Few pleasantries as Cats tackle Mounts at Lockington
LOCKINGTON Bamawm United meets Mount Pleasant in a possible prelude to the 2022 grand final in this Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s senior footy action.
The LBU Cats have home-ground advantage at Lockington for the big showdown with the Blues.
It’s first against second as the Darren Walsh and Adam Baird-coached Mount Pleasant aims to prove it learnt plenty from a 31-point loss to LBU at Toolleen in round six.
The Brodie Collins-coached Cats had the bye last round.
Among the many strengths in the LBU line-up is an attack that includes Anthony McMahon, T Leech, Riley McIvor and Rhys Woodland.
Cats’ ruckman Tyler Phillips won last season’s Sam Cheatley Medal as HDFNL fairest and best and continues to win plenty of contests.
Other players to watch for LBU are Bacon and Bacon, Lachlan Atherton, Joss Howlett and Jeremy Mundie.
The Blues will again be without classy forward Ben Weightman who leads the league’s goalkicking race on 54.
In last Saturday’s play it was Zac Featherby who stepped up to kick six goals for Mounts.
Although named in a back pocket, Adam Baird is likely to start in an on-ball role for a team that includes older brother, Travis, and also has the skill of ruckman Chris Down, Billy Mahony, Bryce Hinnerberg, and Bailey and Fletcher White.
It’s the Saints against the Bloods as Heathcote and Elmore clash at Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote showed plenty of fight in a 64-56 loss at Colbinabbin last round.
Key players for the Saints include Braden Padmore, Shaun Harrison, Will Long in the centre, Jordan and Kai Cavallaro, Billy and Codie Price, and Will Direen at centre half-back.
Elmore did well to be within 13 points of White Hills at the end of their match on the Bloods’ turf.
Darcy Laffy had another day out against the Demons as he kicked six goals and Matt Nettlefold added three.
The Dylan Friedberger and Dylan Gordon-coached Elmore has Rhys Holmberg in the centre; Z Laffy, Z Holmberg and R Williams in defence; Gilmour in the ruck, and Amor Beale roving the contests.
Huntly tackles North Bendigo in the Hawks’ nest at Strauch Reserve.
The Stacy Fiske-coached Hawks will be keen to hit back after a 100-plus points loss at Mount Pleasant.
Key players for Huntly include Tyler Miles, Mitch Christensen, Jaydon Cowling, Jay McDonald, Connor Aldous, Orion Downing and Travis Mercadante.
A huge challenge for the Hawks will be limiting the impact Bulldogs’ key forward Dylan Klemm has.
Klemm kicked eight goals in North Bendigo’s win against Leitchville Gunbower.
When these clubs met in round six at Atkins Street, Klemm earned the Keith Robertson Medal as the Bulldogs won the Golden City Cup.
The Robert Bennett-coached Bulldogs will be determined to make a better start to this match after they led Leitchville-Gunbower by two points last Saturday.
Players to watch for the red, white and blue include Nic Waterson on a wing, ruckman Jeremy Lambden, Jordan Ford, Matt Gray and Manny Thalasinos.
Leitchville-Gunbower is back at Leitchville to take on Colbinabbin.
The Tim Bannan-coached Bombers put together a great first half at North Bendigo in a match where Nathan McLellan and Joel Regan kicked three goals apiece and Mitchell Candy, Jobee Warde, Matt McLellan and Billy Hawken were among the best.
Colbinabbin will be fired up to play four quarters after they were down at the first three breaks before they kicked on to beat Heathcote on the Grasshoppers’ ground at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
A talented Colbo team coached by Julian Bull includes James and Jed Brain, Laine and Logan Fitzgerald, Hugh and Jimmy McMurtrie, Lachlan Ezard, Thomas Hill, Matt Riordan and Stephen Tuohey.
White Hills has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Lockington Bamawm United 217 per cent, 44 points; Mount Pleasant 186, 44; Colbinabbin 180, 42; North Bendigo 146, 38; Heathcote 82, 20; White Hills 77, 20; Elmore 62, 8; Huntly 58, 4; Leitchville-Gunbower 40, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
54 Ben Weightman, MP.
44 Dylan Klemm, NB.
37 James Brain, Colbo.
33 Darcy Laffy, Elm.
29 Liam Bartels, WH; Jed Brain, Colbo.
28 Anthony McMahon, LBU.
27 Matt Gray, NB; Thomas Leech, LBU.
26 Braden Padmore, H’cote.
24 Ben Fulford, LBU.
22 Mitchell Bennett, MP.
21 Rhys Woodland, LBU.
20 Jack Brooks, H’cote; Jordan Ford, NB.
19 Jarod Bacon, LBU; Kai Cavallaro, H’cote; Billy Hawken, LG; Hakeem Johnson, NB; Stephen Tuohey, Colbo.
18 Dean Tydell, MP.
16 Blake Azzopardi, LG; Jackson Conforti, H’cote; Laine Fitzgerald, Colbo.
15 Luke Gray, Huntly; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
Written by Nathan Dole.
