-By Nathan Dole
ELMORE or Lockington Bamawm United will climb into the top five after Saturday’s round seven clash in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL’s senior footy action.
Locked on eight premiership points, Elmore and Lockington Bamawm United start this round two points behind the fifth-placed Leitchville Gunbower which has the bye.
The Bloods and Cats will play on LBU’s turf at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington from 2.30pm.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU is on the rebound from a 10-goal loss at Leitchville.
Elmore unleashed a brilliant final quarter in its home game against Heathcote to win by nine points.
One of the most crucial match-ups on Saturday will be in the centre where Cats’ captain Brodie Collins takes on Elmore coach Nathan Kay.
In the ruck it will be LBU gun Tyler Phillips opposed to Jarrad Kyne.
Key players for LBU include Cody Mann, Jack O’Callaghan, Jack Reiter, Bowden Stone and Stuart Taylor.
Elmore captain Rhys Holmberg was best afield against Heathcote and had great support from Lachie Munro and Jack Smith.
The Bloods also have the experience of Matt O’Dwyer, Phil Smith, James and Joseph Harney.
It’s second against fourth as Mount Pleasant hosts the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Toolleen.
Mounts fought on for a 20-point win at White Hills last round.
A highlight of the contest between the Blues and Hawks will be Mounts’ captain and gun defender William Wallace against Huntly full-forward Sam Dunstan.
In the centre it will be Adam Baird opposed to the Hawks’ Ben Daley.
There’s a fair amount of experience in a Mount Pleasant team which has Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches and Cam Carter as director of coaching.
A Blues’ attack led by Mitch Bennett and Brodie Leonard-Shannon will test Hawks’ opponents Josh Hull and Mitch Billings.
The Blues also have the skill of Seb Greene, Brodie Montague, Mitch Rovers and Caelan Smith to set up or cap attacks with goals.
Huge plus for Huntly is the return of coach Hamish Morcom for his first match since round three.
Hawks’ ruckman Nathan Dunstan has had a superb season and will team with Dale Lowry and Steve Kairn at the centre ball-ups.
Other players to watch in the brown and gold are Mitch Billings, Flynn Campbell, Jacob Greenwood, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson.
Heathcote faces its long-time nemesis from North Bendigo at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
A Heathcote team coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, starts this round in eighth place on a tally of four defeats and a draw.
Best for the Saints in a nine-point loss at Elmore were Jackson Jones, Connor Hamilton, Ben Connelly and ruckman Aaron Gundry.
The Saints are likely to be without Jacques who injured an ankle in the third quarter at Elmore.
Heathcote’s squad includes Dylan Johnstone at full-forward, the skilful Zak Saad, Will Tobin, Codie Price, Daniel Johnstone and Jye Formosa.
The unbeaten North Bendigo will take a ruthless approach to this match.
The Rob Bennett and Ryan Hartley-coached Bulldogs have worked hard the past two rounds to defeat Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin.
There’s also the fight for players to hold their place in the team.
The Bulldogs have a strong attack that includes Cody Riddick, Sam Dean, Dylan Klemm and Darcy Richards.
Plenty of options for midfield and on-ball roles as North Bendigo has Nic Waterson, Ryan Hartley, Harrison Jarvie, Riley Paetow, Callum Tardrew and Nathan Newlan in the line-up.
Rd 7 at 230
Colbo v WH
Colbinabbin will be back home at M.J. Morgan Oval to take on the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin will have learnt a lot from the 22-point loss at North Bendigo last Saturday.
Best for the Grasshoppers against the Bulldogs were Toby Howlett, Clint Shields, Nathan Basile and Jude Ryan.
In five matches, gun forward Brandyn Grenfell has kicked 16 goals with his best being 10 against Elmore in the fifth round.
Grenfell will be aiming to capitalise on the Grasshoppers’ work through midfield in this match.
The team in green and gold includes Isaac Carracher, captain Will Lowe, Julian Bull, Nick Knight, Alex Van Ruiswyk, Jai Carn and Sam Ryan.
White Hills marked its best performance of the season in a 87-67 loss at home to Mount Pleasant last round.
Best for the Demons against the Blues were ruckman Jack Lawton, co-coach Ben Taylor, Cohen Kekich and Josh Dwyer.
The White Hills squad which has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach includes Mitch Dole, Seth Boyd, Patrick Crawford, Patrick Eefting and Nic Wallace.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 215 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 187, 20; Colbinabbin 179, 16; Huntly 92, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 87, 10; Elmore 77, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 71, 8; Heathcote 67, 2; White Hills 42, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
25 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
21 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
17 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
16 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
16 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
15 James Harney, Elmore.
14 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
12 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
12 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
11 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
11 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
11 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
10 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
10 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.