BY NATHAN DOLE
Demons bolster line-up for semi-final against Dogs
THE Winslow White Hills Demons have bolstered their team for Saturday’s second semi-final showdown with North Bendigo in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
The Demons and Bulldogs will play at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve from 2.15pm.
A White Hills team jointly coached by Jack Fallon and Kaiden Antonowicz is a win away from contesting its first senior grand final since runner-up to Mount Pleasant in 2005.
The Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo broke its finals jinx with a one-goal victory against Leitchville Gunbower in last Saturday’s qualifying final at Lockington.
There have been five changes to the White Hills team which last played on August 3 at Heathcote.
Ins for the red and black are Thomas Brereton, James Davies, Jack Lawton, Cameron Taggert and Nick Warnock.
Out are Patrick Conlan, Josh Harris, Jarrell Ratcliffe, Kaiden Skelton and David Wright.
North Bendigo has brought in Jack Towers for injured midfielder Nic Waterson.
The Demons’ most recent hit-out ended in a 75-57 victory on Heathcote’s turf.
Among the many highlights will be the play of White Hills co-coach Kaiden Antonowicz at full-forward, and North Bendigo centre half-forward Dylan Klemm.
Both tied for the league’s goalkicking race on 59 goals.
This season’s meetings between the Demons and Bulldogs stand at one-all.
The Bulldogs unleashed a first-quarter blitz on their way to a 127-101 win against White Hills at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street in round five.
Jordan Ford led the attack on six goals as Dylan Klemm booted three.
Leading goalkickers for White Hills were co-coach Kaiden Antonowicz, six, and James Davies and Mitch Dole on four.
The round 14 showdown at White Hills went the way of the Demons, 101-79.
Antonowicz kicked five goals and Liam Bartels booted four.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Klemm and Ford on four and two.
The many avenues to goal for the Demons are reflected on a goalkicking list led by Antonowicz, 59; Liam Bartels, 41; Cohen Kekich, 27; James Davies, 23; and Mitch Dole, 18.
The Demons gain plenty of run from Fallon and Jake Pallpratt off half-back, and Alex Davis has starred in defence all season.
In the ruck or attack, Callum Crisp and Jack Lawton will test their opponents all match.
White Hills also has the experience of captain Rhys Irwin, Patrick Eefting, and Cohen Kekich.
An in-form Klemm kicked four goals in the qualifying final win against Leitchville Gunbower.
Others to watch in North Bendigo’s attack are Jake Dean, 29; Sam Barnes, 24; and Jordan Ford, 21.
Although he sustained a neck injury last round, Bulldogs’ midfielder Nic Waterson was named for the second semi.
A talented Bulldogs’ line-up includes ruck-rover Ryan Hartley, captain Aarryn Craig, ruckman Aidan Brohm, key defender Hamish McCartney, and the athletic Cody Riddick.
Line-ups have changed markedly, but the Demons have been a finals hoodoo for the Bulldogs in recent seasons.
It had been a lean run in finals for North Bendigo since the Matt Dillon-coached team won the premiership in 2019.
Last year it was White Hills which scored a 40-point win against North Bendigo in the qualifying final at Heathcote.
A week later and the Dogs were knocked out of the finals race by Mount Pleasant in the first semi.
The elimination final in 2022 between White Hills and North Bendigo went the way of the Demons by 16 points.
On Sunday it will be Leitchville Gunbower and Heathcote fighting to keep premiership hopes alive when they meet in the first semi-final at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
The clash of the Bombers and Saints starts at 2.15pm.
It’s been a big week for Leitchville Gunbower as ruckman Jobee Warde became the club’s first winner of the Sam Cheatley Medal as the league’s fairest and best player.
On Sunday it will be Warde against Heathcote gun recruit James Orr in a contest crucial to the fortunes of both teams.
There was one forced change to the Leitchville Gunbower team since the qualifying loss to North Bendigo.
Joel Donehue lodged an early guilty plea and starts a two-match ban for rough conduct.
The Bombers brought in Josh Hawken for Sunday’s match.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote welcomes back co-captain Codie Price and midfielder Joseph Beedle as Toby Hudson and Caleb Luscombe make way.
It’s one-all in this season’s clashes between the Bombers and Saints.
In round six the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers won at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park by seven points.
Fraser Buchanan, Billy Hawken and Chris Horman all kicked three goals.
The Saints’ leading goalkicker was Corey Grindlay on four.
Heathcote won a dogged contest on a wind-swept Leitchville ground in round 15 by eight points.
Best for the Bombers on day one of the finals series were co-captain Jye Keath, Brady Hore, Chris Horman and James Brereton.
Key players for LG include Blake Dye at centre half-forward, co-captain Hoby Bussey, Max Hagan and Thomas Guerra.
The Saints charge to victory against Colbinabbin in the elimination final was led by James Orr, co-captain Liam Jacques, Braden Padmore and Daniel Johnstone.
Whether in attack or midfield, Zak Saad’s elusiveness and skill is a huge plus for Heathcote.
Restricted to just eight matches because of a knee injury, Saad has kicked 21 goals.
It will be a big test for a Heathcote defence led by Bill Direen, Lachlan Freeman-Taber and Ben Connelly.
White Hills will feature in the reserves and under-18 second semi-finals.
In the reserves, the Demons are up against Leitchville Gunbower.
A 15-1 run meant White Hills finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
The sole loss was to the Bombers by four points in round seven at Gunbower.
In round 16, White Hills beat LG by 16 goals.
White Hills or Lockington Bamawm United will be first to the under-18s grand final when they play in the second semi.
In round three, White Hills won at Lockington by four points.
The Cats struck back for a 42-38 victory at White Hills in round 10 which was the Demons only defeat in the run to the finals.
The reserves first semi on Sunday features Lockington Bamawm United against Mount Pleasant.
LBU won both showdowns with the Blues by 37 and 18 points.
The Harlow Huntly Hawks will tackle North Bendigo in the under-18s first semi-final.
In round six, North Bendigo won at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve by 20 points.
A point separated the teams as the Bulldogs fought on for a 35-34 victory in the 15th round.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve:
Under-18s at 9.45am: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 11.50am: White Hills v Leitchville Gunbower.
Seniors at 2.15pm: White Hills v North Bendigo.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills:
Under-18s at 9.45am: Huntly v North Bendigo.
Reserves at 11.50am: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Leitchville Gunbower v Heathcote.