BY NATHAN DOLE
Colbinabbin’s Grasshoppers jump into finals series
THE Grasshoppers from Colbinabbin jumped into the senior footy finals series after a dramatic 18th round across the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL on Saturday.
As Colbinabbin beat North Bendigo by 28 points at home, Leitchville-Gunbower’s win at nearby Toolleen meant the Grasshoppers jumped to the fifth rung and an elimination final berth.
It was a superb effort by the Jed Brain-coached Colbinabbin to beat North Bendigo at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Although it could not be knocked from second place and a qualifying final berth, North Bendigo was keen to play well.
The Bulldogs led 22-13 at quarter-time.
Quarters two and three were dominated by the team in green and gold.
Colbinabbin won the second term, 24-8, and then scored 4.2 as it the Bulldogs to a tally of 1.3 in the third.
By three quarter-time Colbinabbin led 53-39.
The Grasshoppers closed out the match, 3.1 to 2.3.
At the final siren Colbinabbin led 82-54.
Alex Carr kicked five goals in a best on ground performance as Clint Shields added two.
A three-goal haul by North Bendigo’s Dylan Klemm meant he tied with Kaiden Antonowicz from White Hills for the goalkicking award.
Best for Colbinabbin were Alex Carr, Jude Ryan, Nathan Basile, Jed Brain, Connor Aldous and Will Lowe.
Ryan Hartley, Jordan Ford, Aarryn Craig, Billy Robertson, Bailey Cain and Nic Waterson were best for the Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs.
An eight-point win by Leitchville Gunbower on Mount Pleasant’s turf meant the Bombers held third place and also ended the reigning premier’s season.
Mount Pleasant started well and led 20-10 at quarter-time.
A closely-fought second term went the way of the Blues, 21-19.
In the third it was the Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower which took control.
The Bombers scored four goals and kept the Blues to just one major.
The LG line-up won the last, 20-19, to cap a 75-67 victory.
Blake Dye kicked a match-high five goals for the Bombers as Fraser Buchanan added three and Billy Hawken chipped in with two.
Mount Pleasant’s attack was led by Daniel Whiting on three as Ben Bisset and Caelan Smith kicked two majors.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Max Hagan, James Brereton, Chris Horman, Charles Hancock, Joel Donehue and Blake Dye.
Zac Featherby, Daniel Whiting, Reardon McIvor, Fletcher White, Jack Hickman and Baxter Ash were best for the Blues.
As the Bombers roll into a qualifying final, Mount Pleasant will be motivated to bounce back in ’25.
The Blues had Cam Carter as director of coaching, and Ben Bisset and Jack Hickman as playing coaches in a season where Mounts battled for consistency in what was a seven-nine record.
Heathcote warmed up for the finals series by scoring a hard-fought 26-point win against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Saints’ co-captain Liam Jacques marked his return after a lengthy stint on the sidelines by goaling after a great leap and mark inside the first minute.
Another of the Saints key players back in action, Braden Padmore kicked his team’s second.
The Hawks replied with a goal by captain Steve Kairn in the 15th minute.
When Huntly won the next centre clearance, coach Hamish Morcom trapped the ball at half-forward and handpassed to Dale Lowry to goal on the run.
A brilliant gather and quick hands by Zac Saad led to Padmore’s second goal from a set-shot near the boundary line as Heathcote led 20-18 by quarter-time.
The Hawks’ greater workrate was capped with goals by Lachy Wilson and Abe Sladden to take a 10-point lead.
Heathcote hit back as Billy Price roved a marking contest, won possession and sprinted clear to goal.
A Saints’ turnover in defence led to a Flynn Campbell goal.
The first of Zak Saad’s four goals put the Saints back within four points.
Huntly replied through Noah Sherlock after he was on the end of a Morcom pass.
Saad’s footwork and poise to dodge a couple of opponents and goal put the Saints back within two points at the long break.
Heathcote made a brilliant start to the third quarter as Saad won the centre clearance, kicked forward to a contest won by Corey Grindlay who then passed to Saad who was in the clear.
A great snap by Lachy Wilson put the Hawks back in the lead.
Although he leapt early, Grindlay hovered in the air and took a great mark to goal.
Goals by Padmore and Saad put the Saints up by 16 points in the 18th minute.
Huntly hit back with goals by Mitch Billings and Jacob Greenwood as Heathcote led 69-64 going into the last term.
A highly-entertaining last quarter included a shot at goal by Jacques from a tight angle in the boundary which bounced through.
Mitch McLean, Billy Price and Connor Hamilton were also on target and Liam Birch booted two majors as the Saints kicked away for a 108-82 victory.
Goalkickers in Huntly’s final quarter of the season were Lachy Wilson, Flynn Campbell and Jacob Greenwood.
Best for the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints were Zak Saad, Mitch McLean, James Orr, Connor Hamilton, Braden Padmore and Rylie Merkel.
Dale Lowry, Steve Kairn, Jacob Greenwood, Darby Walsh, Jackson Fry and Flynn Campbell were Huntly’s best.
White Hills had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 178 per cent, 56 points; North Bendigo 151, 48; Leitchville Gunbower 110, 40; Heathcote 117, 36; Colbinabbin 93, 32; Mount Pleasant 116, 28; Huntly 69, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 77, 20; Elmore 46, 4.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Lockington:
Under-18s at 9.45am: Huntly v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 11.50am: Lockington Bamawm United v Leitchville Gunbower.
Seniors at 2.15pm: North Bendigo v Leitchville Gunbower.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Leitchville:
Under-18s at 9.45am: North Bendigo v Heathcote.
Reserves at 11.50am: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Heathcote v Colbinabbin.
Leading goalkickers:
59 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
59 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
57 James Harney, Elmore.
51 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
41 Liam Bartels, White Hills,
41 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
37 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
30 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
30 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
29 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
28 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
27 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
26 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
24 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
24 Anthony McMahon, – Lockington Bamawm United.
23 James Davies, White Hills.
22 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
21 Mitch Bennett, – Mount Pleasant.
21 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
21 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
20 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
20 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
19 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
19 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
18 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
18 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
18 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
17 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
16 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
16 Jackson Conforti, Heathcote.
16 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Flynn Campbell, Huntly.
14 Caleb Hislop, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
14 Charles Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
14 Jordan Wilson, Colbinabbin.
13 Pat Bogers, North Bendigo.
13 Lachlan Sverns, Leitchville Gunbower.
13 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.
12 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Jacob Greenwood, Huntly.
12 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
12 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
12 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
12 Tyler Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
12 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
12 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.
11 Bailey Cain, North Bendigo.
11 Jeremy Mundie, Lockington Bamawm United.
11 Nic Warnock, White Hills.
11 Daniel Whiting, Mount Pleasant.
10 Callum Crisp, White Hills.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Riley McNamara, Mount Pleasant.