-By Nathan Dole
MOUNT Pleasant kicked off the ’25 senior footy season by scoring a 114-point victory against Heathcote in Saturday’s first round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL action.
The Blues and Saints played at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval because of the hard surface at Mount Pleasant’s base in Toolleen.
Heathcote scored the first two goals of the contest, but from there it was a blue and white wave.
The Blues scored 26 goals as Heathcote added just another six.
By the final siren Mount Pleasant led 169-55.
There was plenty of emotion on and off-field just two days after the passing of Blues’ committee member and triple premiership player Adam Tuohey.
There was more than just the four premiership points at stake as the Cliff and Peter White Memorial Shield was up for grabs.
It’s a new-look coaching set-up for the Blues as Cam Carter is director of coaching, Josh Hann and Adam Baird are playing coaches.
Mounts led 50-18 at quarter-time and 84-35 by the long break.
The pressure and run did not let up as the Blues scored 7.3 and kept the Saints to a tally of two behinds in the third term.
Gun on-baller Jack Hickman, ruckman Chris Down, key defender William Wallace, Tyler McNamara and Reardon McIvor were best.
In attack it was the strong-marking Brodie Leonard-Shannon, six goals, and Mitch Bennett, four goals, who capitalised on their team’s dominance.
Aaron Gundry, Jackson Jones and Zak Saad kicked two goals each for the Saints.
Heathcote’s best were Codie Price, Aaron Gundry, Will Tobin, Oscar Keogh, Liam Jacques and Jackson Jones.
The Saints have Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, as co-coaches.
North Bendigo almost rued goalkicking inaccuracy as it fought on for an eight-point win against Elmore.
The Bulldogs doubled Elmore’s scoring shots in a 10.26 (86) to 12.6 (78) victory at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
The Nathan Kay-coached Elmore was on the verge of a huge upset in the final term, but it was the Bulldogs who clawed their way to the front.
Elmore won the first quarter, 26-25, before North Bendigo hit back to win the second term, 29-19.
A tally of 1.9 in the third term as the Bloods added 1.3 meant the Dogs led 69-54 going into the last.
Elmore scored four straight goals, but North’s score of 2.5 was enough to clinch victory.
Co-coach Ryan Hartley, Dylan Klemm and Cody Riddick kicked two goals each for the red, white and blue.
Elmore’s attack was led by James Harney on five goals as Liam Bianco chipped in with two.
Best for a Bulldogs line-up which has the experienced Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach were Jordan Hargreaves, Lachlan Ross, Harrison Jarvie, Liam Dillon, Jesse Clark and Nic Waterson.
Elmore’s best were former Brisbane Lion Phil Smith, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Rhys Holmberg, Nathan Kay, Liam Bianco and Jarrad Kyne.
Leitchville Gunbower won Saturday’s rematch of the ’24 grand final against Winslow White Hills Demons by 38 points.
The Bombers and Demons played in the den at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
A big day and night for White Hills included the unfurling of the ’24 senior, reserves and under-18s premiership flags.
In the senior footy, Leitchville Gunbower won an evenly fought first half, 32-29.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers slammed on eight goals in the third as the Demons added 3.3.
Led by the play of Chris Horman, Will Brereton and Josh Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower kicked on for a 96-58 result.
Billy Hawken led LG’s attack on five goals.
Demons’ captain Cohen Kekich kicked four majors.
Leitchville Gunbower’s best included Bryce Barnstable, Kyle Green and Jye Keath.
Best for White Hills were Jake Thompson, Ben Irvine, Jack Lawton, Nic Santas, Callum Stewart and Cohen Kekich.
The Demons are being coached by Ben Taylor, playing, and Brad McConnell, non-playing.
Lights shone brightly at Lockington as the first match for premiership points featured the LBU Cats against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
Jayden Howe marked his senior coaching debut as the LBU Cats won a top contest, 83-75.
LBU led 22-15 at quarter-time before scores were locked on 31-all at the main break.
In the third the Cats added 4.2 as Huntly scored 3.4.
Same scores were achieved by the teams in the last.
Thomas Leech and Jack Reiter kicked two goals each for Lockington Bamawm United.
Huntly’s attack was led by Sam Dunstan and Abe Sladden on four and three goals.
Best for LBU were ruckman Tyler Phillips, Jack O’Callaghan, Luke Saligari, Matt Hore, Thomas Leech and Lachlan Holthuisen.
Flynn Campbell, Dale Lowry, Steve Kairn, Mitch Billings and Abe Sladden played well for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks.
Colbinabbin had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior ladder:
Mount Pleasant 307 per cent, 4 points; Leitchville Gunbower 165, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 110, 4; North Bendigo 110, 4; Elmore 90.7, 0; Huntly 90.3, 0; White Hills 60, 0; Heathcote 32, 0; Colbinabbin 0,0.
Leading goalkickers:
6 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
5 James Harney, Elmore.
5 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
4 Mitchell Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
4 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
4 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
3 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
3 Caelan Smith, Mount Pleasant.
2 Liam Bianco, Elmore.
2 Seb Greene, Mount Pleasant.
2 Aaron Gundry, Heathcote.
2 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
2 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
2 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
2 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
2 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
2 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
2 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
2 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
2 Jesse Tuohey, Mount Pleasant.
There is no play across the Heathcote DFNL on the Easter holiday weekend.
Round two will be played on April 26 from 2.30pm.
On the rebound from defeat, Heathcote will be on home turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve against Colbinabbin.
Lockington Bamawm United tackles Mount Pleasant at Lockington Recreation Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower meets Huntly in the clash of the Bombers and Hawks at Leitchville Recreation Reserve.
It’s another night match to complete the round as Elmore hosts White Hills from 5.45pm.
North Bendigo has the bye.