NORTH Bendigo captain Aarryn Craig breaks North Bendigo’s games record as he leads the Bulldogs against Leitchville Gunbower in Saturday’s round 17 match in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
Craig will mark game 302 as he passes the long-held record set by gun centre half-back and later full-forward Andrew “Nibbet” McClellan.
It’s a huge day at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street as North Bendigo celebrates its 80th anniversary.
The senior footy match starts at 2.20pm.
On-field the Bulldogs will be determined to keep their winning run rolling.
When these clubs met in round eight it was the Joel Donehue-coached Leitchville Gunbower which beat the Bulldogs by eight points at Gunbower.
It’s third against fifth.
A win for the LG Bombers is likely to secure a finals berth as the sixth-placed Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
The Bulldogs and Bombers take winning form into this match.
North Bendigo won last Saturday’s match at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park and Leitchville Gunbower was too strong for Elmore.
Margin in both matches was 38 points.
The Bulldogs welcome back Darcy Richards for his first since match since the round 10 clash at home with Lockington Bamawm United.
An experienced North Bendigo team includes Ryan Alford, Jordan Ford, Ryan Gillingham, Storm Giri, Jordan Hargreaves and Nic Waterson.
A team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, has plenty of run from the likes of Will Bennett, Bailey Cain, Harrison Jarvie, Riley Paetow and Cody Riddick.
Big roles will be played in Leitchville Gunbower’s defence by Jye Keath, Matt McLellan, Will Brereton and Zeb Ellwood.
The Bombers have ruckman Darcy Elliott to team up with Kyle Green and Charles Hancock.
In attack, LG has Jack Dye, Billy Hawken, James Brereton and Austin Windridge.
The play of Tom Brereton and Clay McGregor from the wings will be a key to Leitchville Gunbower’s chances of a long-awaited win in the kennel.
White Hills is on home turf in Scott Street against Heathcote.
The Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached White Hills made a two-nil start to the season, but has not won since then.
Another tough task for the Demons against a Heathcote line-up on the rebound from defeat.
In round eight the Saints beat White Hills by 13 goals at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
Best for White Hills in last Saturday’s clash with Mount Pleasant in Toolleen were Khy Sawyer, Seth Boyd, Tom Conlan, Ben Irvine, Mitch Dole and Lachlan Martin.
The Demons’ squad includes captain Jake Thompson, Cohen Kekich, Dustin and Patrick Crawford, and ruckman Jack Lawton.
Key players in Heathcote’s run of 9-4-1 include Stefan Rasinac, Dylan Johnstone, Dillon and Sean Williams, Codie Price, Hugh Freckleton and Will Tobin.
The Saints are jointly coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing.
Colbinabbin and Lockington Bamawm United meet on Colbinabbin’s turf at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin has plenty of scoring power to test the LBU Cats.
The Grasshoppers scored a 59-point win at Huntly last Saturday as the Jayden Howe-coached LBU had the bye.
Last time these teams met it was Colbinabbin which won by 68 points at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
It’s the Grasshoppers final hit-out before a qualifying final or elimination final as the team has the bye in the 18th round.
Players to watch in the green and gold include Brandyn Grenfell at full-forward, Alex Carr at centre half-forward, on-ballers Jude Ryan and Isaac Carracher.
Colbinabbin has named Matt Riordan in the ruck, Jai Carn in a forward pocket, and Hugh McMurtrie and Toby Howlett as key defenders.
A win for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU in Colbinabbin and a Leitchville Gunbower loss at North Bendigo would put the Cats back on the fifth rung.
The play of ruckman Tyler Phillips, rover Jack O’Callaghan, Bowden Stone, Brayden Hull, Charlie Hinks and Nick Smart will be crucial to LBU’s chances.
The Cats welcome back the experience of Brodie Collins.
Huge test for LBU defenders Cooper Mitchell and Riley Carr.
It’s the Bloods against the Hawks as Elmore hosts the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
Victory could lift Elmore from the bottom rung on the ladder, while Huntly chases its fifth victory.
Elmore’s best in last Saturday’s clash with Leitchville Gunbower were Xavier Coghill, Charlie O’Toole, Rhys Holmberg and Matt Filo.
A Bloods’ squad coached by Luke Freeman includes Lachie Gawel, Joseph Harney, Matt O’Dwyer, Peter Rothacker and Kynan Sharpe.
Huntly forwards Sam Dunstan, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson will test the Bloods all match.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly has Nathan Dunstan in the ruck, the versatility of Mitch Billings, experienced Dale Lowry and running power of Jaydon Cowling and Darby Walsh.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 145 per cent, 48 points; North Bendigo 158, 42; Colbinabbin 129, 40; Heathcote 116, 38; Leitchville Gunbower 93, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 86, 28; Huntly 94, 16; White Hills 61, 8; Elmore 55, 8.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
49 Sam Dunstan, Huntly; Brandyn Grenfell, C; Ben Weightman, MP.
48 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
39 Sean Williams, H’cote.
32 Dylan Klemm, NB.
30 Alex Carr, C; Blake Dye, LG.
27 Cody Riddick, NB.
26 Jordan Ford, NB.
24 Jake Dean, NB; Ryan Hartley, NB.
23 James Harney, Elm.; Billy Hawken, LG.
22 Jack Dye, LG.
21 Lachie Gawel, Elm.; Abe Sladden, Huntly.
20 Jake Thompson, WH; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
19 Bradyen Hull, LBU; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; Laine Fitzgerald, C; Brodie Leonard-Shannon, MP.
In the netball action……SEPARATED by just two points, Elmore and Huntly meet in Saturday’s 17th round of A-grade netball in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
It’s fifth against sixth on Elmore’s court from 2.30pm.
A goal was the margin when these teams met in round seven.
On that occasion the Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock-coached Huntly scored a 46-45 victory on its court at Strauch Reserve.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore played out another one-goal thriller last Saturday.
Pressure was on the Bloods as they won 44-43 against Leitchville Gunbower in Leitchville.
Huntly faced a tough task against reigning premier Colbinabbin.
Although the Hawks had home-court advantage they could not halt the Grasshoppers’ charge to a 67-38 victory.
It will be Elmore which shores up its position in the top five by beating Huntly this time or the Hawks who soar to the fifth rung.
In round 18, Elmore makes its way across to Lockington for a showdown with the Lockington Bamawm United Cats.
Huntly will be home at Strauch Reserve against North Bendigo.
Another important match on Saturday will be at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street where the Bulldogs face Leitchville Gunbower.
It’s a huge day for North Bendigo FNC as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.
On the court the Kiralee Kinder-coached Bulldogs will be aiming to build on the momentum from last Saturday’s win on Heathcote’s court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
The Bulldogs teamed superbly to score a 73-36 victory against the Saints.
Back in round eight North Bendigo netted a 56-39 win against the Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower in Gunbower.
Another victory is vital for North Bendigo as its level on 24 points with Elmore and just two clear of Huntly.
White Hills is back home on the Scott Street court to play Heathcote.
The Elley Lawton-coached Demons will be fired up after a 14-goal loss to Mount Pleasant in Toolleen last round.
The Demons will start hot favourites to take the points against the Saints.
In round eight White Hills scored a 25-goal win on Heathcote’s court.
The Brooke Price-coached Heathcote can spring a surprise as it won at North Bendigo earlier in the season.
Unbeaten in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Colbinabbin will be on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval to play Lockington Bamawm United.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin has played with fierce intent in many matches.
Huge challenge for the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU Cats who had the bye last round and were beaten by the Grasshoppers by 41 goals in round eight.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 214 per cent, 60 points; Mount Pleasant 185, 52; White Hills 110, 36; North Bendigo 91, 24; Elmore 79, 24; Huntly 83, 22; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 62, 14; Heathcote 61, 8.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 16 rounds:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 195 per cent, 50 points; Colbinabbin 130, 48; Huntly 131, 44; White Hills 112, 36; North Bendigo 125, 34; Leitchville Gunbower 78, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 61, 8; Heathcote 54, 4; Elmore 64, 4.
B-grade:
White Hills 163 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 134, 46; Heathcote 105, 40; Huntly 116, 38; Leitchville Gunbower 113, 38; Colbinabbin 87, 14; North Bendigo 79, 14; Elmore 67, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 60, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 177 per cent, 48 points; Lockington Bamawm United 162, 48; White Hills 148, 48; Heathcote 111, 32; Mount Pleasant 102, 32; North Bendigo 106, 24; Elmore 98, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 42, 4; Colbinabbin 41, 4.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 167 per cent, 60 points; White Hills 168, 48; Lockington Bamawm United 140, 40; Leitchville Gunbower 104, 30; Elmore 88, 28; Huntly 88, 22; Heathcote 78, 18; Colbinabbin 59, 10; North Bendigo 55, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 188 per cent, 52 points Lockington Bamawm United 177, 52; Colbinabbin 109, 36; Heathcote 103, 34; Mount Pleasant 101, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 85, 22; Elmore 77, 18; Huntly 54, 6; North Bendigo 54, 4.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 210 per cent, 52 points; Leitchville Gunbower 267, 48; Colbinabbin 139, 44; Mount Pleasant 134, 40; Elmore 93, 28; Huntly 75, 22; North Bendigo 81, 18; White Hills 53, 4; Heathcote 18, 0.