BY NATHAN DOLE
Demons outpoint Dogs in fight for top spot
THE Winslow White Hills Demons outpointed North Bendigo to hold top spot on the senior footy ladder after Saturday’s 14th round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
On the rebound from defeat at Colbinabbin the previous round, White Hills made a strong response on its turf at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
The Demons led 17-15 at quarter-time and then scored 4.2 to 2.5 in the second.
A high-scoring third term went the way of the red and black, 37-34.
Although North Bendigo did plenty of attacking in the last, a tally of 1.7 was not enough to reel in White Hills which scored three goals.
Kaiden Antonowicz kicked a match-high five goals as Liam Bartels added four as White Hills won 101-79.
Nick Warnock chipped in with two majors for the red and black.
North Bendigo’s attack was again led by Dylan Klemm on four goals as Jordan Ford chipped in with two.
Playing a mix of midfield and forward, Mitch Dole was best on ground for a White Hills team jointly coached by Jack Fallon and Kaiden Antonowicz.
The Demons’ best included captain Rhys Irwin, Cameron Taggert, Ben Taylor, Kaiden Antonowicz and Jake Pallpratt.
Nic Waterson, Ryan Hartley, Bailey Cain, Will Gilmore, Cody Riddick and Aarryn Craig were best for the Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks stung Colbinabbin at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks charged to a 25-10 lead by quarter-time against an opponent which had beaten White Hills just seven days earlier.
Both teams added 2.3 in the second.
The Jed Brain-coached Colbinabbin struck back to score 2.4 as it kept the Hawks scoreless in the third.
Huntly made the most of its chances in the last to score 2.3 as the Grasshoppers racked up six behinds.
The Hawks led 55-47 at the final siren.
Lachy Wilson kicked four goals for the brown and gold.
Jordan Wilson booted two majors for Colbinabbin.
Best for Huntly were Harry Whittle, Flynn Campbell, Darby Walsh, Lachy Wilson, Jackson Fry and Tori Ferguson.
Nick Knight, Angus Martin, Logan Fitzgerald, Will Lowe, Jed Brain and Jai Carn were Colbinabbin’s best.
Mount Pleasant marked a seven-goal win against Lockington Bamawm United at Toolleen.
The Blues led 31-15 at quarter-time and won a closely-fought second term, 27-25.
Six goals to three in the third put a Mounts line-up which has Cam Carter as director of coaching and Ben Bisset and Jack Hickman as playing coaches in charge of the contest.
The LBU Cats kept working hard, but the Blues had the answers as they scored 4.4 to 3.1 in the last to complete a 125-83 victory.
Ben Bisset kicked eight goals in a best afield performance as Mitch Bennett kicked three.
The Cats’ attack was led by Jesse Collins on four and Jack Reiter with three.
Best for Mounts included Daniel Whiting, Chris Down, Bailey White and Nick Butler.
Jesse and Brodie Collins, Jacob Haines, Tyler Phillips, Jacob Gardiner and Cody Betts were best for the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU.
Heathcote bounced back to form in a big way against Elmore at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote kicked 25 goals in a 168-63 victory agianst the Bloods.
A highlight for the Saints was the return of classy forward/mid Zak Saad who kicked three goals in his first match since injuring his knee in round three.
Jackson Conforti led the Saints attack on five goals as Corey Grindlay, Mitch McLean and Cooper Webber-Mirkin added three.
Liam Birch booted two goals for Heathcote.
Elmore’s James Harney was in great form as he kicked five goals.
Best for the Saints were Mitch McLean, Daniel Johnstone, Jackson Conforti, James Orr, Corey Grindlay and Codie Price.
Elmore coach Nathan Kay was best along with Rhys Holmberg, Kynan Sharpe, James and Joseph Harney, and Sam Lees.
Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 184 per cent, 44 points; North Bendigo 167, 40; Leitchville Gunbower 101, 32; Heathcote 119, 28; Mount Pleasant 122, 24; Colbinabbin 91, 24; Huntly 68, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 69, 12; Elmore 45, 4.
Two big matches will be played in next Saturday’s 15th round.
Leitchville Gunbower faces Heathcote in the showdown of third and fourth at Leitchville.
Colbinabbin tackles Mount Pleasant in the clash of sixth and fifth at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
North Bendigo will be back on its turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on Huntly.
Elmore faces White Hills at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
50 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
48 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
46 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
42 James Harney, Elmore.
33 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
32 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
29 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
25 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
24 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
23 James Davies, White Hills.
23 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
22 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
21 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
21 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
20 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
19 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
18 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
17 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
17 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
17 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
16 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
15 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
14 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
14 Jackson Conforti, Heathcote.
14 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Caleb Hislop, Leitchville Gunbower.
13 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
13 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
13 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
13 Charles Ryan, Colbinabbin.
13 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
13 Jordan Wilson, Colbinabbin.
12 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
11 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
10 Pat Bogers, North Bendigo.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Abe Sladden, Huntly.