BY NATHAN DOLE
HEATHCOTE’S hot run in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action rolled in Saturday’s round 15 clash with Mount Pleasant.
The Heathcote Saints wore the purple guernseys on Memorial Day to honour past players, coaches, officials and supporters and their contribution to the club’s success.
A special link was Georgia emblazoned across the back of the jumpers in memory of Georgia French for the match at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
On field the Saints made a great start to lead 4.1 to 2.2 at quarter-time.
Highs for Heathcote included a running goal by Corey Grindlay from an acute angle in the pocket.
It was quickly followed by a Fletcher White goal for Mounts after a brilliant tap by captain and ruckman Chris Down to Ben Weightman at the centre ball-up.
When Blues’ co-coach Adam Baird goaled after being caught high Mounts led 13-6 in the 10th minute.
The Saints struck back superbly with thee goals, which included two by the classy Braden Padmore.
Back in action after missing several weeks because of a finger injury, Grindlay kicked his second in the fourth minute of term two.
The Blues replied through co-coach Ben Weightman who was spending plenty of time in a midfield or on-ball role.
The workrate by Liam Birch to charge into space, gain possession and then pass to Grindlay brought up Heathcote’s sixth goal and a 17-point lead.
As the siren sounded for half-time, Heathcote led 40-23.
The Saints lead was four goals early in the third before the Blues fought back.
A contested mark by Mitch Rovers was capped with his first goal before Padmore goaled on the run.
Consecutive goals by Weightman put the Blues within 12 points in the 26th minute.
A chase and diving tackle by Saints’ captain Codie Price halted Rovers’ run toward goal.
Riley McNamara’s snapshot bounced high in the goalsquare and through to put the Blues within a goal going into the final term.
For the final term, Heathcote switched Padmore to the ruck.
Talented youngster Lachlan Freeman Taber had worked incredibly hard conceding height, weight and experience to Mounts’ star Chris Down.
A Mason Wakefield goal on the run put the Blues in front, 56-55 in the fifth minute.
At three quarter-time Saints’ coach Andrew Saladino had told his team to work harder than the opposition and embrace the challenge.
In a spirited showing, Heathcote hit back brilliantly.
Jesse Davies put the Saints back in front with a fine set-shot goal after a free.
When Grindlay marked and goaled Heathcote led 68-56 in the 15th minute.
Callum Birch was also on target for the Saints to lead 74-58 as time-on began.
The Blues refused to yield and goaled through Rovers.
A Baird pass from near the centre to the pacy Rovers brought up another goal to make it 75-71 in favour of the Saints in the 27th minute.
Mount Pleasant was deep in attack when the siren sounded.
Victorious coach Andrew Saladino said there were so many positives to take from a match played at a finals-type intensity.
“The way we were able to respond, especially after Mounts fought back in the third quarter was excellent,” Saladino said.
“They are the sort of team that we knew would always challenge us.”
After being outplayed at centre breaks and stoppages for a lot of the third term, Heathcote’s onballers and midfield lifted.
No matter what role he plays, Padmore again showed he is a strong contender for the Sam Cheatley medal as league fairest and best.
A defence led by Connor Hamilton and Ben Connelly was also superb.
The play of on-baller Liam Jacques, Joseph Beedle on a wing, and Brayden Klemke in his role against Adam Baird was outstanding for the Saints.
Best for the Blues were Ben Weightman, key defender William Wallace, Adam Baird, Riley McNamara, Fletcher White and Mitch Rovers.
The winning streak for Leitchville Gunbower now includes a 31-point victory against North Bendigo at Gunbower.
After a 0-4 start to the season the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers have soared to the sixth rung on a 7-7 record.
On Saturday it was Oskar Smarrt and Chris Horman who dominated in LG’s attack to kick six and four goals.
Leitchville Gunbower scored 3.5 to 1.2 in the first term and won a closely-fought second, 2.1 to 1.4.
A three-goal lead for the Bombers at half-time was five at a quarter to go.
LG had scored nine goals in three terms and just as importantly had defended brilliantly to hold the Bulldogs to just three majors.
In the last it was the Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo which fired up to score 5.1 as the Bombers scored 3.4.
At the final siren, Leitchville Gunbower led 12.15 (87) to 8.8 (56).
North Bendigo’s attack was led by Jordan Ford and Storm Giri on two.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Jye Keath, Oskar Smartt, Nathan McLellan, Jobee Warde, Zac Hislop and Chris Horman.
The Bulldogs’ best were Matt Gray, Storm Giri, Tim Devereaux, Nic Waterson, Manny Thalasinos and Riley Paetow.
White Hills dominated its clash with Lockington Bamawm United.
The Demons made a hot start on home turf at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street to score 3.7 to 0.4 in the first term.
LBU hit back to score 2.2 in the second as the Demons missed many chances by adding 1.7.
Goalkicking accuracy was to the fore in the third as White Hills added six straight and held the Cats to 1.1.
Liam Bartels went on to kick a match-high five goals as James Davies and Jake Miller added two in a 95-38 victory for the red and black.
Cats’ captain Brodie Collins kicked two goals.
Best for the Demons were Ben Taylor, Jake Allport, Jack Fallon, Eli Pearce, Ben Bacon and James Davies.
Thomas Eade, Max Johnson, Brodie Collins, Tyler Phillips, Jacob Gardiner and Brock Kennedy were best for LBU.
White Hills is jointly coached by Jack Fallon and Jake Pallpratt.
Colbinabbin marked a 10-goal win against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks on the Grasshoppers’ turf at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Hawks began well to score 3.1 to 2.4 in the first quarter.
It was Colbinabbin which did plenty of attacking in the second and score five goals as the Hawks added three behinds.
A tally of 4.4 to 1.1 in the third gave Colbinabbin a seven-goal buffer at a quarter to go.
Laine Fitzgerald kicked a match-high four goals and coach Jed Brain booted three as Colbinabbin won 18.16 (124) to 9.10 (64).
Other multiple goalkickers for the green and gold were Jimmy McMurtrie, Ned Morgan and Clint Shields on two.
Huntly’s attack was led by Lachy Wilson, three; and Koby Gibson, two.
Best for Colbinabbin were Ben Barton, Luke Moore, Will Lowe, David Price, Charles Ryan and Laine Fitzgerald.
Jackson Fry, Kyle Forster, Steve Kairn, Jayden Cordy, Brodie Fry and Harry McCormick were best for a Hawks’ line-up jointly coached by Harry Whittle and Jayden Cordy.
HElmore had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Heathcote 145 per cent, 44 points; White Hills 146, 40; North Bendigo 135, 40; Mount Pleasant 149, 32; Lockington Bamawm United 106, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 89, 28; Colbinabbin 84, 14; Elmore 65, 10; Huntly 41, 4.
Highlights of next Saturday’s 16th round will be the showdowns at North Bendigo and Lockington.
The North Bendigo Bulldogs are back in the kennel at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to take on White Hills.
Lockington Bamawm United faces Heathcote in the clash of the Cats and Saints at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
Mount Pleasant takes on Elmore at Toolleen.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks face Leitchville Gunbower at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
59 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
53 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
49 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
40 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
40 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
37 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
31 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
29 Antony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
28 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
27 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
24 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
20 Laine Fitzgerald, Colbinabbin.
20 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
20 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
20 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
19 Lachlan Sverns, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Darcy Laffy, Elmore.
17 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
17 Brodie Collins, Lockington Bamawm United.
17 Aarryn Craig, North Bendigo.
16 Victor Butler, Heathcote.
16 Jai Carn, Colbinabbin.
16 James Davies, White Hills.
15 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
15 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
15 Tyler Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
14 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
13 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
13 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
13 Riley McIvor, Lockington Bamawm United.
13 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
13 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
13 Jacob Styles, Elmore.
12 Liam Jacques, Heathcote.
12 Riley McNamara, Mount Pleasant.
11 Nic Warnock, White Hills.