-By Nathan Dole
TWO rounds in and Elmore has matched last season’s win tally after a stunning performance against White Hills in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
Bloods’ coach Nathan Kay marked a best afield performance in a 64-point victory against the reigning premier on Saturday night.
Both teams have changed markedly in a few months.
Last season’s wooden spooner, Elmore began this campaign with an eight-point loss at North Bendigo.
The Bloods then outplayed a vastly different looking Demons team to the one which dominated last September’s finals series.
A high-scoring first half at Elmore ended with the Bloods in front, 48-42.
Defences were on top in the third as the hosts scored 2.2 and kept the visitors to a tally of 1.2.
Elmore fans then witnessed one of the club’s greatest quarters in many years.
The Bloods slammed on 9.5 in the final term to complete a 121-57 victory against the red and black.
Jordan Thomson led the attack on four goals as James Harney and Matt O’Dwyer kicked three each and Lachie Gawel chipped in with two.
Demons’ captain Cohen Kekich, Josh Dwyer and Oliver Edmiston booted two goals.
Best for Elmore were Nathan Kay, Lachie Munro, Joseph Harney, Matt O’Dwyer, Zack Holmberg and Jarrad Kyne.
White Hills co-coach Ben Taylor was best along with Ben Irvine, Mitch Dole, Patrick Crawford, Jake Thompson and Jake Lawton.
The Demons also have Brad McConnell as co-coach.
A brilliant third quarter set up a two-goal win for the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at against Leitchville Gunbower at Leitchville.
The LG Bombers led 25-21 at half-time.
Huntly fired up to slam on five goals in the third as it kept the hosts to a score of 1.4.
Although Leitchville Gunbower won the last term, 13-8, it was the Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly which marked a 60-48 victory.
Gun recruit Sam Dunstan kicked four goals for the brown and gold.
The Bombers’ attack was led by Kyle Green and Billy Hawken on two.
Huntly’s best were Darby Walsh, Sam Dunstan, Flynn Campbell, Steve Kairn, Dale Lowry and Lachy Wilson.
Matt McLellan, Will and James Brereton, Bryce Barnstable, Jye Keath and Sam Keogh played well for the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers.
Colbinabbin capped its first match of the home-and-away series by scoring a 28-point win at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
A triple premiership winning coach at Marong in the Loddon Valley, Linton Jacobs has returned to M.J. Morgan Oval to be the off-field general for the Grasshoppers.
An evenly-fought first term went Colbinabbin’s way, 14-10.
Determined to hit back after a big loss to Mount Pleasant in round one, Heathcote’s intensity at the contest was much higher.
Colbinabbin’s work at centre clearances and stoppages was a key factor as the green and gold scored 3.4 in quarters two, three and four.
At the final siren the Grasshoppers led 80-52.
Alex Carr and Nick Knight led Colbo’s attack on two goals as seven team-mates were on target.
The skilful Zak Saad kicked four goals for Heathcote.
Best for Colbinabbin were Daniel Hill, Isaac Carracher, Dougal McKindlay, Sam Ryan, Jack Lear and Jude Ryan.
Will Tobin, Daniel Johnstone, Zak Saad, Justin Bateson, co-coach Liam Jacques and Liam Freeman-Taber were best for a Saints line-up which has Andrew Saladino as co-coach.
Mount Pleasant won every quarter in an 87-37 victory against Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.
Mounts led 35-24 at half-time and then slammed on 6.3 as it kept the Cats scoreless in the third quarter.
Both teams added 2.1 in the last.
Mitch Bennett continued a superb start to the season by kicking six goals as co-coach Josh Hann and Brodie Leonard-Shannon kicked two.
The Cats’ attack was led by Stuart Taylor on two.
Best for a Blues team which has Cam Carter as director of coaching were Jesse Tuohey, Jack Hickman, Brodie Montague, Caelan Smith, Josh Hann and William Wallace.
Bowden Stone, Patrick Keele, Tyler Phillips, Matt Hore, James Yosiffidis and Thomas Leech played well for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 278 per cent, 8 points; Colbinabbin 153, 4; Elmore 139, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 122, 4; North Bendigo 110, 4; Huntly 103, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 74, 4; White Hills 53, 0; Heathcote 42, 0.
In next Saturday’s third round the unbeaten Mount Pleasant returns to Toolleen to face Leitchville Gunbower from 2.30pm.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks tackle Elmore at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United faces Colbinabbin on Lockington’s ground.
White Hills and North Bendigo clash at Winslow Constructors Oval which is the home of the Demons in Scott Street.
Heathcote has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
10 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
8 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
8 James Harney, Elmore.
8 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
7 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
6 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
6 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
5 Jordan Thomson, Elmore.
4 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
4 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
3 Kyle Green, Leitchville Gunbower.
3 Josh Hann, Mount Pleasant.
3 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
3 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
3 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
3 Caelan Smith, Mount Pleasant.
3 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.