NORTH Bendigo captain Aarryn Craig hits the 300-game mark in this Saturday’s round 15 clash with Mount Pleasant in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
Craig will lead the Bulldogs on to their turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street for a 2.20pm showdown with the ladder-leading Blues.
A triple premiership player, Craig is a dual winner of the club’s best and fairest award.
It’s a rematch of the ’25 grand final which was won by Mount Pleasant.
When these clubs met in round six it was 90-all when the final siren sounded at Toolleen.
The Bulldogs and Blues are in great form.
North Bendigo marked a 16-goal win at White Hills last Saturday as Mounts won its home game against Elmore by 101 points.
On-ball duels will be crucial to the fortunes of the Bulldogs and Blues.
North Bendigo has Jordan Hargreaves, co-coach Ryan Hartley, Ryan Gillingham and Harrison Jarvie to take on Mitch Bennett, Jack Hickman, Alex Wharton, and co-coach Josh Hann.
A strong Bulldogs’ attack led by Dylan Klemm, Jordan Ford, Jake Dean and Cody Riddick will be up against William Wallace, Deklan Wille, Jett Nicholas and Bryce Hinneberg.
It’s another big test for North Bendigo defenders Hamish McCartney, Dominic Makur, Matt Gray and Billy Robertson against Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Joel Wharton, Nick Butler and Nathan Kay.
Another important match will be at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval where the Grasshoppers take on Leitchville Gunbower.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin is on the rebound from a 23-point loss to Heathcote.
A 40-point win by Leitchville Gunbower against Lockington Bamawm United in Leitchville put the Bombers on the fifth rung.
Back in round six it was Colbinabbin which claimed a 45-point win in Gunbower.
Key match-ups this time include Jye Keath against Colbo’s gun forward Brandyn Grenfell, Matt McLellan against Alex Carr, Nic Cattapan in the centre against Laine Fitzgerald.
The Joel Donehue-coached Bombers have Blake and Jack Dye, James Brereton and Austin Windridge to test Colbinabbin defenders Toby Howlett, Josh Smithson, Connor Aldous and Alex Van Ruiswyk.
LG has Darcy Elliott, Billy Hawken and Charles Hancock to face Matt Riordan, Jude Ryan and Isaac Carrach in the on-ball duels.
Lockington Bamawm United will be desperate to take the points in its home game against Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU starts this round level on points with Leitchville Gunbower.
In round six the Cats won 78-55 in the Hawks’ nest at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Although it’s on a four-eight record the Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly is not out of the finals race.
A key match-up for LBU will be in defence where Cooper Mitchell was named at full-back against the in-form Sam Dunstan.
Cats’ on-ballers Tyler Phillips, Jack O’Callaghan and Bowden Stone will take on Nathan Dunstan, Darby Walsh and Todd Stevenson.
An LBU attack which includes Charlie Hinks, Jesse Collins and Brayden Hull faces a big test against Will Lee, Brodie Fry and Mitch Billings.
Elmore will be back on its turf to play the in-form Heathcote.
In round six the Saints scored a 29-point win against the Bloods at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
The Luke Freeman-coached Elmore will be fired up after being held to a tally of two goals at Mount Pleasant last round.
Since a 50-point loss at North Bendigo in round seven the Heathcote line-up has gone on an unbeaten streak of six matches.
Elmore’s squad to take on the Saints includes Matt Filo, Lachie Gawel, captain Rhys Holmberg, Matt O’Dwyer, Kynan Sharpe, and Hayden and Jack Trewick.
A powerful attack for Heathcote is led by Dylan Johnstone and Sean Williams.
In-form players for a Saints’ team coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, include Justin Bateson, Hugh Freckleton, Codie Price, Stefan Rasinac, Will Tobin and Dillon Williams.
White Hills has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 146 per cent, 44 points; North Bendigo 165, 34; Heathcote 113, 34; Colbinabbin 119, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 94, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 85, 24; Huntly 101, 16; White Hills 62, 8; Elmore 57, 8.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
44 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
42 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
39 Ben Weightman, MP.
37 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
30 Sean Williams, H’cote.
27 Alex Carr, C; Blake Dye, LG; Cody Riddick, NB.
26 Dylan Klemm, NB.
23 James Harney, Elm.
21 Ryan Hartley, NB.
20 Jake Dean, NB; Jordan Ford, NB; Jake Thompson, WH.
19 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; Lachie Gawel, E; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
17 Jack Dye, LG; Abe Sladden, Huntly.
In the netball action…..ELMORE will be aiming to turn up the pressure on North Bendigo by winning this Saturday’s round 15 match in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball action.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore will be on its court to play Heathcote from 2.30pm.
As the Bloods start favourite against the Saints it’s a much tougher prospect for North Bendigo against Mount Pleasant.
Elmore starts this round in sixth place, a win and more than 17 per cent behind North Bendigo.
The Bloods are on the rebound from a 39-goal loss to Mount Pleasant, but will be confident of taking the points against Heathcote.
Back in round six Elmore won a great match in Heathcote’s Pigeon Park by two goals.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo has a five-seven record rolling into its showdown with the Blues.
Runner-up last season, Mount Pleasant scored a 31-goal win against the Bulldogs at Toolleen in round six.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues are likely to have too much running power and skill through mid-court and attack for the red, white and blue across four quarters.
First of the A-grade matches on Saturday will be at 1.30pm when Lockington Bamawm United faces Huntly at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Stacy Bacon-coached LBU Cats were beaten by six goals at Leitchville last Saturday as Huntly had the bye.
It was a 10-goal margin when Huntly met LBU in round six at Strauch Reserve.
A Huntly team coached by Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock is fourth in a season where it has 5 ½ wins.
Colbinabbin will be on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval to play Leitchville Gunbower.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers are in superb form as they pursue back-to-back premierships.
Latest hit-out for Colbinabbin ended in a 76-13 victory on Heathcote’s court.
The Katie Pollock-coached LG Bombers will have gained plenty of confidence from last Saturday’s win against the LBU Cats.
White Hills has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 213 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 188, 44; White Hills 114, 36; Huntly 86, 22; North Bendigo 89, 20; Elmore, 71, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 63, 14; Lockington Bamawm United 73, 12; Heathcote 64 ,8.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 14 rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 132 per cent, 44 points; Mount Pleasant 197, 42; Huntly 130, 36; White Hills 122, 36; North Bendigo 127, 30; Leitchville Gunbower 76, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 61, 8; Heathcote 53, 8; Elmore 59, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 169 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 136, 38; Heathcote 100, 32; Huntly 111.5, 30; Leitchville Gunbower 111.1, 30; Colbinabbin 88, 14; North Bendigo 82, 14; Elmore 65, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 60, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 173 per cent, 44 points; Lockington Bamawm United 167, 44; White Hills 151, 44; Mount Pleasant 106, 32; Heathcote 108, 24; North Bendigo 108, 20; Elmore 95, 12; Colbinabbin 42, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 166 per cent, 52 points; White Hills 181, 48; Lockington Bamawm United 139, 36; Leitchville Gunbower 100, 24; Elmore 82, 22; Huntly 86, 18; Heathcote 76, 14; Colbinabbin 59, 10; North Bendigo 54, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 192 per cent, 48 points; Lockington Bamawm United 169, 48; Mount Pleasant 105, 28; Colbinabbin 102, 28; Heathcote 97, 26; Leitchville Gunbower 82, 18; Elmore 81, 18; Huntly 58, 6; North Bendigo 50, 4.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 210 per cent, 48 points; Leitchville Gunbower 296, 44; Colbinabbin 138, 36; Mount Pleasant 128, 32; Elmore 92, 24; Huntly 81, 22; North Bendigo 76, 14; White Hills 55, 4; Heathcote 15, 0.