A STRING of senior footy premierships is what Mount Pleasant has achieved many times across the history of the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL.
Mounts will be aiming to stay on top of the mountain when it tackles North Bendigo in Saturday’s grand final at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve from 2.20pm.
The Blues’ team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, is chasing back-to-back premierships and the 22nd in a remarkable run of success.
A year ago Mount Pleasant beat North Bendigo in the decider by five points.
To earn another crack at a fourth premiership in the Heathcote DFNL has driven a North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, in the 80th year of the club’s history.
The Blues and Bulldogs have played out many thrillers in recent seasons.
In the rematch of the ’25 grand finalists in round six it was a 90-all draw on Mount Pleasant’s turf in Toolleen.
North Bendigo marked a seven-point victory against the Blues at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street in the 15th round.
It’s been a contrasting run for both teams in the finals series.
Mount Pleasant scored a 112-90 win against Colbinabbin in the second semi-final in White Hills.
After a 74-53 loss to Colbinabbin in the qualifying final at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park the Bulldogs bounced back for a 94-86 win against Lockington Bamawm United in the first semi at Toolleen.
A three-goal win against Colbinabbin in the preliminary final put the Bulldogs into another decider.
At selection, Mount Pleasant regained gun forward Ben Weightman who did not play in the second semi-final because of a leg concern.
Weightman has kicked 51 goals in 12 matches.
The hard-luck story is Joey Bell who is out of the Blues’ team because of injury.
It’s an unchanged team for North Bendigo.
There will be many exciting match-ups across the field.
Mount Pleasant ruckman Chris Down teams up with Xavier Carter, Jack Hickman and co-captain Caelan Smith to take on Jordan Hargreaves, Ryan Gillingham, Liam Dillon and Ryan Hartley.
In attack it’s Ben Weightman, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Nathan Kay and Joel Wharton up against Will Gilmore, Darcy Richards, captain Aarryn Craig and Hamish McCartney.
A strong defence for Mount Pleasant is brilliantly led by William Wallace, Deklan Wille, Jett Nicholas and Bryce Hinneberg.
The marking power of Bulldogs’ forwards Dylan Klemm, Jake Dean, Jordan Ford and Cody Riddick will test the Blues.
Mounts’ has the running strength of Brodie Montague, Jaxson Nihill, Oliver Bish and Alex Wharton.
The experience of Nic Waterson, Matt Gray and Storm Giri is a huge plus for the red, white and blue.
Mount Pleasant:
B: Sam Greene, William Wallace, Seb Greene.
Hb: Bryce Hinneberg, Jett Nicholas, Deklan Wille.
C: Jaxson Nihill, Caelan Smith, Alex Wharton.
Hf: Josh Hann, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Joel Wharton.
F: Mitch Bennett, Ben Weightman, Nathan Kay.
Foll: Chris Down, Xavier Carter, Jack Hickman.
Inter: Oliver Bish, Hugo Gibson, Brodie Montague, Michael Whiting.
Coaches: Josh Hann, playing; Cam Carter, non-playing.
North Bendigo:
B: Storm Giri, Jordan Ford, Bailey Cain.
Hb: Ryan Gillingham, Matt Gray, Harrison Jarvie.
C: Aarryn Craig, Ryan Hartley, Cody Riddick.
Hf: Nic Waterson, Jake Dean, Jesse Clark.
F: Will Gilmore, Darcy Richards, Dylan Klemm.
Foll: Jordan Hargreaves, Billy Robertson, Liam Dillon.
Inter: Will Bennett, Hamish McCartney, Riley Paetow, Jett Grundy.
Coaches: Rob Bennett, non-playing; Ryan Hartley, playing.
In the reserves competition, North Bendigo will be aiming to cap an unbeaten run when it plays Lockington Bamawm United from 12.05pm.
These teams met in the second semi-final which went the way of the Bulldogs, 65-43 in White Hills.
The Cats kicked off their campaign with a 39-point win against Huntly, took on North Bendigo, and then hit back for a five-point victory against Huntly in the preliminary final.
North Bendigo won the first round match at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval by 15 points.
The Bulldogs won by 22 points at home in the 10th round.
Key players for North Bendigo include Ryan Alford, Noah Filo, Dominic Makur, Billy Meade, Nathan Newlan, Austin Robinson, Bailey Wingrave and captain Jack Towers.
The LBU team includes Brodie Collins, Jeremy Felmingham, Jacob Haines, Henry Peris, Bart Phillips, Luke Saligari, James Yosiffidis, and captain Paul van der Sluys.
Mount Pleasant takes on Lockington Bamawm United in the under-18s clash from 10.05am.
These teams met in the qualifying final where Mounts beat LBU by 12 points at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
A week later and the Blues beat the ladder-leading White Hills in the second semi by nine points.
The Cats charged to a 10-goal win against Huntly in the first semi at Toolleen.
Lockington Bamawm United dominated the preliminary final against White Hills to win by 56 points.
A Mount Pleasant team led by James Matthews, captain, and co vice-captains Ed Harrop and Bailey Holland includes Griffin O’Shea, Cade McKay, James Balic, Ned Browell, Sonny Cluff and Raphael Perez.
LBU co-captains James Brentnall, Harrison Keele and Nicholas Mitchell will be aiming to raise the cup.
The play of Ted Voss, Flynn Carr, Campbell Keele, William Walshe, Jack Alberni, Axel Dixon and Harrison Condliffe is likely to have a major bearing on LBU’s young guns doing so.
Grand final action kicks off at 8.30am with the under-15s match between Leitchville Gunbower and Lockington Bamawm United.
The LG Bombers were beaten once in the home-and-away series as the Cats finished on a 10-4 record.
Leitchville Gunbower won at Lockington in round five by 32 points.
The Bombers beat LBU at Elmore by 14 points in round nine.
It was 10 points the difference in round 14 as LG won 41-31 at Leitchville.
The grand finalists played at Leitchville in round 18 where the hosts won by 16 points.
Day one of the finals was in Heathcote where LBU scored a 17-point victory against Rebels in the qualifying final.
A week later and Leitchville Gunbower won the second semi against LBU by 10 points as Bayly Young, Jax Hare, Hugh Ralston, Oli Fletcher, Zane Tuohey and Jack Ridge were best for the Bombers.
LBU hit back to win the preliminary final against Heathcote by 14 points as Hayden Keele, Kiefer Haines, Cody Isherwood, Paddy Keene, Cody Cook and Logan O’Meara starred.
Mount Pleasant’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 73-68 v Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower.
Rd 2: 105-60 v Huntly at home, Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
Rd 3: 113-54 v Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.
Rd 4: 99-81 v Colbinabbin, home.
Rd 5: 99-42 at Elmore.
Rd 6: 90-90 v North Bendigo, home.
Rd 7: 135-88 at White Hills.
Rd 8: bye.
Rd 9: 98-98 v Heathcote, home.
Rd 10: 88-70 v Leitchville Gunbower, home.
Rd 11: 31-73 at Huntly.
Rd 12: 97-41 v Lockington Bamawm United, home.
Rd 13: 92-61 v Colbinabbin at Colbinabbin.
Rd 14: 117-16 v Elmore, home.
Rd 15: 94-101 at North Bendigo.
Rd 16: 144-71 v White Hills, home.
Rd 17: bye.
Rd 18: 102-51 at Heathcote.
Second semi-final: 112-90 v Colbinabbin at White Hills.
North Bendigo’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 60-64 v Lockington Bamawm United at Nichol Trading Oval, Lockington.
Rd 2: 90-95 v Colbinabbin at Bendigo Club Oval, Atkins Street, North Bendigo.
Rd 3: 103-63 v Elmore at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Rd 4: bye.
Rd 5: 160-47 v White Hills, home.
Rd 6: 90-90 v Mount Pleasant at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
Rd 7: 138-88 v Heathcote, home.
Rd 8: 68-75 v Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower Recreation Reserve.
Rd 9: 114-56 v Huntly, home.
Rd 10: 117-53 v Lockington Bamawm United, home.
Rd 11: 97-66 v Colbinabbin at M.J. Morgan Oval, Colbinabbin.
Rd 12: 143-56 v Elmore, home.
Rd 13: bye.
Rd 14: 145-49 v White Hills at Scott Street Oval, White Hills.
Rd 15: 101-94 v Mount Pleasant, home.
Rd 16: 119-81 v Heathcote at Pigeon Park, Barrack Reserve.
Rd 17: 159-46 v Leitchville Gunbower, home.
Rd 18: 87-28 v Huntly at Strauch Reserve.
Qualifying final: 53-74 v Colbinabbin at Pigeon Park, Barrack Reserve.
First semi-final: 94-86 v Lockington Bamawm United at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
Preliminary final: 72-54 v Colbinabbin at Strauch Reserve, Huntly.
In the netball action…….COLBINABBIN will be chasing back-to-back A-grade premiership cup wins when it meets Mount Pleasant in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL grand final in Huntly on Saturday.
The Grasshoppers and Blues take to court one at Strauch Reserve at 2.30pm.
Unbeaten in its run to premiership glory last year, Colbinabbin is striving to repeat the feat.
The Jen Wilson-coached Grasshoppers start hot favourite against an opponent it has beaten by margins of 12, 10 and 19 goals.
A powerful line-up in green and gold includes four-time Esther Cheatley medallist in Olivia McEvoy who claimed the league’s fairest and best again this season.
In mid-court, Colbinabbin has last season’s league medallist in Ella Kerlin.
The Grasshoppers’ line-up includes Ellie Cuttriss, Grace and Matilda McIntyre, and Tanzin Myers.
Mount Pleasant will be determined to bring plenty of heat from the first pass until the last.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues have the experience of goaler Kelsey Meade who crossed to Toolleen after multiple premiership wins with Sandhurst to be assistant coach.
Players to watch for Mount Pleasant include Emmie Banfield, Maggie Burke, Claudia Collins, Ivy Harrop and Maeve Tupper.
In A-reserve, Mount Pleasant takes on North Bendigo on court one from 1pm.
After finishing top of the ladder, Mount Pleasant won the second semi-final against Colbinabbin by 18 goals.
It’s a fourth match in a row for the Liz Taylor-coached North Bendigo which has won its way from the elimination final.
The run by the Bulldogs began with a 46-44 victory against White Hills in the elimination final and was followed by a 10-goal win against Huntly in the first semi, and nine-goal win against Colbinabbin in the preliminary final.
The Anthea McCleary and Keeley Jones-coached Mount Pleasant beat North Bendigo in the home-and-away series by 33 and 17 goals.
The Blues’ squad includes Meg Banfield, Carly Francis, Maisy Harrop, Ruby Loverso, Aishling Tupper, and Morgan Whatley.
Key players for North Bendigo include Zoe Di Camillo, Rebecca Cluff, Tayla Foster, Jasmine Kinder, Morgan McClellan, and Sharie St Clair.
White Hills takes on Mount Pleasant in the B-grade clash from 10am on court one.
The Rindy Sawyer and Annie Spear-coached White Hills had 14 wins, one draw and one loss in the run to the finals.
It was a 52-50 win for the Demons against Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final.
The Blues began the finals by winning the qualifying final against Huntly by three goals.
After defeat in the second semi the Carine Comer-coached Blues struck back for a 39-35 victory against Huntly in the preliminary final.
White Hills beat Mounts by 15 goals in round seven.
The Blues won a 44-43 thriller against the Demons in round 16 at Toolleen.
The White Hills squad includes Bronte Bowles, Hollie Davidson, Kylie Lamb, Piper Nally, Eliza O’Brien, and Ashlee Plant.
Mount Pleasant will look to Lara Bish, Georgie Eddy, Sarah Mannes, Kristy and Madalyn Nihill, and Jorja Whatley to lead the charge to victory.
It’s the clash of the Cats and Demons as Lockington Bamawm United faces White Hills in the B-reserve match on court one from 11.30am.
The grand finalists had identical records of 14-2 in the home-and-away series to finish first and third.
A LBU team coached by Anita Livsey won the second semi-final against Huntly by 17 goals.
After a five-goal loss to Huntly in the qualifying final the Karly O’Toole-coached White Hills has bounced back to beat Heathcote in the first semi and the Hawks in the preliminary final.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between LBU and White Hills.
The Cats scored a 57-41 win at White Hills in round two.
White Hills won at Lockington in the 11th round by a goals.
LBU’s squad includes Bridie Baker, Ruby Brentnall, Rebecca Dodd, Audrey Giorgianni, Meg Howlett and Michelle Stone.
White Hills will be led by captain Tannisha Murley as she teams with Ava Broderick, Alexia Carmichael, Shelby Goudge, Maddi Hart, and Emily McGavock.
The rising stars from White Hills and Mount Pleasant will contest the 17-and-under grand final from 8.30am on court one.
After a 16-nil run in the home-and-away series, Mount Pleasant was beaten by the Bronwyn McConnell-coached White Hills in the second semi-final by five goals.
The Kirsten Pollock-coached Blues bounced back for a 58-37 victory against Lockington Bamawm United in the preliminary final.
White Hills started the finals with a 19-goal win against LBU in the qualifying final.
The grand finalists first met in round seven where Mount Pleasant won 46-44 at the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
In round 16 the Blues won 52-36 at Toolleen.
The White Hills team includes captain Layla O’Brien, Katie Becker, Alice Coller, Imogen Frost-Thomas, Poppy Gladstone and Summer McConnell.
Players to watch for the Blues include Daisy Costello, Bella Lalor, Lannah Mayman, Tarli Nihill, Ellsie Tuohey and Lexie Walsh.
A big day for LBU and White Hills includes the 15-and-under teams on court two from 10am.
Both had 15-1 records in the run to the finals.
The Rebecca Eade-coached LBU won the qualifying final against Colbinabbin by 18 goals and a week later marked a 47-42 victory against White Hills in the second semi.
The Demons fired up for a 47-31 win against Colbinabbin in the preliminary final.
In round two the Cats won on the White Hills court by 10 goals.
A Demons’ team coached by Kristi Coller won at Lockington by 10 goals in the 11th round.
The LBU squad includes Riley Chambers, Haddie Christian, Kyla Collins, Keeley Major, Lottie Newth and Amalia Tamurini.
The team in red and black includes Ava Christiansen, Georgie Charlotte Coller, Milla Cooney, Ruby Hipwell, Belle Howes and Macey Wright.
It’s the Bombers against the Cats as Leitchville Gunbower and Lockington Bamawm United meet in the 13-and-under match on court two at 8.30am.
Although LBU finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder on a 15-1 record, Leitchville Gunbower has beaten the Cats in two of their three showdowns.
In round five it was the Bombers who won 22-18 at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Beth Howlett and Rebecca Eade-coached LBU hit back for a 20-16 victory at Leitchville in the 14th round.
After a 22-19 win against Mount Pleasant in the qualifying final, Leitchville Gunbower faced LBU in the second semi.
The Cara Pretty-coached Bombers won 28-26 to gain a week’s rest and be first to the grand final.
Lockington Bamawm United hit back for a 36-30 win in the preliminary final against Mount Pleasant.
The Leitchville Gunbower squad includes Frankie Dennis, Sophie Keating, Lilli and Zara McGillivray, Meg Quayle, Dottie Simmonds and Frankie Welch.
Marli Bloomfield, Harriet Giorgianni, Maiyah Hinck, Chloe McIntyre, Elsie Stevens and Liliana Tamburini will be among those aiming to claim Mount Pleasant’s first victory on grand final day.
Colbinabbin’s run to the A-grade grand final:
Rd 1: 71-35 at Elmore.
Rd 2: 57-30 at North Bendigo.
Rd 3: 62-35 v Elmore at Colbinabin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Rd 4: 68-56 v Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.
Rd 5: 87-24 v Heathcote, home.
Rd 6: 93-31 v Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower.
Rd 7: 91-20 v Huntly, home.
Rd 8: 87-46 v Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.
Rd 9: bye.
Rd 10: 71-27 v Elmore, home.
Rd 11: 68-51 v North Bendigo, home.
Rd 12: 80-36 at White Hills.
Rd 13: 63-53 v Mount Pleasant, home.
Rd 14: 76-13 at Heathcote.
Rd 15: 87-31 v Leitchville Gunbower, home.
Rd 16: 67-38 at Huntly.
Rd 17: 90-27 v Lockington Bamawm United, home.
Rd 18: bye.
2nd semi-final: 66-47 v Mount Pleasant at White Hills.
Mount Pleasant’s run to the A-grade grand final:
Rd 1: 83-24 v Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower.
Rd 2: 77-40 v Huntly at home, Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
Rd 3: 75-39 v Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.
Rd 4: 56-68 v Colbinabbin, home.
Rd 5: 85-25 at Elmore.
Rd 6: 57-26 v North Bendigo, home.
Rd 7: 51-43 at White Hills.
Rd 8: bye.
Rd 9: 68-32 v Heathcote, home.
Rd 10: 79-27 v Leitchville Gunbower, home.
Rd 11: 65-34 at Huntly.
Rd 12: 94-34 v Lockington Bamawm United, home.
Rd 13: 53-63 v Colbinabbin at Colbinabbin.
Rd 14: 64-25 v Elmore, home.
Rd 15: 65-31 at North Bendigo.
Rd 16: 58-44 v White Hills, home.
Rd 17: bye.
Rd 18: 112-20 at Heathcote.
Qualifying final: 74-32 v White Hills at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
Second semi-final: 47-66 v Colbinabbin at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Preliminary final: 61-39 v Elmore at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve:
17-and-under, court one at 8.30am: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
13-and-under, court two at 8.30am: Leitchville Gunbower v Lockington Bamawm United.
B-grade, court one at 10am: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under, court two at 10am: Lockington Bamawm United v White Hills.
B-reserve, court one at 11.30am: Lockington Bamawm United v White Hills.
A-reserve, court one at 1pm: Mount Pleasant v North Bendigo.
A-grade, court one at 2.30pm: Colbinabbin v Mount Pleasant.