BY NATHAN DOLE
Bombers win great duel on Colbinabbin’s turf
IT WAS another dramatic finish to a contest between Colbinabbin and Leitchville Gunbower in Saturday’s round 11 action in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
After a stunning win at Heathcote the previous round, Colbinabbin was back at home at M.J. Morgan Oval to take on the Bombers.
Accuracy played a key factor in Colbinabbin leading at quarter-time after it scored 3.1 as the Bombers racked up a tally of 2.6.
In the second the Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower took control.
The Bombers scored 3.5 to 2.1.
A four-point buffer at half-time was eight by the last change after LG added 3.1 to 2.3 in the third term.
The Jed Brain-coached Colbinabbin fought back to win the last, 14-7, but it was the Bombers who led 67-61 at the final siren.
Leitchville Gunbower’s attack was led by Fraser Buchanan, Billy Hawken, Caleb Hislop and Clay McGregor on two each.
Hugh McMurtrie kicked a match-high three goals for Colbinabbin as Clint Shields chipped in with two.
Best for the Bombers were Brady Hore, ruckman Jobee Warde, Caleb Hislop, Billy Hawken, Max Hagan and Brad Green.
Colbinabbin’s best were Jed Brain, Angus Martin, Nathan Basile, Connor Aldous, Aidan Basile and Toby Howlett.
Eight straight goals in the second quarter put Heathcote in control of its clash on Lockington Bamawm United’s turf at Nichol Trading Oval.
Desperate to regain confidence after being outplayed by Colbinabbin the previous round, Heathcote faced a must-win game to hold third place on the ladder.
A closely-fought first quarter at Lockington ended with Heathcote in front, 19-14.
In the second the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints produced their best footy in many weeks.
As Heathcote slammed on eight goals the LBU Cats added 4.4.
By the long break the Saints led 67-46.
Heathcote won the second half, 51-47, as it marked a 118-89 victory.
Switched to attack, Daniel Johnstone kicked four goals for the Saints as ruckman James Orr also booted four majors.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Saints were Braden Padmore, three; and Corey Grindlay, two.
The Cats’ attack was led by Jack Reiter, three; Thomas Leech and Bart Phillips, two.
Saints’ co-captain Codie Price was best afield as James Orr, Daniel Johnstone, Braden Padmore, Mitch McLean and Ben Connelly played well.
Tyler Phillips, Elijah Bruns, Brodie Collins, Jacob Bruns, Vincent Ryan and Jeremy Mundie were best for the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU.
White Hills charged clear in the final term to record a 119-90 win on Mount Pleasant’s turf at Toolleen.
The Jack Fallon and Kaiden Antonowicz-coached White Hills led 23-12 at quarter-time.
In the second it was Mount Pleasant which capitalised best on forward moves by scoring 5.1 as the Demons added 3.5.
Mounts won the third, 34-32, but the Demons held a one-point buffer going into the final term of the clash with a Blues line-up which has Ben Bisset and Jack Hickman as playing coaches and Cam Carter as director of coaching.
The Demons fired up to slam on 6.5 and held the Blues to a tally of 2.1 in the final quarter.
Liam Bartels led the attack for the red and black on four goals as Cohen Kekich and Ben Taylor added three each.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Demons were James Davies and Jack Fallon with two.
Mitch Bennett kicked a match-high six goals for Mounts as Ben Bisset and Riley McNamara chipped in with two each.
The in-form Mitch Dole was best afield for the Demons as Thomas Brereton, Jack Fallon, Alex Davis, Ben Taylor and James Davies played well for the ladder leaders.
Mount Pleasant’s best were Jack Hickman, Mitch Bennett, Riley McNamara, Zac Featherby, Harry Teasdale and Zebb Murrell.
North Bendigo marked a 129-point victory against Elmore in the Bulldogs’ kennel at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
As it has done all season, North Bendigo made a strong start to the match.
The Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs scored 7.4 to 3.1 in the opening term.
North Bendigo’s pressure did not let up as it slammed on 8.3 and kept the Bloods to a score of 1.3 in the second.
Although it led by 69 points at half-time, North Bendigo was ruthless in its approach to the game.
Athletic forward Dylan Klemm capped the dominance of the midfield and on-ballers to finish with eight goals in a 185-56 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Sam Barnes, four; Jake Dean, three; Pat Bogers, Jett Grundy, Ryan Hartley and Riley Paetow, two.
Elmore’s attack was led by James Harney on three as coach Nathan Kay added two.
Best for North Bendigo were midfielder Nic Waterson, Dylan Klemm, Aarryn Craig, Riley Paetow, Ryan Hartley and Sam Barnes.
Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Jarrad Kyne, Kane Cornell, Nathan Kay, Sam Lees and Joseph Harney were best for an Elmore team of which Mick Woolhouse is director of coaching.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 206 per cent, 36 points; North Bendigo 181, 36; Heathcote 120, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 94, 24; Mount Pleasant 118, 16; Colbinabbin 83, 16; Huntly 64, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 64, 8; Elmore 46, 4.
The rematch of last season’s grand finalists, Heathcote and Mount Pleasant at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve highlights next Saturday’s 12th round.
The Winslow White Hills will be home at the Scott Street ground to take on Huntly.
Colbinabbin tackles Elmore at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Leitchville Gunbower clashes with Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
42 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
42 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
39 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
33 James Harney, Elmore.
27 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
24 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
23 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
23 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
23 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
21 James Davies, White Hills.
19 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
18 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
16 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
15 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
15 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
15 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
15 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
15 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
14 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
12 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
11 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
11 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
11 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
10 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
10 Caleb Hislop, Leitchville Gunbower.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
10 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
10 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
9 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
9 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
9 Jake Miller, White Hills.
9 Jeremy Mundie, Lockington Bamawm United.
9 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
9 Tyler Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
9 Charles Ryan, Colbinabbin.
9 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.
9 Jordan Wilson, Colbinabbin.
Photo – Colbinabbin FNC