Johnson magic lifts North Bendigo to win against Saints
ANOTHER six goals by the classy Hakeem Johnson lifted North Bendigo to an eight-point win on Heathcote’s turf in Saturday’s 13th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League.
The Bulldogs were down 25-38 at half-time of the clash with the Saints at Barrack Reserve.
North Bendigo scored 7.4 to 3.2 in the third quarter to lead by 13 points going into the final term.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints kept working hard, especially Braden Padmore who kicked a team-high six goals.
But it was the North Bendigo team which had assistant coach Daniel Francis in charge as senior coach Rob Bennett was on a family holiday that claimed a vital win, 90-82.
It was a hat-trick of six goal tallies for Johnson who began the season with Kangaroo Flat as Jordan Ford kicked two majors.
After kicking 16 goals in the under-18s match, Cody Riddick added another in the seniors.
Best for the Bulldogs include young wingman/half-forward Riley Paetow, Tim Devereaux in defence, on-ballers Nathan Newlan and Manny Thalasinos and Sean Moyle.
The Saints’ best were Braden Padmore, Shaun Harrison, Will Long, Codie Price, Jackson Jones and Alex McIvor.
Both contests between the Saints and Bulldogs have been closely-fought this season.
The season-opener at North Bendigo ended in a 10-point win for the red, white and blue.
Colbinabbin dominated the final quarter to score a 34-point victory at White Hills.
On a day the Demons held a Past Players function, White Hills also performed well on-field against the powerful Colbinabbin line-up at the Scott Street ground.
The Demons were within a point at half-time and two points going into the last term.
It was Colbinabbin which lifted the pressure at stoppages and run through midfield and into attack to score 5.2 to nil in the final quarter to complete a 77-43 victory.
Jed Brain, Todd Clarke and Stephen Tuohey kicked two goals apiece for the Julian Bull-coached Grasshoppers.
The White Hills attack was led by Liam Bartels on four.
Colbinabbin’s best were Logan Fitzgerald, David Price, Todd Clarke, Stephen Tuohey, Ben Barton and Thomas Hill.
Ben Bacon, David Wright, coach Jack Fallon, Liam Bartels, Mitch Dole and Eli Pearce played well for the Demons.
Huntly took on the ladder-leading Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Cats won every quarter on their way to a 108-62 result.
Thomas Leech led LBU’s attack on four goals as Anthony McMahon, Tyler Phillips and Rhys Woodland chipped in with two each for the Brodie Collins-coached reigning premier.
Huntly’s attack was led by Flynn Campbell and Brandon Dimech on three apiece.
LBU’s best were Joss Howlett, Rhys Woodland, Nathan Bacon, Joseph Wolfe, Charlie Hinks and Thomas Leech.
Harrison Campbell, Mitch Christensen, Jayden Cordy, Flynn Campbell, Jaydon Cowling and coach Stacy Fiske played well for the Hawks.
Mount Pleasant on-ballers Billy Mahony and Chris Down were best afield in a 70-point win on Leitchville-Gunbower’s turf at Gunbower.
The Blues went into the clash without gun forward Ben Weightman, but it did not affect them greatly in a 17.14 (116) to 7.4 (46) result.
Mounts led 33-12 at quarter-time, but the Bombers struck back to win the second quarter, 3.1 to 1.6, to be within 14 points at half-time.
The Darren Walsh and Adam Baird-coached Blues lifted the intensity and run to score 7.2 to a point in the third term.
Fletcher White went on to kick a match-high four goals for Mounts as Zac Featherby added three.
Leading goalkickers for the Bombers were Blake Azzopardi, Nathan McLellan and Bailey Taylor on two each.
Best for the Blues included Sam Greene, Zebb Murrell, Pat O’Brien and Jesse Tuohey.
Jobee Warde, Blake Azzopardi, Matthew McLellan, Hoby Bussey, Mitchell Candy and young gun Oskar Smartt were best for the Tim Bannan-coached Bombers.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Lockington Bamawm United 217 per cent, 44 points; Mount Pleasant 179, 40; Colbinabbin 186, 38; North Bendigo 139, 34; Heathcote 81, 20; White Hills 75, 16; Elmore 60, 8; Huntly 62, 4; Leitchville-Gunbower 40, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
54 Ben Weightman, MP.
37 James Brain, Colbo.
36 Dylan Klemm, NB.
28 Jed Brain, Colbo.; Anthony McMahon, LBU.
27 Darcy Laffy, Elm.; Thomas Leech, LBU.
25 Liam Bartels, WH.
24 Ben Fulford, LBU.
23 Matt Gray, NB; Braden Padmore, H’cote.
22 Mitchell Bennett, MP.
21 Rhys Woodland, LBU.
19 Jarod Bacon, LBU; Jack Brooks, H’cote; Kai Cavallaro, H’cote; Hakeem Johnson, NB.
17 Jordan Ford, NB; Billy Hawken, LG.
16 Blake Azzopardi, LG; Jackson Conforti, H’cote; Stephen Tuohey, Colbo.; Dean Tydell, MP.
15 Laine Fitzgerald, Colbo.; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
In next Saturday’s 14th round, Colbinabbin takes on Heathcote at M.J. Morgan Reserve at Colbinabbin.
North Bendigo tackles Leitchville-Gunbower at Hibo Hotel Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Elmore and White Hills clash at Elmore Reserve.
Mount Pleasant faces Huntly at Toolleen.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Written by Nathan Dole.