BY NATHAN DOLE
Saints face massive test against Blues
HEATHCOTE’S fight to hold third place on the ladder becomes tougher in this Saturday’s round 12 clash with Mount Pleasant in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.
The Saints will be on home turf at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve to take on the Blues from 2.15pm.
There’s plenty at stake in another rematch between last season’s grand finalists.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints start the round locked on 24 points with the fourth-placed Leitchville Gunbower.
As reigning premier, Mount Pleasant holds fifth place, but is under pressure from Colbainbbin to stay there.
When the Saints and Blues met in round one it was Heathcote which marked a 32-point win at Toolleen.
Heathcote made several telling positional moves last round.
A key factor in the win at Lockington was a four goal haul by Daniel Johnstone after spending all season in defence.
Highlight of this Saturday’s match will be the ruck duel between James Orr and Mount Pleasant captain Chris Down.
The run of Saints co-captain Codie Price from half-back, defensive work of Ben Connelly and Bill Direen, and skills of key forward Corey Grindlay will play a big part in the quest to beat the Blues.
A Mount Pleasant team which has Cam Carter as director of coaching, and Jack Hickman and Ben Bisset as playing coaches is yet to be any of the teams in the top four.
That’s a feat the Blues will be determined to achieve this round.
Players to watch for Mounts include Bailey and Fletcher White, Mitch Bennett, Mitch Rovers, Daniel Frame and Zebb Murrell.
It was four goals by Caelan Smith which played a big part in Mounts beating Heathcote in last September’s grand final.
Colbinabbin tackles Elmore at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
A Colbinabbin victory and a Mounts defeat will put the Grasshoppers on the fifth rung.
The Jed Brain-coached Colbinabbin played well to finish within a goal of Leitchville Gunbower at Leitchville last round.
The Grasshoppers kicked off the season by scoring a 74-point victory under Elmore’s lights in round one.
Colbinabbin’s team to tackle Elmore this Saturday includes Julian Bull, Nick Knight, Clint Shields, Logan Fitzgerald, Alex Carr, Jordan Wilson and Connor Aldous.
The Nathan Kay-coached Elmore will be desperate to mark win number two in the club’s 150th year.
A tough task made more difficult as key forward James Harney is out of the Bloods line-up.
Key players for the red and white include ruckman Daniel Russell, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Cobi Fitzpatrick, Rhys and Zack Holmberg, and Joseph Harney.
Leitchville Gunbower clashes with Lockington Bamawm United at Leitchville.
A six-four record has the Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower challenging for a top three finish and double chance at finals time.
Form has changed dramatically since LG was on the end of a 28-point loss on Lockington Bamawm United’s turf in the first round.
Key players for the Bombers include ruckman Jobee Warde, rover Caleb Hislop, Joel Donehue and Jye Keath in defence, Tom Brereton, Fraser Buchanan and Lachlan Sverns.
A Lockington Bamawm United team coached by Stacy Fiske will be desperate to end its winless run.
The Cats played well to score 89 points against Heathcote, but again conceded 100-plus points.
Tyler Phillips, Matt Hore, Thomas Leech, Brodie and Jesse Collins, Joseph Wolfe and Stuart Taylor will play crucial roles as the Cats attempt an upset victory.
The Winslow White Hills Demons will be home at the Scott Street ground to take on Huntly.
Been a superb season by the Demons whose sole defeat was to North Bendigo.
A powerful attack includes co-coach Kaiden Antonowicz, Liam Bartels, Mitch Dole and James Davies.
From defence the Demons have the run of Thomas Brereton, Jake Pallpratt and Cameron Taggert, and marking strength of Alex Davis.
In midfield, co-coach Jack Fallon teams up with Rhys Irwin and Nic Wallace.
Another huge challenge for the Harlowe Huntly Hawks and coach Hamish Morcom.
Creating enough chances for an attack led by Lachy Wilson, Abe Sladden and Jacob Greenwood will be crucial for the brown and gold.
Players to watch for the Hawks include Brodie and Jackson Fry, Harry Whittle, Ben Daley, Brodie Butt and captain Steve Kairn.
North Bendigo has 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.
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.