-By Nathan Dole
ELMORE will target a hat-trick of wins when it tackles Leitchville Gunbower in Saturday’s eighth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Bloods are back on their turf at Elmore to take on the Bombers in a clash crucial for the top-five hopes of both clubs.
The match starts at 2.30pm.
Wins in the past two rounds against Heathcote and Lockington Bamawm United have put Elmore on the fifth rung of the ladder.
It’s been almost a decade since Elmore won three in a row in the league’s senior footy action.
A three-four record has the Bloods in fifth place, but just two points in front of the Bombers.
Key factor in Elmore’s streak is the number of goalkickers.
There were eight players who kicked at least one goal in Elmore’s win at Lockington.
Key players for the Bloods include James and Joseph Harney, captain Rhys Holmberg, Liam Bianco, Lachie Gawel, captain Rhys Holmberg, and coach Nathan Kay.
Elmore also has Matt O’Dwyer and Phil Smith who have brought their experience from being on AFL/VFL lists to the club.
Both have played pivotal roles for the red and white.
Runner-up last season, Leitchville Gunbower has plenty to play for.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers had the bye last round.
Previous two hit-outs were a 10-goal win against Lockington Bamawm United and then a brilliant final quarter fightback to draw the match at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
The Bombers’ squad to play Elmore includes co-captains Tom Brereton and Josh Hawken, Max Hagan, Austin Windridge, Billy Hawken, Joel Donehue and Brady Hore.
Last season’s Cheatley medallist as league fairest and best, Jobee Warde’s tapwork and marking skills are superb.
Heat will be high as the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons and Heathcote strive to end their winless run.
The Demons are 0-6 and the Saints have drawn just one match so far.
Both were well beaten last round by Colbinabbin and North Bendigo respectively.
It was a tough afternoon for White Hills as it was held to a tally of two goals on Colbinabbin’s ground at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Saints were on the end of a 25-goal drubbing from North Bendigo at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The White Hills squad includes Patrick Crawford, Mitch Dole, Patrick Eefting, Jack Lawton, Jake Dickens, Isaac Tzouroutis and coach Ben Taylor.
The Demons also have Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
In-form players for Heathcote are Jackson Jones, Codie Price, Connor Hamilton and Will Tobin.
The Saints have Dylan Johnstone and Zak Saad as key targets in attack.
Heathcote is jointly coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks face a huge challenge against Colbinabbin at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Hawks are up against a team which has the least amount of points against.
A Huntly attack that includes Sam Dunstan, Lachy Wilson, Jacob Greenwood and Abe Sladden will test Colbinabbin’s defence.
At the other end of the field, Colbinabbin has Brandyn Grenfell, Alex Carr, Clint Shields and Nick Knight to cap off attacks.
The on-ball duels will be a highlight.
Huntly has Nathan Dunstan, Steve Kairn and Harrison Campbell to take on Julian Bull, Sam Coughlin and Toby Howlett.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks will rely a lot on the defensive play of Mitch Billings, Flynn Campbell and Darby Walsh.
In Colbinabbin’s defence, Connor Aldous will be keen to perform well after switching from Huntly’s brown and gold to Colbinabbin’s green and gold in ’23.
It’s the clash of the Bulldogs and Cats as North Bendigo meets Lockington Bamawm United at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
There have been many outstanding contributors in North Bendigo’s unbeaten run.
Players to watch include on-baller Harrison Jarvie, wingmen Riley Paetow and Nic Waterson, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, and playing co-coach Ryan Hartley.
A powerful attack for the Bulldogs includes Sam Dean, Dylan Klemm, Darcy Richards and Cody Riddick.
A two-four record has the LBU Cats in seventh place, but just a win behind the fifth-placed Elmore.
The Cats have played some brilliant quarters, but also battled in others.
Greater consistency across the match will be crucial to LBU’s chances of an upset on the Bulldogs’ turf.
Key players for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU include captain Brodie Collins in the centre, Stuart Taylor, Matt Hore, ruckman Tyler Phillips, Jack Reiter, Bowden Stone and Matt Butler.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 248 per cent, 24 points; Colbinabbin 218, 20; Mount Pleasant 171, 20; Huntly 94, 16; Elmore 81, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 87, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 8; Heathcote 54, 2; White Hills 37, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
29 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
24 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
23 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
23 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
19 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
18 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
16 James Harney, Elmore.
16 Brodie-Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
15 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
14 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
14 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
13 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
11 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
11 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
10 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
10 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
10 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
10 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
9 Nathan Kay, Elmore.