Demons not fazed by playing on North Bendigo’s turf
LINE-UPS have changed dramatically, but White Hills will not be fazed about the challenge of playing at North Bendigo in Saturday’s 12th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League senior footy clash.
The Demons broke the Bulldogs long-running unbeaten sequence at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street last season and also won this season’s third round duel between the clubs.
In the most recent meeting, White Hills scored 5.5 to 1.5 in a third-quarter blitz on the way to a 109-97 win at its Scott Street den against the Bulldogs.
Cohen Kekich kicked four goals as Rhys Irwin, Mitch Walsh and Bayden Fallon were best.
White Hills put in a superb effort against Mount Pleasant at Scott Street last round.
Scores were locked on 63-all at three quarter-time and it was only in the last 10 minutes where Mounts took control to seal a 95-72 victory.
Best for the Demons were Rhys Irwin, Jake Dickens, Mitch Dole and Jack Fallon.
The challenge for the Jack Fallon-coached White Hills will be to bring another high level of intensity and skill to the Bulldogs’ kennel.
Liam Bartels leads the Demons’ attack on 20 goals and will test North Bendigo in every quarter.
Other players to watch include Ben Bacon, Kaiden Skelton and David Wright in defence, Patrick Eefting and Nathan Moffat.
North Bendigo won last Saturday’s match at Elmore by 107 points as Hakeem Johnson kicked six goals to be best afield in just his second match for the club.
Johnson wears the number five made famous by legendary full-forward Doug ‘Dollar’ Roulston in the premirship years of 1974, ’76 and ’77.
The creativity and pace of Johnson is a huge bonus to a Bulldogs attack that includes the marking strength of Matt Gray, Dylan Klemm and Cody Riddick.
Other key players for the Robert Bennett-coached North Bendigo include Aaryn Craig and Nic Waterson in midfield; Tim Deveraux, Shane Harris and Daniel Reid in defence; and ruckman Jeremy Lambden.
Mount Pleasant tackles Heathcote in a vital clash at Toolleen.
The third-placed Blues are six points clear of North Bendigo, while the fifth-placed White Hills is a win and 10 per cent clear of White Hills.
Blues’ gun forward Ben Weightman starts the match just three away from the 50-goal mark.
A formidable Mount Pleasant team coached by Darren Walsh and Adam Baird has Chris Down in the ruck, Billy Mahony as ruck-rover, Mitch Bennett in hot form in attack, and Bryce Hinneberg, William Wallace and Fletcher White in defence.
Heathcote will be keen to strike back after a 21-goal loss on home turf at Barrack Reserve to Lockington Bamawm United.
Key players for the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints include Brent Jane in the ruck, Codie Price and Connor Hamilton across half-back, Jackson Jones in the centre, ruckman Brent Jane, Jack Brooks, Kai Cavallaro and Braden Padmore in attack.
Lockington Bamawm United is at home to play Leitchville-Gunbower at Lockington.
The Brodie Collins-coached Cats will be eyeing another big margin.
A powerful team which is chasing consecutive premierships has an on-ball division of Tyler Phillips, Nathan Bacon and Lachlan Atherton; a strong defence that includes Jeremy Mundie, Joseph Wolfe and Marcus Angove.
Best for the Tim Bannan-coached Leitchville-Gunbower in last Saturday’s clash with Huntly were Nathan McLellan, Rhys Bradley, Blake Azzopardi and Tom Brereton.
Huntly has the bye.
It’s also a rest for Colbinabbin and Elmore this Saturday.
Colbo played Elmore in season opener on April 2 at M.J. Morgan Reserve in Colbinabbin.
The Grasshoppers won 150-61 as Laine Fitzgerald kicked six goals to be best with Todd Clarke, Will Lowe and Matt Riordan.
Elmore’s best in game one were Sam McHale, Tannar Cerrone, Bailey Sawyer and Matt Gilmour.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Lockington Bamawm United 216 per cent, 36 points; Colbinabbin 187, 34; Mount Pleasant 165, 32; North Bendigo 141, 26; Heathcote 88, 20; White Hills 78, 16; Elmore 60, 8; Huntly 63, 4; Leitchville-Gunbower 41, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
47 Ben Weightman, MP.
35 James Brain, Colbo.
27 Darcy Laffy, Elm.
26 Jed Brain, Colbo.; Dylan Klemm, NB.
24 Ben Fulford, LBU.
23 Matt Gray, NB.
22 Anthony McMahon, LBU.
20 Liam Bartels, WH.
18 Mitchell Bennett, MP.
17 Jack Brooks, H’cote; Kai Cavallaro, H’cote; Thomas Leech, LBU; Braden Padmore, H’cote; Rhys Woodland, LBU.
15 Laine Fitzgerald, Colbo.
Written by Nathan Dole.
