NORTH Bendigo fought from five goals down of Saturday’s senior footy grand final clash with Mount Pleasant to win the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL premiership.
Being number one at the end of the 2026 season capped 80th year celebrations for the Bulldogs.
Midway through the second quarter it was the free-running Blues who had raced to a 40-11 lead at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Back-to-back goals lifted the confidence of a North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing.
Mounts replied through Ben Weightman in he 22nd minute.
A much-needed reply by the Bulldogs was set up by Liam Dillon’s strong tackle at centre half-forward to earn a free kick.
Dillon’s high kick was marked by the athletic Dylan Klemm who was then handed a 50-metre penalty to goal.
By half-time a Mount Pleasant team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, led 46-30.
The Blues turned up the heat in the early minutes of the third term.
Switched from defence to attack, Mount Pleasant co-captain William Wallace was among a string of handpasses with was capped with a running goal by co-captain Caelan Smith.
In the space of 13 minutes, North Bendigo slammed on five consecutive goals.
Klemm kick-started a memorable surge when he sprinted on to the ball in the goalsquare and soccered it through.
A pass by the skilful Riley Paetow was marked by Klemm to nail a set-shot in the 13th minute.
The Bulldogs won the ensuing centre break from which Klemm was freed for front-in contact in the marking contest.
Suddenly the margin was five points after Klemm’s goal.
When the hard-working Storm Giri on the run the Bulldogs were up 55-54 in the 18th minute.
Jordan Ford’s tackle near centre half-forward to earn a free kick was a sign of North Bendigo’s desperation.
Although Ford’s shot at goal fell short, Ryan Gillingham swopped on the ball after it had been punched from the pack to snap truly.
Faced with a 10-point deficit, Mount Pleasant had to respond and did so.
Wallace was pushed out in a marking contest and goaled from distance in the 24th minute.
The experienced Brodie Montague was free in the centre from which Xavier Carter took a contested mark.
Carter’s shot after the siren sounded went through as the Blues were back in front, 66-64.
Just over three minutes into the final term and the Bulldogs took the lead again when Cody Riddick’s sprint and diving mark was capped with a goal.
A curling shot by Blues’ key forward Brodie Leonard-Shannon from near the boundary line was one of the goals of the day.
A Montague handpass to Jack Hickman who charged through the centre and passed to Weightman resulted in his fourth goal as the Blues led 79-71 in the 10th minute.
Spurred on by the memory of last year’s five-point loss to Mounts in the grand final, North Bendigo’s players found plenty.
A handpass from Paetow was capped with a goal by Bulldogs’ co-coach Ryan Hartley.
From the centre ball-up Dillon was caught high in a contest.
Nic Waterson swooped on the advantage free kick and passed to the leading Ford who had his marking attempt spoilt by Michael Whiting.
It was Paetow again who bobbed up to crumb the ball and coolly passed to Klemm.
A fifth major by Klemm put the Bulldogs up 84-80.
After a series of behinds it was Klemm who again stepped up to slot the biggest goal of his career.
North Bendigo had won the ball at half-back and took the ball down the scoreboard wing.
A pass by co-coach Ryan Hartley was marked by Klemm on the boundary near the North Bendigo FNC supporters tent.
Cheered on by the parochial fans Klemm kicked from near the 50m arc to seal a memorable 92-81 victory and the AFL Victoria Medal as best afield.
Goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Dylan Klemm, six; Harrison Jarvie and Cody Riddick, two; Ryan Gillingham, Ryan Hartley and Storm Giri.
The Mounts’ attack was led by Ben Weightman on four goals as Leonard-Shannon added two.
Other goals for the Blues were kicked by Mitch Bennett, Xavier Carter, Bryce Hinneberg, Nathan Kay and William Wallace.
Best for the Bulldogs were Dylan Klemm, Ryan Gillingham, Nic Waterson, Jordan Ford, Matt Gray and Cody Riddick.
Mount Pleasant’s best were Josh Hann, Jack Hickman, Aaron Wharton, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Deklan Wille and Seb Greene.
The premiership medals were presented by North Bendigo legend Denise Bennett.
Among those to receive them were Denise’ son, Rob, and grandson, Will.
Mount Pleasant co-coach Josh Hann said the feeling was far different to the euphoria of victory a year earlier.
“We have built a great rivalry with North Bendigo and today added to that,” said Hann.
“This stings. We will come back bigger and better next year.”
Blues’ co-coach Cam Carter said the match was another great showcase for the league.
“It was a well-deserved win by North Bendigo. Congatulations to Rob and Ryan on how you led the group.”
In his post-match address in the winner’s rooms, Rob Bennett spoke about courage, persistence and self-belief.
“We have the utmost respect for Mount Pleasant on how they play and operate as a club,” Bennett said.
“I am so proud of all the players. Even when we were five goals down the heads did not drop. They kept working hard. I knew they had it in them to win this match.”
Bennett said Klemm’s ability to lift on grand final day was incredible.
“He kicked five goals in last year’s grand final and then followed up with an even greater match today.”
The experience of Jordan Ford, especially in the big moments to win a marking contest, lay a tackle, or knock the ball to a team-mate was outstanding.
There were 20 players who were part of last year’s grand final, with the inclusions being Will Bennett and Jett Grundy from what was the under-18s premiership team of ’25.
“The club is in a strong position,” Bennett said of a year in which the seniors and reserves were premier and runner-up, and many youngsters gained an insight in to what it takes to play at senior level.
Bennett also spoke about the strong support of the “Bulldog Army” which was there not just on grand final, but every match and every season.
“So many people are a part of this premiership.”
North Bendigo’s premiership team of 2026:
Aaryn Craig, captain; Will Bennett, Bailey Cain, Jesse Clark, Jake Dean, Liam Dillon, Jordan Ford, Ryan Gillingham, Will Gilmore, Storm Giri, Matt Gray, Jett Grundy, Jordan Hargreaves, Ryan Hartley, Harrison Jarvie, Dylan Klemm, Hamish McCartney, Riley Paetow, Darcy Richards, Cody Riddick, Billy Robertson, Nic Waterson.
It was a memorable day for Lockington Bamawm United which achieved a premiership trifecta.
The LBU Cats ended North Bendigo’s unbeaten run in the reserves to claim a 9.15 (69) to 8.6 (54) victory.
The pacy and skilful Jordan Cooper who was recruited by LBU from the Northern Territory earnt the AFL Victoria medal.
Captain James Brentnall kicked five goals and earnt the AFL Victoria medal as LBU’s under-18s marked a 80-42 win against Mount Pleasant.
Grand day final day kicked off with the inaugural under-15s decider which went the way of the LBU Cats, 57-35 against Leitchville Gunbower.
Kiefer Haines from LBU earnt the AFL Victoria medal.
In the netball……..COLBINBABBIN had to overcome a spirited challenge from Mount Pleasant to again be unbeaten A-grade netball premiers in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL competition.
The Grasshoppers and Blues played out a superb grand final on Saturday at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin went in as hot favourite to clinch the club’s 18th A-grade netball premiership.
Mount Pleasant was not fazed by the challenge and took it right up to the green and gold from the first pass.
Scores were 16-all at quarter-time and 30-30 at the long break.
With gun goaler and assistant coach Kelsey Meade capitalising on chances the Blues won the third quarter by a goal.
A massive upset was in the offing as the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant led 44-43 going inito the final quarter.
Colbinabbin’s ability to win rebounds or force turnovers was crucial in the finish.
As the Grasshoppers scored 19 goals the Blues added eight.
At the final siren Colbinabbin led 62-51.
Playing as goalshooter, Matilda McIntyre earnt best-on-court honours.
The McIntyre sisters, Grace in the centre and Matilda in attack were in superb touch.
It was an 18th A-grade premiership for the Grasshoppers in a season where gun mid-courter Olivia McEvoy earnt the Esther Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best for a fourth time.
Best run for the green and gold was six consecutive A-grade grand final wins from 1982 to ’87.
Four other clubs celebrated netball premierships to cap the 2026 season.
Mount Pleasant won the A-reserve match against North Bendigo by six goals.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues marked a 45-39 win against the Liz Taylor-coached North Bendigo.
Earlier in the day it was Mount Pleasant’s 17-and-under team which won the decider against White Hills by six goals.
The Kristen Pollock-coached Blues led 47-41 at the final siren.
Bronwyn McConnell coached the White Hills line-up.
White Hills celebrated victory in B-grade and B-reserve.
A closely-fought B-grade match ended in a 41-37 win for the Rindy Sawyer and Annie Spear-coached White Hills against Mount Pleasant.
The Blues were coached by Carine Comer.
In B-reserve the White Hills Demons kept the heat on Lockington Bamawm United.
The Karly O’Toole-coached White Hills surged to a 40-26 victory against an LBU Cats team coached by Anita Livsey.
Lockington Bamawm United won the 15-and-under clash with White Hills by 12 goals.
The Bec Dodd-coached Cats led 47-35 when the siren sounded to end the showdown with the Kristi Coller-coached Demons.
Closest margin on grand final was in the 13-and-under competition where Leitchville Gunbower fought on for a 26-24 win against Lockington Bamawm United.
The rising stars for the LG Bombers were coached by Cara Pretty.
LBU’S team was coached by Beth Howlett and Rebecca Eade.
Heathcote DFNL netball grand final scoreboard:
A-grade:
Colbinabbin 62 d Mount Pleasant 51.
Best on court: Matilda McIntyre, Colbinabbin.
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 45 d North Bendigo 39.
Best on court: Maisy Harrop, Mount Pleasant.
B-grade:
White Hills 41 d Mount Pleasant 37.
Best on court: Bronte Bowles, White Hills.
B-reserve:
White Hills 40 d Lockington Bamawm United 26.
Best on court: Reece Geddes, White Hills.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 47 d White Hills 41.
Best on court: Balla Lalor, Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 47 d White Hills 35.
Best on court: Sadie Laffy, Lockington Bamawm United.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 26 d Lockington Bamawm United 24.
Best on court: Lilli McGillivray, Leitchville Gunbower.