BY NATHAN DOLE
Gutsy wins for Heathcote, Huntly
GUTSY and gusty were best ways to describe the winning performances of Heathcote and Huntly in Saturday’s 15th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
Strong winds tested players and fans at all four matches.
Stakes were high as Leitchville Gunbower faced Heathcote at Leitchville Recreation Reserve in Road Safety Round.
The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower eyed a chance to strengthen its place in the top three, while the Saints were equally desperate to win and reclaim their position on the third rung.
Heathcote led 13-4 by quarter-time after Billy Price opened the match with both goals.
A chain of handpasses from midfield to an unmarked Blake Dye near the top of the goalsquare brought up Leitchville Gunbower’s first goal in the second term.
Although it was scoreless in the second quarter, Heathcote led 13-11 at half-time.
On a day where goals were at a premium, Liam Birch was on target as the Saints led 19-12.
The Bombers kept attacking and after a series of long kicks from deep in defence worked the footy to Lachlan Sverns who goaled.
When Dye goaled after a great leap the Bombers led 24-21 nearing three quarter-time.
Despite having just one player available for interchange rotation in the last, Heathcote kept on persisting.
A running goal by Jackson Conforti put the Saints up by two points.
There was plenty of play between the half-back lines of both teams.
After both teams added a behind each it was Conforti who won possession at centre half-forward, dashed clear and then goaled for the Saints to lead 34-26.
It was to be the final score of the match.
Heathcote coach Andrew Saladino rated the win as the best across what is now his third season in charge of the Saints.
“Last year’s second semi-final against White Hills was the most complete team performance in my time coaching the club.
“Today was all about hanging tough and spirit.
“There was a lot not going right in terms of injuries, but it’s been the story of our season.
“The way the boys were able to grind it out was fantastic.
“This was a really gutsy win,” Saladino said.
Best afield honours for Heathcote went to Joseph Beedle as Corey Grindlay, Will Direen, Liam Birch, Billy Price and James Orr also starred.
Leitchville Gunbower’s best were James Brereton, Blake Dye, Clay McGregor, Lachlan Sverns, Hoby Bussey and Brady Hore.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks won another thrilling contest with North Bendigo.
After surging to a 20-point lead in the final term, Huntly was under pressure as the Bulldogs scored consecutive goals.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks showed plenty of poise in the difficult conditions to fight on for a 69-66 victory.
It was the second time this season the Hawks had beaten the Bulldogs by a single digit margin.
The Hawks won the Golden City Cup and took the points on North Bendigo’s turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street for the first time since 2012.
Huntly’s attack was led by Lachlan Brook, Flynn Campbell and Hamish Morcom on two goals each.
Multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Pat Bogers and captain Nic Waterson with two.
Harry Whittle was outstanding again across half-back to be the Hawks’ best along with Jackson Fry, Matthew Jeffries, Tori Ferguson, Darby Walsh and Lachlan Brook.
The Keith Robertson Medal for best afield went to North Bendigo’s Ryan Hartley.
Others in the best for the Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs were Bailey Cain, Jordan Quirk, Tyson Findlay, Will Gilmore and Hamish McCartney.
Colbinabbin moved back to the fifth rung as it beat Mount Pleasant by 46 points at Colbainbbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
A high-scoring first term went the way of Mounts, 31-27.
The Jed Brain-coached Colbinabbin struck back to win the second, 21-14, and held a three-point buffer going into the second half.
Six straight goals as it kept the Blues scoreless in the third was arguably Colbo’s best quarter of the season.
Nathan Basile, Alex Van Ruiswyk and Jude Ryan were to the fore as the Grasshoppers kicked on for a 105-59 victory.
Colbinabbin’s attack was led by Clint Shields on five goals as Alex Carr booted three goals.
Jed Brain, Jai Carn and Hugh McMurtrie chipped in with two each for the green and gold.
Mount Pleasant’s attack was led by playing co-coach Ben Bisset on five goals as Daniel Whiting added two.
Best for Colbinabbin included Nick Knight, Clint Shields and Patrick Taban.
Blues’ playing co-coach Jack Hickman was best for a line-up which has Cam Carter as director of coaching.
Other players to well for Mount Pleasant were Riley McNamara, Sam Greene, Daniel Whiting, Harry Teasdale and Will Bowles.
The contest between Elmore and Winslow White Hills Demons was shortened to 20-minute quarters, no time-on.
Both clubs agreed to the changes and a later start time after 4pm following an injury to Elmore teenager Darcy McKenzie in the reserves match.
The reserves clash was abandoned in the third quarter after McKenzie fell heavily.
After being taken to hospital he was cleared of spinal damage, but was concussed.
In the senior match the Nathan Kay-coached Elmore put in a strong first quarter against the ladder leader.
Both teams scored a goal apiece as the Demons led 9-8 at the first break.
White Hills upped its pressure and run to score five goals in the second.
By half-time the red and black led 40-15.
The Jack Fallon and Kaiden Antonowicz-coached White Hills won the next two terms, 26-13 and 19-1.
At the final siren White Hills led 85-29.
The Demons’ attack was led by Antonowicz and Cohen Kekich on three goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red and black were Liam Bartels and Joe Gardy on two.
Kynan Sharpe was on target with two goals for Elmore as James Harney and Nick Mayne added one each.
Best for White Hills were ruckman Callum Crisp, Jake Pallpratt, James Davies, Mitch Dole, Patrick Crawford and Kaiden Antonowicz.
Nick Mayne, Nathan Kay, Kynan Sharpe, Rhys Holmberg, Joseph Harney and Zack Holmberg were best for the Bloods.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 187 per cent, 48 points; North Bendigo 162, 40; Heathcote 119, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 100, 32; Colbinabbin 96, 28; Mount Pleasant 115, 24; Huntly 70, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 69, 12; Elmore 44, 4.
It’s first against fourth as Winslow White Hills Demons host Leitchville Gunbower at the Scott Street ground in Saturday’s round 16 action.
Mount Pleasant tackles North Bendigo at Toolleen.
Lockington Bamawm United meets Colbinabbin on the Cats’ turf at Nichol Trading Oval.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be home at Strauch Reserve to play Elmore.
Heathcote has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
53 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
48 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
47 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
43 James Harney, Elmore.
37 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
35 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
32 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
25 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
25 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
25 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
24 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
23 James Davies, White Hills.
23 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
21 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
21 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
20 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
18 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
18 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
17 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
17 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
16 Jackson Conforti, Heathcote.
16 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
16 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
15 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
15 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
14 Caleb Hislop, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Charles Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Jordan Wilson, Colbinabbin.
13 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
13 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
13 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
13 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
12 Pat Bogers, North Bendigo.
12 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
11 Flynn Campbell, Huntly.
11 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
11 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.
10 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Abe Sladden, Huntly.