MOUNT Pleasant will aim to end White Hills winning run in this Saturday’s sixth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s senior footy action.
The Mounts line-up faces a huge task in the Demons den at Tint-A-Car Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
A massive plus for the Blues is the inclusion of 2019 Michelsen medallist and gun onballer Adam Baird who was lured from Golden Square to Toolleen as a co-coach.
Baird and Darren Walsh will have spent plenty of time planning ways to halt the red-hot Demons who scored a 32-point victory in their hit-out on Colbinabbin’s turf at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
A five-goal victory for Mounts in last Saturday’s home game against Leitchville Gunbower has put the Blues in fifth place.
Ben Weightman kicked six goals in a best on ground performance and looms as a major danger to the White Hills defence, as does Bryce Hinneberg.
A key for Mounts will be through the midfield where Adam Baird, Liam Collins and Billy Mahony will strive to win plenty of the footy and also not allow the Demons to attack with ease.
White Hills ruckman Lachlan Sidebottom, ruck-rover Patrick Eefting, coach Sam Kerridge and Kaiden Skelton are in superb form.
Mount Pleasant key defenders Dale Young, Mitch Bennett and Travis Baird will play crucial roles against Jed Lamb, Lachlan Collihole and Mitch Dole.
A tally of 17 goals in his past two hit-outs has Lamb well clear of rivals in the league goalkicking race on 28 in five matches.
A talented White Hills attack includes Marc Millard and Jake Allport.
North Bendigo is back at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to face Colbinabbin.
The Bulldogs had to work hard to score an 11-point win at Heathcote last round.
Key forward Dylan Klemm is in top form, and North Bendigo gun recruit Koe Ngawati marked his best game for the club against the Saints.
The Bulldogs regain Ryan Alford who had played 173 consecutive matches until a hand injury forced him to be sidelined for the past two games.
Classy onballer Harry O’Meara is back, along with Ryan Gow and Bailey Wingrave.
Players to watch for the Bulldogs include Shane Harris at full-forward, Aaryn Craig, Tom Metherell, Jordan Ford and Storm Giri.
Limiting turnovers will be a goal for the Colbinabbin line-up.
The Grasshoppers worked hard against White Hills, but some disposal errors when under little pressure proved costly.
Jed Brain kicked three goals in Colbo’s latest clash and will test the North Bendigo defence.
On-baller Ben Southam racked up more than 40 possessions against the Demons and is in hot form, while Hadleigh and Lochlan Sirett are quality ruckmen-forwards.
In-form players for Colbo include experienced defender Nick Knight, Barton and James Lawless.
Key forward Ryan Hon is also back in attack.
The Grasshoppers will be without Joseph Barlow, Tom Hill, Matt Riordan and Sammy Vale for this big game.
Leitchville Gunbower and Elmore clash at Degroot Roof Painting Oval in Leitchville.
The Bombers worked hard on Mount Pleasant’s turf at Toolleen and now take on an Elmore line-up with sights on back-to-back wins.
Key players for Leitchville Gunbower include ruckman Lee Pollock, Matt and Nathan McLellan, Tom and Will Brereton, Hoby Bussey at full-back, and Ayden Walton at full-forward.
The Dylan Friedberger-coached Elmore will be confident of taking the points after a hard-fought one-point win at home against Huntly.
The Bloods’ midfield is strengthened by the inclusion of Jarrod Stokes from the Darwin Buffaloes.
Other inclusions for Elmore are Adam Hodor at half-forward, Farran Priest as rover, and Matt Nettlefold in attack.
Switched to attack, Ben Makepeace kicked five goals in Elmore’s victory as James Harney and Ian Fuller also capitalised on chances.
Those to star in the Bloods’ long-awaited victory were Zack Holmberg, Lachlan McKenzie, James Harney, Mitch Cricelli, Fuller and Nic Kellow.
Huntly tackles Lockington Bamawm United at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval in Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
It’s a daunting task for the Hawks who are on the rebound from a defeat at Elmore to now face the unbeaten Cats who have been refreshed by the bye.
The play of Luke and Ryan Semmel as rover and centre, Tyler Miles, Brandon Dimech at centre half-back, Jaydon Cowling, and Jay McDonald at half-back will be vital for the Stacy Fiske-coached Huntly.
The Hawks go into this match with Fiske back on the sidelines.
A powerful LBU line-up includes Lachy Collins in the centre, Tom Holman and Patrick Gardiner in attack, ruckman Liam Main, and defence led by Brodie Collins, Jesse Collins and Rhys Woodland.
Heathcote has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 283 per cent, 20 points; Lockington Bamawm United 282, 16; Colbinabbin 146, 12; North Bendigo 104, 12; Mount Pleasant 97, 8; Huntly 88, 8; Heathcote 81, 4; Elmore 44, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 37, 0.
Written by Nathan Dole