-By Nathan Dole
THE Harlowe Huntly Hawks can expect a high level of pressure being applied by the Elmore Bloods in Saturday’s round three clash in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
Huntly has home-ground advantage at Strauch Reserve against the Bloods when the match starts at 2.30pm.
Both teams were in superb form last round.
Huntly marked a two-goal win at Leitchville, and Elmore stunned White Hills in a 121-57 victory under Elmore’s lights.
On-ball duels will be crucial in the Hawks and Bloods’ showdown.
Huntly has ruckman Nathan Dunstan teaming up with coach Hamish Morcom, captain Steve Kairn and Ben Daley at the centre ball-ups.
The Bloods’ on-ball group is Reilley Porter, Liam Bianco, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty and coach Nathan Kay.
Sam Dunstan, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson will test an Elmore defence led by Cobi Fitzparick, captain Rhys Holmberg and Joseph Harney.
At the other end of the ground, Josh Hull, Mitchell Billings and Darby Walsh have to try and nullify Elmore’s gun forward James Harney, Lachie Gawel and Matt O’Dwyer.
The ladder-leading Mount Pleasant marks its first hit-out of the season at Toolleen against Leitchville Gunbower.
It’s been a brilliant start by a Mounts line-up which has Cam Carter as director of coaching and Josh Hann as playing coach.
A highlight of this match will be the on-ball contests where the Blues have ruckman Chris Down, Jack Hickman and Brodie Montague in great form.
Key forwards Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Mitch Bennett will test the Leitchville Gunbower defence.
Other players to watch for Mounts include Caelan Smith, Jesse Tuohey, Zac Featherby and William Wallace.
The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower will be fighting to avoid consecutive defeats after a 48-60 result against Huntly at Leitchville.
Sam Cheatley medallist and gun ruckman Jobee Warde always plays a crucial role for the Bombers.
Matt McLellan, Will and James Brereton, and Bryce Barnstable were best for LG against the Hawks.
Last season’s runner-up has Chris Horman, Max Hagan, James, Tom and Will Brereton, Brady Hore and Joel Donehue capable of winning plenty of the footy.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons will be on their turf in Scott Street against North Bendigo.
It may or not be an advantage for White Hills as North Bendigo has not played since round one because of the Easter break and then a bye.
Best for the Demons at Elmore last round were co-coach Ben Taylor, Ben Irvine, Mitch Dole and Patrick Crawford.
A White Hills squad which has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach includes captain Cohen Kekich, Patrick Eefting, Jack Lawton and Nick Wharton.
North Bendigo kicked off the season with a hard-fought 86-78 win against Elmore at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Inaccuracy almost cost the Bulldogs as they finished on 10.26 (86).
Best for the Bulldogs were ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Lachlan Ross, Harrison Jarvie and Liam Dillon.
A team jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, non-playing, includes captain Aarryn Craig, Dylan Klemm, Cody Riddick, Nic Waterson and Tyson Findlay.
Lockington Bamawm United will be on home turf at Lockington against Colbinabbin.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU will be keen to hit back after a 50-point loss at home to Mount Pleasant.
Huge test for Cats’ defenders Luke Saligari, Jack O’Callaghan, Kyle Baker and Patrick Keele against Brandyn Grenfell, Alex Carr, Clint Shields and Sam Ryan.
A highlight will be the ruck contests where dual Cheatley medallist and LBU star Tyler Phillips takes on Dougal McKindlay.
Best for the Cats against Mounts included Bowden Stone on a wing, and Matt Hore.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin kicked off its season by scoring a 28-point victory on Heathcote’s turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
A strong line-up in green and gold includes captain Will Lowe in the centre, Aidan and Nathan Basile, Nick Knight and Matt Riordan.
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.
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 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
4 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
3 Kyle Green, Leitchville Gunbower.
3 Josh Hann, Mount Pleasant.
3 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
3 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
3 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bawam United.
3 Caelan Smith, Mount Pleasant.
3 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.