– By Nathan Dole
A REMATCH of ’24 grand finalists, White Hills and Leitchville Gunbower highlights Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.
The Demons and Bombers will clash at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street from 5.45pm.
There have been plenty of changes to the White Hills squad since it charged to a 71-point win against LG in last September’s grand final at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Ben Taylor, playing, and Brad McConnell, non-playing, team up to coach the Demons.
Just a few weeks ago Peter Learmonth stepped down from the coaching role because of increased commitments to his workplace in Ararat.
On-field talented forward Cohen Kekich will captain White Hills.
The Demons squad still has Mitch Dole, Patrick Eefting and Jack Lawton.
A sign of the club’s depth was also winning last year’s reserves and under-18s premierships.
The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower will be determined to make a strong start.
Newcomers to the Bombers squad are Darcy Elliott, Ben Embleton, Sam Keogh, Colin McVeigh, Ben Paterson and Luke Pollock.
Ruckman Jobee Warde earnt the Sam Cheatley medal as league fairest and best in ’24.
The LG squad includes James, Tom and Will Brereton, Max Hagan, Chris Horman and Austin Windridge.
The Cliff and Peter White Shield will be up for grabs between Mount Pleasant and Heathcote.
A hard surface at Mount Pleasant’s home in Toolleen has meant the game will be played at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval from 2.30pm.
Heathcote holds the White Shield.
A new-look coaching team for Mount Pleasant is Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing.
Hann joins the Blues after premiership-winning success with Sandhurst and then at Kerang.
The Blues also welcome back Adam Baird who was co-coach of the ’23 premiership team and spent last season at Kerang.
Other key recruits for Mounts include Brodie Montague, Sandhurst; Seb Greene and Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Maldon.
The club also welcomes back premiership defenders Bryce Hinneberg and Will Wallace.
Disappointment of last season’s first semi-final being abandoned because of weather still burns for Heathcote’s players and supporters.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints do not have to dig deep for motivation as they chase premiership glory.
Key recruits for the Saints include ruckman Aaron Gundry, key forward Dylan Johnstone, on-baller/forward Justin Bateson, and defenders Harley Burmeister-Lyons and Oscar Keogh.
Heathcote also has the class and skill of captain Liam Jacques, Codie Price and Zak Saad.
There’s been many on-field changes at North Bendigo.
Jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, North Bendigo takes on Elmore at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 2.30pm.
The Bulldogs have welcomed back triple premiership player Darcy Richards from Eaglehawk, and Jeremy Lambden is also in his comeback match after not playing last season.
Recruits for the Bulldogs include Jesse Clark, Ryan Gillingham and Lachlan Ross from Kerang, Liam Dillon from Kyabram, Jordan Hargreaves from Wedderburn, Harrison Jarvie from Yea.
Their new team-mates include Tyson Findlay, Matt Gray, Dylan Klemm, Cody Riddick and Nick Waterson.
It will be a big test for the Nathan Kay-coached Elmore.
Newcomers for Elmore include Jack Barras from Newbridge; Liam Bianco from Strathmore; Cobi Fitzpatrick from Charlton; Lachie Gawel from De La Salle; and Joel King from Echuca United.
The Bloods have also gained Lachie Munro from Park Orchards; Matthew O’Dwyer from Tullamarine; and Reilley Porter, White Hills.
Rhys Holmberg will captain a Bloods line-up which includes James Harney, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Zack Holmberg and Jack Trewick.
It’s a new era at Lockington as the first night game will be played on the Cats turf.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU takes on Harlowe Huntly Hawks from 5.45pm.
There’s been plenty of changes to the Cats line-up.
Newcomers for LBU include Cody Mann and Nicholas Sheldon from Echuca, Jack O’Callaghan from Deniliquin Rovers, Luke Saligari from Clunes.
The Cats also have the experience of captain Brodie Collins, ruckman Tyler Phillips, Jeremy Mundie and Stuart Taylor.
After a win-loss tally of 6-10 last season, Huntly will be aiming to fly into the top five.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks have plenty of running power in on-ball and midfield roles.
Recruits for the brown and gold include gun forward Sam Dunstan and ruckman Nathan Dunstan from Corowa Rutherglen; Joseph Artavilla and Jameson Barber from Sandhurst; and Jack Burns from Pyramid Hill.
Jayden Cowling is back with the Hawks after a stint in Pyramid Hill.
They join a Hawks team in which Steve Kairn, captain, and Flynn Campbell, vice-captain, are the on-field leaders.
Players to watch for Huntly include Mitch Billings, Dale Lowry, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers play Heathcote on April 26 at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.