Demons fire to beat Saints at White Hills
WHITE Hills bolstered chances of a top-five finish and finals appearance after it beat Heathcote in Saturday’s 16th round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s senior footy clash.
The Jack Fallon-coached Demons drew level on six wins with Heathcote.
At two rounds to go the Saints are six per cent in front of White Hills, but the Demons take on Leitchville Gunbower, away; and Huntly, home, to complete the home and away series.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote has the bye this Saturday and then plays Leitchville Gunbower at Barack Reserve in the 18th round.
In Saturday’s big game it was the Jack Fallon-coached Demons who dominated the first half on their ground at Scott Street.
White Hills led 60-27 at half-time and 79-60 at a quarter to play.
The Saints upped the pressure in the last to add 3.3, but a score of 1.3 was enough for the Demons to claim an 88-81 victory.
Key forward Liam Bartels kicked six goals for White Hills as Mitch Dole added two.
The Saints’ attack was led by Kai Cavallaro, Jackson Jones, Braden Padmore and Billy Price on two each.
Best for the Demons were Mitch Dole, James Davies, Ryan Walker, Bayden Fallon, David Wright and Nic Wallace.
Will Direen, Henry McCarthy, Kai Cavallaro, Kyle Seidel, Jackson Jones and Shaun Harrison played well for the Saints.
Lockington Bamawm United overpowered North Bendigo in the final quarter to win 105-67 on the Bulldogs’ ground at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street.
A high-scoring first term ended in a 32-27 lead for LBU.
Scores were locked on 50-all at half-time before the Cats added 3.4 to 1.1 in the third quarter.
The Brodie Collins-coached LBU took control of the centre breaks in the final term after the Bulldogs had drawn within eight points.
It was five unanswered goals from the Cats as Tyler Phillips, Lachlan Atherton and Jesse Collins set up a lot of play.
Anthony McMahon went on to kick a match-high five goals for LBU as Jesse Collins and Thomas Leech booted three majors.
North Bendigo’s attack was led by Jordan Ford and Dylan Klemm on three each.
The Cats’ best incluced Anthony McMahon, Trent Bacon and Joseph Wolfe.
Jeremy Lambden, Jordan Ford, Storm Giri, Shane Harris, Dylan Klemm and Bailey Wingrave were best for the Robert Bennett-coached North Bendigo.
The Bulldogs must win on Mount Pleasant’s turf next Saturday and then bank on Colbinabbin beating the Blues in the 18th round to claim third place.
A highlight for the Bulldogs was earlier in the day when Cody Riddick passed the century mark in the under-18s clash.
Riddick booted five goals in that match and then played in the seniors.
Colbinabbin was under the pump in the first half of its home clash with Huntly at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
The Stacy Fiske-coached Hawks led 46-19 at the main break of the match at Colbinabbin.
The Grasshoppers fought back to win the third quarter, 5.4 to a goal, and then added 3.4 to 1.2 in the last to claim a 75-60 victory.
Jed Brain and Matt Riordan led Colbo’s attack on three goals apiece.
Abe Sladden marked his senior debut for the Hawks by kicking two goals.
Best for the Julian Bull-coached Grasshoppers were Matt Riordan, Jed Brain, Jimmy McMurtrie, Todd Clarke, Tom Hill and Ben Barton.
Mitch Christensen, Steve Kairn, Jayden Cordy, Harrison Campbell, Jaydon Cowling and Jake Maher played well for the brown and gold.
Four goals to one in the second term set up Elmore’s home win against Leitchville Gunbower.
The Bombers led 8-7 at quarter-time, but Elmore then added 4.9 to 1.2 in the second.
Elmore went on to win 61-36 as Darcy Laffy kicked a match-high three goals for the Dylan Friedberger and Dylan Gordon coached team.
Bloods’ captain Nic Kellow was best afield as Tyler Amor Beale, Hayden Trewick, Sam McHale, Conor Beckmans and Mitch Carson played well.
Goals and best for the Tim Bannan-coached Bombers were not supplied.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Lockington Bamawm United 204 per cent, 52 points; Colbinabbin 173, 50; Mount Pleasant 175, 44; North Bendigo 142, 42; Heathcote 85, 24; White Hills 79, 24; Elmore 65, 12; Huntly 58, 4; Leitchville-Gunbower 43, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
59 Ben Weightman, MP.
49 Dylan Klemm, NB.
42 Darcy Laffy, Elm.
40 James Brain, Colbo.
35 Liam Bartels, WH; Jed Brain, Colbo.; Braden Padmore, H’cote.
34 Anthony McMahon, LBU.
31 Thomas Leech, LBU.
28 Matt Gray, NB.
24 Jarod Bacon, LBU; Kai Cavallaro, H’cote; Ben Fulford, LBU.
23 Jordan Ford, NB.
22 Mitchell Bennett, MP; Jack Brooks, H’cote; Billy Hawken, LG; Hakeem Johnson, NB.
21 Laine Fitzgerald, Colbo.; Rhys Woodland, LBU.
19 Stephen Tuohey, Colbo.
18 Tyler Phillips, LBU; Dean Tydell, MP.
17 Blake Azzopardi, LG.
There will be two huge contests in Saturday’s 17th round.
Lockington Bamawm United and Colbinabbin meet in the battle of first against second on Lockington’s turf.
It’s third against fourth as Mount Pleasant and North Bendigo clash on the Blues’ ground at Toolleen.
Huntly and Elmore do battle in the Hawks’ next at Strauch Reserve.
Leitchville-Gunbower meets White Hills at Gunbower.
Heathcote has the bye.
Written by Nathan Dole.
