Collins, Jack Reiter, Matt Hore, Thomas Leech and Stuart Taylor to take the points on Colbinabbin’s turf.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU team includes James Yosiffidis, Matt Butler and Jack O’Callaghan.
It’s fifth against third as Letichville Gunbower faces Mount Pleasant at Gunbower.
The Shannon Keam-coached LG Bombers scored a crucial one-goal win at Huntly last round.
Massive challenge this time against a Mount Pleasant bolstered by gun forward Ben Weightman who marked his return by kicking eight goals in a best afield performance against Lockington Bamawm United last Saturday.
A key for the Bombers will be impacting or limiting the supply to Weightman and the rest of the Mount Pleasant attack.
The margin is likely to be much closer than the 86 points the Blues beat the Bombers by in round three at Toolleen.
Key players for the Bombers include Max Hagan, ruckman and Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde, Charles Hancock, Nic Cattapan, Jye Keath and Chris Horman.
Blake Dye and Billy Hawken kicked three and two goals in Leitchville Gunbower’s win against the Hawks.
Mount Pleasant goes into this match with gun on-baller and co-coach of the ’23 premiership team in Adam Baird who took a one-match ban after lodging an early guilty plea for striking.
The Blues still have playing co-coach Josh Hann on the sidelines teaming with director of coaching Cam Carter.
On-field Mounts has William Wallace and Bryce Hinneberg leading the defence.
Other players to watch for the Blues include Mitch Rovers and Brodie Leonard-Shannon in attack, Sam and Seb Greene, Bailey and Fletcher White, Reardon McIvor and Brodie Montague.
Rested by the bye, North Bendigo will be back on its turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons.
The Bulldogs passed the 200-point mark in a 170-point win at White Hills in round three.
On a nine-game winning streak, North Bendigo will be determined to not let standards slip.
An experienced team jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, includes Darcy Richards, Jordan Ford, captain Aaryn Craig, Jordan Hargreaves and Dylan Klemm.
The Bulldogs have had younger players such as Will Gilmore, Cody Riddick and Riley Paetow have an impact in many matches.
White Hills worked hard in a 77-87 loss to Elmore last Saturday in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
Mitch Dole and Nic Wharton led the red and black attack on two goals.
Best for White Hills against the Bloods were ruckman Jack Lawton, Mitch McConnell, co-coach Ben Taylor, Patrick Eefting and Jake Thompson.
A Demons’ squad which has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach includes Seth Boyd, Liam Monaghan, Mitch McConnell and Isaac Tzouroutis.
Heathcote has the bye.
Heathcote has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 267 per cent, 36 points; Colbinabbin 187, 28; Mount Pleasant 150, 28; Huntly 100, 26; Leitchville Gunbower 106, 22; Elmore 69, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 75, 14; White Hills 50, 4; Heathcote 61, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
39 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
27 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
25 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
25 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
23 James Harney, Elmore.
22 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
21 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
21 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
19 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
18 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Brodie-Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
16 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
16 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
14 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
14 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
13 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
12 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
12 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
12 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
12 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
11 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
11 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
11 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
11 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
11 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
11 Ibrahim Taha, Heathcote.
10 Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
10 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
10 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
10 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.