A DRIVING force in North Bendigo’s premiership pursuit, Jordan Ford will play his 200th senior match in Saturday’s clash with Huntly in round 14 of Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be on their turf at Strauch Reserve to take on the unbeaten ladder-leaders from 2.30pm.
The Golden City Cup is also up for grabs as both clubs previously competed in that league.
Huntly was formerly known as Provincial.
The Keith Robertson Medal for best on ground honours a legend of the North Bendigo Football Netball Club and the Heathcote DFNL.
Best on court for North Bendigo in the A-grade netball match will earn the Dianne Simpson Medal.
A triple premiership player with North Bendigo, Jordan Ford’s ability to play in attack or defence makes him one of the club’s most valuable players and among the best in Bulldogs history.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly will be keen to show it learnt plenty from a 95-point loss at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street in round four.
A record of seven wins, three defeats and a draw has the Hawks in fourth place and in the hunt to earn the double chance at finals time.
A key to Huntly’s chances of ending the Bulldogs’ run will be on-ball contests where Nathan Dunstan, Steve Kairn and Harrison Campbell take on Jordan Hargreaves, Ryan Hartley and Harrison Jarvie.
Huge challenge for Hawks’ defenders Mitch Billings, Darby Walsh, Mitch Billings and Darcy Lawler against the likes of Dylan Klemm, Cody Riddick and Jake Dean.
In midfield the Hawks have Jaydon Cowling, Ben Daley and Kyle Forster.
Sam Dunstan has kicked 46 goals in his first season with Huntly and is the key target in an attack that includes Jacob Greenwood and Lachie Ross.
Players to watch in a Bulldogs line-up jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley include Will Gilmore, Nic Waterson, captain Aarryn Craig and Riley Paetow.
Heathcote could mark its first win of ’25 and put a massive dent in Lockington Bamawm United’s bid to make the top five when they play at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Just nine points separated these clubs in round four when the Jayden Howe-coached LBU overran the Saints in the final quarter to win 87-78.
There’s been changes to Heathcote’s squad since its June 28 match at Colbinabbin as Zak Saad has transferred to Riddell and Ibrahim Taha will now play for West Coburg.
Best for Heathcote in the match at Colbinabbin were Rhys Bolton, Jonty Kelly, key defender Daniel Johnstone and the hard-running Codie Price off half-back.
A key match-up for the Saints will be young ruckman Aaron Gundry competing with dual Cheatley medallist Tyler Phillips.
Heathcote’s squad includes Will Tobin, Joseph Beedle, Dylan Johnstone at full-forward, Jackson Conforti, Daniel and Walter Butler.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU had Thomas Leech kick four goals against the Saints last time, and Jack Reiter star across the half-forward line.
Other key players for the Cats include co-captains Brodie Collins and Brock Kennedy, Jack O’Callaghan, Matt Hore, Matt Butler and Stuart Taylor.
Colbinabbin will be back on home turf at M.J. Morgan Oval to play Leitchville Gunbower.
When they met in round four it was Colbinabbin which won 70-20 at Leitchville.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin has played superb defence in the past three rounds as it limited opponents to scores of 40, 49 and 36 points.
Last Saturday the Grasshoppers kept Lockington Bamawm United to score of 4.12 (36) as Dean Smith, Nathan Basile, Isaac Carracher and Daniel Hill were best in a 47-point victory.
Key match-ups in this match between the Grasshoppers and Bombers include gun forwards Brandyn Grenfell and Alex Carr against Max Hagan and Matt McClellan.
In the ruck it will be Hadleigh Sirett lining up for Colbo against reigning Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde.
The attack for the Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower includes Blake Dye, Bryce Barnstale and Chris Horman.
In midfield the Grasshoppers have Carracher, Nathan Basile and Alex Van Ruiswyk to take on Austin Windridge, Will and James Brereton.
It’s the Blues against the Bloods as Mount Pleasant and Elmore clash at Toolleen.
In round four Mounts marked a 10-goal victory on Elmore’s turf.
Mounts has achieved a win-loss tally of eight-three and sits third on the ladder.
A Blues attack which includes Ben Weightman, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Seb Greene, Caelan Smith will test the Bloods all match.
Mount Pleasant’s coaching set-up is Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches, but both are on the sidelines for this match with director of coaching Cam Carter.
Key players for Mounts include Will Wallace and Bryce Hinneberg in defence, Mitch Rovers, Michael Whiting in the ruck, Brodie Montague, Bailey and Fletcher White.
Elmore will be fired up after a 67-point loss at home against Huntly last round.
The Bloods will need big games from James Harney, coach Nathan Kay, Phil Smith, Lachie Munro, Matt O’Dwyer and captain Rhys Holmberg to challenge the Blues.
Elmore’s line-up bound for Toolleen includes Cobi Fitzpatrick, Liam Bianco, Zack Holmberg and Mattia Curry.
White Hills has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 284 per cent, 40 points; Colbinabbin 190, 32; Mount Pleasant 149, 32; Huntly 109, 30; Leitchville Gunbower 102, 22; Elmore 66, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 14; White Hills 46, 4; Heathcote 61, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
46 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
34 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
32 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
31 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
25 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
24 James Harney, Elmore.
22 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
22 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
19 Brodie-Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
19 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
18 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
16 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
16 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
15 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
14 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
14 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
13 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
12 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
12 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
12 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
11 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
11 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
11 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
11 Ibrahim Taha, Heathcote.
11 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
10 Liam Bianco, Elmore.
10 Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
10 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
10 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.
10 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.