Demons KO Bulldogs, Blues outplay Grasshoppers
WHITE Hills and Mount Pleasant were victorious in the weekend’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s senior footy finals series.
A fired-up Demons team from White Hills knocked North Bendigo out of the premiership race by winning Sunday’s elimination final at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Reserve.
A day earlier and Mount Pleasant was too strong for Colbinabbin in the qualifying final.
The Jack Fallon-coached White Hills had been fighting to keep finals hopes alive for several weeks, but was under pressure after North Bendigo led 45-31 at half-time.
After an Aarryn Craig goal put the Dogs up by 20 points in the third term it was the Demons who turned up the heat and run.
Led by the play of Jack Fallon from half-back, James Davies in attack and the hardworking Bayden Fallon it was White Hills which turned the contest by scoring four unanswered goals to lead 59-52 at three quarter-time.
There were eight goals scored in the final quarter, but the White Hills tally of 5.2 to 3.5 ensured the Demons of a 91-75 victory and it’s season lasting another week.
James Davies finished with a match-high six goals as veteran forward and former coach Matt Sawyer kicked three goals.
Bulldogs’ skipper Aaryn Craig kicked five goals as Jordan Ford, three, and Hakeem Johnson, two, were the other multiple goalkickers.
The Demons’ best included Blake Hogan, Mitch Dole and Nic Wallace.
Best for the Robert Bennett-coached Bulldogs were onballer Manny Thalasinos, Arryn Craig, Sam Demeo, rising star Riley Paetow, midfielder Nic Waterson, and defender Ryan Alford.
Winning margin in the previous two contests between Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin had been just two points in favour of Mounts.
In Saturday’s qualifying final at Lockington it was Mount Pleasant which made a flying start.
The Blues led 33-1 at quarter-time and won the second term, 21-20.
Led by the play of ruckman Chris Down, ruck-rover Billy Mahony and Jesse Tuohey in attack, Mount Pleasant surged to a 46-point lead by three quarter-time.
Colbinabbin hit back to win the final term, 39-19, but it was the Blues who marked an impressive 94-68 victory.
Travis Baird and Jesse Tuohey kicked three goals each for Mounts as Ben Weightman added two.
The sole multiple goalkicker for the Grasshoppers was Jed Brain on two.
Best for the Darren Walsh and Adam Baird-coached Blues included Bryce Hinneberg in defence, Weightman in attack or onball role, and Daniel Whiting.
Ben Barton, Todd Clarke, Tom Hill, David Price, Will Lowe and Sam Ryan were best for the Julian Bull-coached Grasshoppers.
A big weekend for Mount Pleasant included an 11-point victory in the reserves qualifying final against Heathcote.
James Walsh, Jackson Hufer, Jacob Hopley, Jack Teasdale, Jacob Grieves and Zac Featherby were best for the Blues in the 43-32 result.
Heathcote’s best were Lachlan Freeman Taber, Vincent Romagnano, Flynn Pianta-Cook, Caleb Luscombe, Nic Tobin and Ryan Kealey.
The Saints will now face Lockington Bamawm United in a first semi-final after the Cats marked a 54-41 win against North Bendigo.
LBU led 30-17 at half-time on the way to a 54-41 victory.
Josh Griggs, Sam Wolfe, Jamie Maddison, Zac Felmingham, Mitchell Jones and Thomas Eade were best for the Cats.
North Bendigo’s best were Josh Newlan, Andrew Bennett, Tyler Kinder, Michael Sjaardema, Jayden McCarroll and Daniel Love.
There were closely fought finals in the under-18s competition.
White Hills beat Lockington Bamawm United by a goal in the qualifying final.
Seth Boyd, Sam Lowes, Dylan Arnold, Andrew Beens, Ben Wallace and Ryan Clark were best for the Demons in a 25-19 victory.
The Cats’ best were Cooper Mitchell, Bowden Stone, Baxter Anderson, Hayden Quincey, Noah Condliffe and Jai Milligan.
Leitchville-Gunbower stayed in the premiership race after a 56-50 win against Colbinabbin in Sunday’s elimination final.
The Bombers led 34-20 at half-time and held a 10-point lead going into the final term.
Colbinabbin fired up to score 2.4 to 2.0 in the last, but it was LG which marked a 56-50 victory.
Silas Kingman, Oskar Smartt, Bodhi Chique, Darby Jones, Noah Hore and Fletcher Ball were best for the Bombers.
The Grasshoppers’ best were Mitch Clark, Ned Morgan, Jude Ryan, Toby Howlett, Wil Pinniger and Matthew Caton.
Qualifying finals scoreboard:
Seniors – Mount Pleasant 14.10 (94) d Colbinabbin 10.8 (68).
Reserves – Mount Pleasant 6.7 (43) d Heathcote 4.8 (32).
Under-18s – White Hills 3.7 (25) d Lockington Bamawm United 2.7 (19).
Elimination finals scoreboard:
Seniors – White Hills 13.13 (91) d North Bendigo 11.9 (75).
Reserves – Lockington Bamawm United 7.12 (54) d North Bendigo 5.11 (41).
Under-18s – Leitchville-Gunbower 8.8 (56) d Colbinabbin 7.8 (50).
Finals action for Lockington Bamawm United kicks off this Saturday at Gunbower when the Cats take on Mount Pleasant in the seniors second semi-final from 2.15pm.
In Sunday’s seniors first semi-final at Toolleen, Colbinabbin faces White Hills from 2.15pm.
In the reserves, White Hills plays Mount Pleasant in Saturday’s second semi-final at Gunbower from 11.50am.
Heathcote and Lockington Bamawm United will fight to stay in the premiership race when they contest the reserves first semi-final on Sunday from 11.50am at Toolleen.
North Bendigo’s young guns take on White Hills in the under-18s second semi-final at Gunbower from 9.45am on on Saturday.
Lockington Bamawm United and Leitchville-Gunbower line up for Sunday’s first semi-final from 9.45am at Toolleen.
Written by Nathan Dole.
