IT’S another round in the Bulldogs and Cats fight as North Bendigo faces Lockington Bamawm United in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
Fifth tackles third at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 2.20pm.
It’s a crucial match for both clubs who are separated by two points.
When these clubs met in round one the Jayden Howe-coached LBU Cats clawed their way to a 64-60 victory.
Both take winning form into this match.
North Bendigo won last Saturday’s home game against Huntly by 58 points as Lockington Bamawm Untied won in Elmore by 46 points.
A Bulldogs’ attack which includes Dylan Klemm, Cody Riddick and Jake Dean will test LBU defenders Riley Carr, Marcus Angove and Cooper Mitchell.
A highlight will be the ruck contests where Jordan Hargreaves takes on Tyler Phillips, a triple winner of the Sam Cheatley medal as league fairest and best.
The Bulldogs welcome back on-baller Ryan Gillingham for his first match of the season.
A strong squad for North Bendigo which is coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, includes Bailey Cain, Jordan Ford, Riley Paetow and Darcy Richards.
In-form players for LBU are Patrick Keele, Nick Smart, Bowden Stone and Jesse Collins.
The Cats also have Charlie Hinks, Jeremy Mundie, Jack O’Callaghan and Stuart Taylor capable of winning many contests and possessions.
Another big match will be at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant hosts Leitchville Gunbower.
An unbeaten run for Mounts includes draws on home turf against North Bendigo and Heathcote.
Five points separated the Blues and Bombers when Mounts won at Gunbower in the first round.
A Mount Pleasant team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, has plenty of running power and skill.
Premiership-winning captain and ruckman Chris Down returns to the Blues’ senior team after playing six matches in the reserves.
In pursuit of back-to-back premierhips, Mount Pleasant has key defender William Wallace, rover Jack Hickman, Xavier Carter, and gun forward Ben Weightman leading the charge.
Mount Pleasant’s squad to tackle the Bombers includes Mitch Bennett, Seb Greene, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Brodie Montague and Deklan Wille.
A win-loss record of five-three has put Leitchville Gunbower in fourth place.
The Joel Donehue-coached Bombers won their latest hit-out at White Hills by 13 points.
Ryan Allan and Billy Hawken capped off plenty of attacks with five goals each and will test the Mounts defence.
The Bombers are also chasing a fourth win in a row following victories against Elmore, North Bendigo and White Hills.
A talented LG squad includes James Brereton, Nic Cattapan, Blake and Jack Dye, Charles Hancock, Jye Keath and Matt McLellan.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks take on White Hills at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
In round one it was White Hills which beat the Hawks by two goals.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks have reached the halfway mark of the season in eighth place on a one-seven record.
Hawks’ eyes are on not being beaten by the Demons for a second time in ’26.
Players to watch for Huntly include ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Lachy Wilson and San Dunstan in attack, Will Lee, Stefan Pye and Joseph Artavilla.
White Hills took it right up to Leitchville Gunbower last round.
The Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons led 50-44 at half-time.
By the final siren the LG team led by 13 points.
Key match-ups for the Demons against the Hawks include Jack Lawton in the ruck against Nathan Dunstan, Seth Boyd roving against Todd Stevenson, and Doolan Nihill in the centre opposed to Huntly captain Steve Kairn.
In attack the Demons will look to Patrick Conlan, Mitch Dole, Cohen Kekich and Lachlan Martin.
Big roles will be played by Patrick Crawford and Ben Irvine in defence for White Hills.
After a bye, Colbinabbin is back on home turf at M.J. Morgan Oval to play Elmore.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers are second in the premiership race.
In round one Colbinabbin fought for a 15-point win in Elmore.
Best for Colbinabbin in its latest victory at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval were Aidan Basile, Will Le Deux, Alex Carr and Connor Aldous.
A strong line-up in green and gold includes Laine Fitzgerald, Brandyn Grenfell, Jasper McArdle, Tanner Nally and Alex Van Ruiswyk.
Huge challenge for Elmore to limit Colbinabbin’s attacking flair across four quarters.
The Luke Freeman-coached Bloods again rued some lapses in last Saturday’s loss to Lockington Bamawm United.
Best in Elmore’s latest hit-out were Peter Rothacker, Ashton Sinn, Lachie Gawel, Darcy Irwin, James Harney and Ethan Sinn.
The Bloods’ attack was led by Lachie Gawel on five goals as James Harney added four.
Heathcote has the bye
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 139 per cent, 28 points; Colbinabbin 136, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 99, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 20; North Bendigo 142, 18; Heathcote 107, 18; White Hills 66, 8; Huntly 82, 4; Elmore 62, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
33 Ben Weightman, MP.
29 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
23 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
22 Sam Dunstan, Huntly; Dylan Klemm, NB; Sean Williams, H’cote.
19 Cody Riddick, NB.
17 Ryan Allan, LG; James Harney, E.
16 Blake Dye, LG; Brayden Hull, LBU; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
15 Jake Thompson, WH.
14 Lachie Gawel, E.
13 Alex Carr.
12 Jake Dean, NB; Ryan Hartley, NB; Billy Hawken, LG; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
In the netball………HEAT’S rising in the race for a top-five berth in this Saturday’s 10th round of A-grade netball across the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL competition.
It’s a crucial day for the North Bendigo Bulldogs, Lockington Bamawm United Cats, and Harlowe Huntly Hawks as the second half of the home-and-away series tips off.
Fourth and sixth on the ladder, North Bendigo and LBU will play on the Bulldogs’ court at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 2.30pm.
Both teams take winning form into this contest.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo fought on for a 44-42 victory at home against Huntly last Saturday.
Lockington Bamawm United upset Elmore on the Bloods’ court at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
The Stacy Bacon-coached LBU won 57-51.
The Cats jumped above Elmore on the ladder and are now six points behind the fifth-placed Huntly.
Big test for Huntly this Saturday as the Hawks host White Hills at Strauch Reserve.
As the Hawks aim to rebound from defeat they face an opponent which is in hot form.
Latest hit-out for White Hills on its court in Scott Street ended in a 69-32 victory against Leitchville Gunbower.
The athleticism and slick passing of several players in the Elley Lawton-coached White Hills line-up will test the Hawks.
A Huntly team jointly coached by Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock has scored 3 ½ wins in this season’s race.
Colbinabbin marks its return to the court when it hosts Elmore at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Jen Wilson-coached Colbinabbin which had the bye last round will start hot favourite to keep its unbeaten run rolling.
Huge challenge for the Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore against the reigning premier.
Mount Pleasant and Leitchville Gunbower meet in the battle of the Blues and Bombers in Toolleen.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant dominated last Saturday’s home game against Heathcote to win by 36 goals.
Runner-up last season, Mount Pleasant is on track for a top-three finish and double chance at finals time.
The Katie Pollock-coached Bombers will be striving to raise the defensive pressure against a skilful opponent.
Heathcote has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 222 per cent, 32 points; Mount Pleasant 185, 28; White Hills 130, 24; North Bendigo 87, 16; Huntly 81, 14; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 8; Elmore 74, 8; Heathcote 67, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 61, 6.