BY NATHAN DOLE
HEATHCOTE’S second-quarter blitz set up a crucial win against White Hills in Saturday’s 12th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Saints were on home turf at Barrack Reserve to take on the Demons.
A strong start was a goal for Heathcote after it had fallen short after White Hills built sizeable leads in their previous two showdowns.
On Saturday the Saints led 19-17 at quarter-time and then slammed on 4.3 to nil in the second.
The Demons fired up to win the third, 20-7, but the Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote responded.
The Saints added 3.3 to 1.2 in the last to complete a 74-45 victory.
It was consecutive rounds where Heathcote was without gun goalkicker Corey Grindlay.
Heathcote showed it’s not a one-man band in attack as Braden Padmore kicked three goals and Liam Birch and Victor Butler added two each.
Equally important was in defence where William Direen capped a best afield performance by keeping Kaiden Antonowicz goalless.
In round three Antonowicz kicked nine goals in a two-point win by the Demons against the Saints.
Best for Heathcote in Saturday’s match were Direen, Padmore, Lachlan Freeman Taber, Connor Hamilton, Will Long and Lachlan Inness.
It was a tough afternoon for the Jack Fallon and Jake Pallpratt-coached White Hills.
Best for the Demons were Cohen Kekich, Nic Wallace, Matt Sawyer, Thomas Brereton, Patrick Eefting and Jake Allport.
Lockington Bamawm United was given a mighty scare by the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Lockington’s Nicol Trading Oval.
The Hawks led 21-13 at quarter-time before LBU struck back to win the second term, 26-15.
Led by the play of Brodie Collins, ruckman Tyler Phillips and Charlie Hinks, LBU added 3.1 to 1.3 in the third term, and 2.4 to 0.2 in the last.
At the final siren the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU led 74-47 to strengthen its position in the top five.
The Cats’ attack was led by captain Brodie Collins and Thomas Leech on three goals apiece.
Lachy Wilson kicked three majors for the Hawks as Koby Gibson added two.
LBU’s best included Thomas Leech, Anthony McMahon and Stacy Fiske.
Best for a Huntly team jointly coached by Harry Whittle and Jayden Cordy were Mitch Billings, Kyle Forster, Harry McCormick, Harry Campbell, Ryan Burt and Jackson Fry.
Mount Pleasant scored a 39-point win against Colbinabbin at Toolleen.
Co-coaches of Mounts, Adam Baird and Ben Weightman both played significant roles in the win.
The Blues 26-8 at quarter-time and 40-17 by the main break.
Colbinabbin worked hard in the second half to score 3.3 as it held Mounts to a tally of 5.7.
At the final siren, Mount Pleasant led 11.11 (77) to 5.8 (38).
Weightman kicked five goals as Baird added two.
Laine Fitzgerald booted two goals for Colbinabbin.
Best for Mount Pleasant were key defender William Wallace, Weightman, Baird, Riley McNamara, captain Chris Down and Zebb Murrell.
David Price, Logan Fitzgerald, Connor Aldous, Ben Barton, Laine Fitzgerald and coach Jed Brain were the Grasshoppers’ best.
A strong first half set up Leitchville Gunbower’s win at Elmore.
The Bombers led 21-8 at quarter-time and 40-16 by the main break.
The Mick Woolhouse-coached Elmore struck back to win the third term, 5.3 to 4.2.
In the last it was the Shannon Keam-coached LG team which added 4.3 to 1.3 for a 93-58 victory.
Billy Hawken kicked four goals for the Bombers as Chris Horman added three and Lachlan Sverns chipped in with two.
Bloods’ captain Rhys Holmberg and Nick Kellow kicked two goals.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were co-captain Jye Keath, Caleb and Zac Hislop, Billy Hawken, ruckman Jobee Warde and Mitch Candy.
Rhys Holmberg, Nic Kellow, Kyle Armstrong, Mitch Carson, Zac Laffy and Liam Gundry played well for Elmore.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Heathcote 146 per cent, 36 points; Mount Pleasant 177, 32; North Bendigo 129, 32; White Hills 132, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 123, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 78, 16; Colbinabbin 78, 10; Elmore 68, 10; Huntly 42, 4.
In next Saturday’s 13th round, Leitchville Gunbower takes on Mount Pleasant at Gunbower.
Colbinabbin and Lockington Bamawm United clash at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks play North Bendigo at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
White Hills meets Elmore at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
Heathcote has the bye.
Leaders in the league goalkicking race:
49 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
45 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
36 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
35 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
29 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
28 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
27 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
26 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
23 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
20 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
19 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
18 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
17 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
16 Laine Fitzgerald, Colbinabbin.
15 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
15 Victor Butler, Heathcote.
15 Lachlan Sverns, Leitchville Gunbower.