BY NATHAN DOLE
MOUNT Pleasant ended Lockington Bamawm United’s run at back-to-back senior footy premierships in Saturday’s final round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL home and away series.
Sixth going into the clash at Toolleen, LBU had to win to regain fifth place.
The reigning premier put in a brilliant second quarter to score five straight goals to 2.3.
At half-time the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU led 38-18.
In the third it was Mount Pleasant which hit back to score 3.7 to 2.1.
LBU held an eight-point lead going into the final term.
In the last it was the Adam Baird and Ben Weightman-coached Blues who dominated play.
The Blues scored 4.2 to 1.1 for a 69-58 result.
Mitch Rovers kicked three goals for Mounts.
LBU’s attack was led by Riley McIvor and Anthony McMahon on two.
Best for the Blues were Fletcher White, Sam Greene, Riley McNamara, Chris Down, Adam Baird and Mitch Rovers.
Max Johnson, Tyler Phillips, Charlie Hinks, Mitchell Jones, Ben Holman and Jacob Gardiner were the Cats’ best.
The win by Mount Pleasant ensured Leitchville Gunbower which was fifth but had the bye would qualify for finals after being wooden spooner in ’22.
Heathcote capped a superb home and away series by finishing on top of the ladder.
The Saints and North Bendigo were locked on 48 points in first and second positions going into the round.
Stung by a six-goal loss at home to North Bendigo the previous round, Heathcote showed no mercy against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Saints led 31-19 at quarter-time and then clicked up several gears.
In one of its best four quarter performances of the season, Heathcote scored seven goals in the second, five in the third, and eight in the last.
At the final siren, Heathcote led 28.22 (190) to 6.4 (40).
Three of the Saints’ best in Corey Grindlay, Liam Jacques and Braden Padmore kicked six goals each.
Other multiple goalkickers were Billy Price, three; Jordan Cavallaro and Mitchell McLean, two.
Huntly co-coach Harry Whittle booted four goals.
Best for Heathcote were Liam Jacques, Braden Padmore, Thomas Pain, Liam Birch, Codie Price and Jesse Davies.
Tori Ferguson, Jackson Fry, Harry Whittle, Mitch Billings, Harrison Campbell and Kyle Forster worked hard for a Huntly team jointly coached by Jayden Cordy.
North Bendigo warmed up for another finals campaign by scoring a 21-goal win against Elmore on the Bulldogs’ turf at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street.
A high-scoring opening term ended with the Bulldogs in front, 6.6 (42) to 3.2 (20).
From there it was the Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo which dominated most of the centre clearances and stoppages.
The Bulldogs scored 4.4 to 0.2 in the second for an eight-goal lead by half-time.
Hakeem Johnson went on to kick a match-high seven goals in a best afield performance as the Bulldogs marked a 165-43 victory.
Jordan Ford booted six goals and Dylan Klemm ended with three.
Bulldogs’ captain Aarryn Craig and the versatile Rhys Healey booted two goals.
Elmore’s attack was led by Nathan Kay on three.
Best for North Bendigo were Hakeem Johnson, wingman Riley Paetow, ruckman Jeremy Lambden, Nic Waterson, Rhys Healey and defender Ryan Alford.
Nathan Kay, Darcy Laffy, Daniel Russell, Liam Gundry, Nash Hayes and Nic Kellow were best for the Mick Woolhouse-coached Elmore.
White Hills marked an 81-point win on Colbinabbin’s ground at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Demons led 15-13 at quarter-time and then scored 4.3 to nil in the second.
Led by the play of Ben Taylor, Liam Bartels and Mitch Dole, White Hills scored 9.14 to 2.4 in the second half for a 110-29 result.
Liam Bartels booted four goals as Kaiden Antonowicz and Ben Taylor added three.
The skilful Mitch Dole kicked two goals in the lead-up to Saturday’s qualifying final.
Best for a Demons team jointly coached by Jack Fallon and Jake Pallpratt were Ben Taylor, Liam Bartels, Mitch Dole, Jake Allport, Ryan Walker and Jack Fallon.
Alex Van Ruiswyk, Ben Barton, Will Tollner, coach Jed Brain, Jude and Charles Ryan were Colbinabbin’s best.
Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
Final standings in the Heathcote DFNL senior footy competition for the 2023 home and away series:
Heathcote 149 per cent, 52 points; North Bendigo 144, 52; White Hills 158, 48; Mount Pleasant 154, 40; Leitchville Gunbower 93, 36; Lockington Bamawm United 105, 32; Colbinabbin 79, 14; Elmore 57, 10; Huntly 39, 4.
Draw for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve:
Seniors at 2.15pm: North Bendigo v White Hills.
Reserves at 11.50am: White Hills v North Bendigo.
Under-18s at 9.45am: White Hills v Heathcote.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street, North Bendigo:
Seniors at 2.15pm: Mount Pleasant v Leitchville Gunbower.
Reserves at 11.50am: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
Under-18s at 9.45am: Huntly v Lockington Bamawm United.
Teams through to the second semi-final are Heathcote, seniors; Mount Pleasant, reserves; and North Bendigo, under-18s.
Leaders in the seniors goalkicking race:
67 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
65 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
62 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
50 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
48 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
47 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
42 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
38 Antony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
36 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
36 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
33 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
26 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
26 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
23 Lachlan Sverns, Leitchville Gunbower.
22 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
22 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
21 Aarryn Craig, North Bendigo.
21 James Davies, White Hills.
21 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
20 Laine Fitzgerald, Colbinabbin.
19 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
19 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
19 Liam Jacques, Heathcote.
18 Brodie Collins, Lockington Bamawm United.
18 Darcy Laffy, Elmore.
18 Riley McIvor, Lockington Bamawm United.
17 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
17 Victor Butler, Heathcote.
17 Jai Carn, Colbinabbin.
17 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
17 Tyler Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
16 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
16 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
15 Riley McNamara, Mount Pleasant.
15 Jacob Styles, Elmore.
14 Harry Whittle, Huntly.
13 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
13 Nic Warnock, White Hills.