THE Bendigo Bank Heathcote DNL’s top three on the ladder all marked emphatic wins in Saturday’s 16th round of senior footy.
North Bendigo, Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin all won by 100 points or more.
Fourth in the premiership race, Harlowe Huntly Hawks were outgunned by the second-placed Mount Pleasant at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Blues led 25-8 at quarter-time and 53-23 by the long break.
It was a nine-goal blitz by Mount Pleasant in the third as the Hawks added one major.
Another five goals by Mounts in the last capped a 145-45 victory.
Brodie Leonard-Shannon kicked four goals in a best-on-ground performance as Ben Weightman also slotted four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Blues were co-coach Adam Baird, Jack Teasdale and Jesse Tuohey on two.
Huntly’s attack was led by Sam Dunstan on three.
Best for Mount Pleasant were Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Jesse Tuohey, Jack Hickman, Jack Teasdale, Chris Down and Adam Baird.
The Blues have Josh Hann as playing co-coach, and dual premiership coach Cam Carter as director of coaching.
Best for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks were Steve Kairn, Mitch Billings, Abe Sladden, Darby Walsh, Jaydon Cowling and Drew Costigan.
North Bendigo unleashed an 11-goal final term to complete a 173-51 win against Heathcote at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
The Bulldogs had been consistent with five-goal returns in quarters one, two and three.
North Bendigo led 72-19 by half-time, but Heathcote made a spirited fightback in the third.
The Saints scored four goals in a term the Dogs won 33-26.
It was a terrific effort by Heathcote to be within 10 goals of the ladder-leaders at a quarter to play.
North Bendigo’s pressure and run went to another level.
A run of 10 unanswered goals included a hat-trick by Jordan Ford who had spent most of the match on a wing, but spent more time in attack in the last.
The Saints sole reply was off the boot of Connor Hamilton.
A list of 12 goalkickers for North Bendigo was led by the hard-running Bailey Cain and Cody Riddick on four each.
Ford finished with three majors as captain Aarryn Craig, Storm Giri, Dylan Klemm, Riley Paetow, Darcy Richards and Nic Waterson slotted two each.
Heathcote’s attack was led by Dylan Johnstone and Jackson Jones with two each.
Best for North Bendigo were Bailey Cain, Nic Waterson, Riley Paetow, Aarryn Craig, Cody Riddick and Ryan Gillingham.
The Bulldogs are jointly coached by dual premiership coach Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing.
Heathcote’s best were Rhys Bolton, Thomas Johnson, Will Tobin, Jonty Kelly, Codie Price and Joseph Beedle.
The Saints are coached by Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques.
Colbinabbin dominated play in the den of the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in Scott Street.
The Grasshoppers charged to a 59-6 lead by quarter-time and were up 98-20 by half-time.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin added six goals in the third and another six in the last to complete a 181-43 victory.
Best quarter for White Hills was the last in which it kicked three goals.
Colbinabbin’s attack was led by Brandyn Grenfell on seven goals as Alex Carr added five and Jimmy McMurtrie and Clint Shields booted three each.
Sam Ryan slotted two majors as did Alex Van Ruiswyk in his 200th senior match for the green and gold.
White Hills had six goalkickers.
Best for Colbinabbin were Nathan and Aidan Basile, Charles Ryan, Alex Carr, Brandyn Grenfell and Clint Shields.
White Hills co-coach Ben Taylor was best along with Jayden Sheean, Jake Dickens, Macauley Johnson, Isaac Tzouroutis and Jarrell Ratcliffe.
The Demons have Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
Closest margin of the day was at Elmore where Lockington Bamawm United defeated the Bloods by 44 points.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU dominated the opening half to be up 61-15 at the break.
Elmore lifted its play dramatically to score five goals in the third, but the Cats replied with six straight goals to be well in charge.
The Nathan Kay-coached Bloods won the last, 24-17, but it was LBU which led 114-70 at the siren.
Bart Phillips and Matt Butler led LBU’s attack on six and five goals as Thomas Leech and Jeremy Mundie slotted two each.
Elmore’s leading goalkickers were Liam Bianco, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Nathan Kay and Matt O’Dwyer on two each.
Best for LBU were Tyler Phillips, Bowden Stone, Jeremy Mundie, Bart Phillips, Harrison Keele and Jack Reiter.
Elmore’s best were captain Rhys Holmberg, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Matt O’Dwyer, Nathan Kay, Hayden Trewick and Liam Bianco.
Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 256 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 166, 48; Colbinabbin 209, 44; Huntly 93, 30; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 26; Lockington Bamawm United 85, 22; Elmore 59, 16; Heathcote 62, 10; White Hills 46, 8.
In next Saturday’s round 17 action, Colbinabbin will be back on its turf at M.J. Morgan Oval to play the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
Heathcote and Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons have plenty to play for in the clash of eighth and ninth at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
It’s the Cats against the Bulldogs as Lockington Bamawm United faces North Bendigo at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
Leitchville Gunbower will tackle Elmore at Gunbower.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
62 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
55 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
38 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
37 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
36 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
35 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
35 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
32 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
30 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
29 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
26 James Harney, Elmore.
26 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
21 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
19 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
17 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
17 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
16 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
16 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
16 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
16 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
16 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
16 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
15 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
15 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
15 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
14 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
13 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
13 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
12 Liam Bianco, Elmore.
12 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Bailey Cain, North Bendigo.
12 Patrick Eefting, White Hills.
12 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
12 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.