-By Nathan Dole
NORTH Bendigo will be wary of what the Harlowe Huntly Hawks can do in Saturday’s fourth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Bulldogs will be on home turf at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street to tackle the Hawks from 2.30pm.
Last season it was the Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly which beat the Bulldogs in both showdowns.
North Bendigo rolls into this match following a 170-point win at White Hills last round.
An attack that includes Dylan Klemm, Sam Dean, Darcy Richards and Cody Riddick will test the Hawks in every quarter.
A key for Huntly will be midfield and on-ball duels where it can control the quality and quantity of inside forward 50m entries.
Among the key match-ups will be in the ruck where North Bendigo has Jordan Hargreaves to take on Nathan Dunstan.
The Bulldogs welcome back triple premiership player Jordan Ford for his first match of the season.
Another high for the red, white and blue is Callum Tardrew, also a premiership winner for North Bendigo in his first senior game since round five in 2022.
The Bulldogs also have the experience of Nic Waterson, Aarryn Craig, Tyson Findlay and Ryan Gillingham.
Huntly would be rapt by the form of gun forward Sam Dunstan from Corowa Rutherglen.
A seven-goal haul against Elmore lifted Dunstan’s season tally to 15 goals.
Key players in the brown and gold include Flynn Campbell, Ben Daley, Steve Kairn, Dale Lowry, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson.
Huntly also regains Jaydon Cowling from suspension.
Another big match will be at Lockington where Lockington Bamawm United faces Heathcote.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU put in a great first half against Colbinabbin, but was overrun in the final hour.
Heathcote is back in action after the bye.
Been a tough run for the Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques-coached Heathcote which was thrashed by Mount Pleasant in round one.
The Saints bounced back in an 80-52 loss to Colbinabbin in round two.
A highlight of this match will be in the ruck where dual Sam Cheatley medallist and LBU gun Tyler Phillips is opposed to the athletic Aaron Gundry.
Best for the Cats against Colbainbbin included Charlie Hinks, Matt Hore and Stuart Taylor.
LBU’s team to play the Saints includes co-captains Brodie Collins and Brock Kennedy, Thomas Leech, Jack O’Callaghan and James Yossifidis.
Heathcote will look for big games from the likes of Dylan Johnstone and Lachlan Freeman Taber in attack, Callum Birch in the centre, Daniel Johnstone and Oscar Keogh in the key defensive posts, and Codie Price off half-back.
The Saints also have classy small forward/mid Zak Saad.
Leitchville Gunbower faces the in-form Colbinabbin at Leitchville.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers will be keen to bounce back from an 86-point loss on Mount Pleasant’s turf at Toolleen.
It’s a daunting task for the LG team as Colbinabbin overcame a four-goal deficit at half-time to score a 79-55 away win against Lockington Bamawm United.
Best for the Bombers against Mount Pleasant were Charles Hancock, Will Brereton, Kyle Green and Brady Hore.
Colbinabbin is one of three unbeaten teams in the competition.
Back at Colbinabbin after a hat-trick of premierships coaching Marong, Linton Jacobs has plenty of talent to work with.
Players to watch in the green and gold include Jai Carn, Isaac Carracher, Brandyn Grenfell, Nick Knight, Clint Shields, and Charles, Jude and Sam Ryan.
Elmore faces the ladder-leading Mount Pleasant at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
The Nathan Kay-coached Elmore worked hard, but could not take the points in an 87-77 result at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve last round.
There will be many crucial match-ups for the Nathan Kay-coached Bloods as they strive to end the Blues’ winning streak.
Elmore will be without leading goalkicker James Harney.
Key players for Elmore include Liam Bianco, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Cobi Fitzpatrick, captain Rhys Holmberg, Lachie Munro, Matt O’Dwyer and Phil Smith.
Mount Pleasant dominated its clash with Leitchville Gunbower.
Key forward Mitch Bennett kicked six goals against the Bombers and looms as a huge threat to Elmore’s defence.
The Blues’ attack should have plenty of chances created by the likes of playing coach Josh Hann, Adam Baird, Jesse Tuohey, Jack Hickman, Brodie Montague and Zac Featherby.
A strong defence is led by captain William Wallace.
Off-field, Mounts has dual premiership-winning coach Cam Carter as director of coaching.
White Hills has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 301 per cent, 12 points; North Bendigo 260, 8; Colbinabbin 148, 8; Huntly 106, 8; Elmore 120, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 4; Heathcote 42, 0; White Hills 35, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
16 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
15 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
12 James Harney, Elmore.
11 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
9 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
8 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
6 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
6 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
6 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
6 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
5 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
5 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
5 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.
5 Jordan Thomson, Elmore.
4 Tyson Findlay, North Bendigo.
4 Josh Hann, Mount Pleasant.
4 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
4 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
4 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
4 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.