AFTER a run of four consecutive defeats the Harlowe Huntly Hawks bounced back to beat Heathcote in Saturday’s 18th round clash in Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks had locked in an elimination final appearance, but were desperate to build confidence leading into the showdown with Leitchville Gunbower.
Although the margin was 26 points the Hawks did not have all their way on their turf at Strauch Reserve.
The Saints made a great start to lead 26-10 at quarter-time and was up 33-23 by the long break.
Both teams scored 3.3 in the third.
In the final term it was the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks who seized control.
The brown and gold continually put the ball in the forward 50m arc and was rewarded with seven goals.
As the Hawks scored 7.2 they kept the Saints to a tally of 1.2.
By the final siren Huntly led 88-62.
Key forward Sam Dunstan kicked seven to claim the league’s goalkicking race on 75.
The Hawks also had Lachy Wilson boot three goals in a best afield performance.
Heathcote’s attack was led by Liam Birch and Jackson Conforti on three goals.
Best for Huntly were Lachy Wilson, Mitch Billings, Darby Walsh, Sam Dunstan, Kyle Forster and Riley Beard.
Heathcote’s best were ruckman Aaron Gundry, Will Tobin, Rhys Bolton, Justin Bateson, Jackson Conforti and Liam Birch.
A Saints’ line-up coached by Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques ends an extremely challenging season in eighth place on a tally of three wins, 12 defeats, and a draw.
Match of the day was at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant took on Colbinabbin.
It was a qualifying final prelude as the Blues and Grasshoppers meet against this Saturday on Gunbower’s turf.
Mount Pleasant started well to lead 31-13 and then won the second term, 20-14.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin hit back to score 5.6 in the third as the Blues added 3.2.
Led by the play of Ben Weightman, Riley McNamara and co-coach Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant won the last term, 26-7.
Weightman finished with seven goals in 97-70 victory as Mitch Rovers slotted two goals for the Blues.
Colbinabbin’s attack was led by Alex Carr, Brandyn Grenfell and Charles Ryan on two each.
Best for the Blues included Fletcher White, Deklan Wilie and William Wallace.
Mount Pleasant has Josh Hann as playing co-coach and dual premiership coach Cameron Carter as director of coaching.
Best for Colbinabbin were Charles Ryan, Clint Shields, Daniel Hill, Angus Martin, Connor Aldous and Will Lowe.
North Bendigo won a hard-fought clash with Leitchville Gunbower by 15 points.
It was a big day at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street as the Bulldogs ran a reunion of the 2015 premiership teams.
On the field, North Bendigo raced to a 45-8 lead by quarter-time.
Defences were on top for most of the second and third terms.
As the Bulldogs scored three goals in the second the Bombers added 2.2.
Leitchville Gunbower won the third quarter, 12-9.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers finished strongly with five goals in the last.
At the final siren North Bendigo led 81-66.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Jake Dean on three goals as Bailey Cain, Storm Giri, Dylan Klemm and Darcy Richards added two each.
Blake Dye kicked a match-high four goals for the Bombers.
North Bendigo’s best were Ryan Gillingham, co-coach Ryan Hartley, Bailey Cain, Will Gilmore, Matthew Gray and Nic Waterson.
A Bulldogs line-up which has dual premiership-winning coach Rob Bennett as non-playing coach has a week’s rest before it plays Mount Pleasant or Colbinabbin in the second semi-final.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were ruckman and Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde, Nic Cattapan, Jye Smith, Max Hagan, Billy Hawken and Brad Green.
The LG line-up returns to North Bendigo next Sunday to meet Huntly in the elimination final.
White Hills and Lockington Bamawm United closed out their seasons at the home of the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in Scott Street.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU led 22-21 at quarter-time before the Demons won the second term, 13-10.
The margin was just three points in favour of the Cats going into the final term.
In a brilliant finish LBU scored 8.10 and kept the red and black to a tally of 2.1.
Matt Butler, Bart Phillips and Jeremy Mundie finished on four, three and two goals as the Cats ran out 113-68 winners.
The Demons’ attack was led by captain Cohen Kekich and Jake Thompson with three as vice-captain Mitch Dole kicked two.
Best for LBU were Stuart Taylor, Bowden Stone, Jack O’Callaghan, Matt Butler, Matt Hore and Tyler Phillips.
A record of six wins, nine defeats and a draw meant LBU finish the second in sixth place.
Was an incredibly tough run for a White Hills team coached by Ben Taylor, playing, and Brad McConnell, non-playing.
The Demons achieved a win-loss tally of 2-14.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 237 per cent, 60 points; Mount Pleasant 164, 52; Colbinabbin 189, 48; Huntly 92, 34; Leitchville Gunbower 106, 30; Lockington Bamawm United 86, 26; Elmore 57, 16; Heathcote 67, 14; White Hills 48, 8.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Gunbower:
Under-18s at 10am: White Hills v Heathcote.
Reserves at noon: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street:
Under-18s at 10am: Mount Pleasant v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at noon: Lockington Bamawm United v Colbinabbin.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Huntly v Leitchville Gunbower.
Leading goalkickers in senior footy:
75 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
60 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
44 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
44 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
41 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
40 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
38 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
38 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
36 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
35 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
31 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
31 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
31 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
30 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
26 James Harney, Elmore.
23 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
23 Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
21 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
21 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
20 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
20 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
19 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
17 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
17 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
17 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
16 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
16 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
16 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
16 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
15 Bailey Cain, North Bendigo.
15 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
15 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
15 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
14 Sam Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
13 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
13 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
13 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
13 Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Elmore.
13 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.