BY NATHAN DOLE
Crucial match for Colbinabbin against Saints
JUST three weeks in, Colbinabbin faces a crucial contest in this Saturday’s round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL competiton.
Runner-up last season, Colbinabbin will fight to avoid a nil-three start when it plays Heathcote from 2.30pm.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers have home-court advantage at M.J. Morgan Oval.
It’s been a testing start for the green and gold which played Elmore in the first round and a vastly-improved Leitchville-Gunbower at Gunbower last round.
Defeats by margins of five and eight goals will not have the Hoppers reaching for the panic button just yet.
What Colbo does need is four premiership points to start its climb toward the top three on the ladder.
A talented Colbinabbin line-up includes goaler Matilda and Grace McIntyre, Ella Turnbull and Macey McCaig.
Heathcote has made a strong start.
A Saints line-up jointly coached by Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes followed up the first-round win against Mount Pleasant at Toolleen by beating Lockington Bamawm United last Saturday.
Changes have been made to the Saints defensive set-up following the ACL injury to Hayes in the season opener.
With Hayes on the sidelines, Heathcote has recruited Chloe Hill who previously played for Benalla in the Goulburn Valley.
A winner of Benalla’s club champion award in 2022, Hill was a key contributor in the win against Lockington Bamawm United on the Saints court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
In-form players for the Saints include goalkeeper Jen Van Neutengem, Izzy Caughey in mid-court and Sophie Pica in attack.
North Bendigo is home at The Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on Leitchville Gunbower.
A new-look North Bendigo team coached by Kiralee Kinder and Stacee Kingdon played well to finish within 11 goals of Elmore last round.
Big test for the red, white and blue against Leitchville Gunbower which has made an impressive start by beating Lockington Bamawm United and Colbinabbin.
In attack, North Bendigo has Abbey Grindal and Morgan McClellan to cap off the work of Tayla Foster, Sarah and Matisse Appleby, and Emily Kinder.
It’s been a superb start to Caitlyn Hamilton’s stint as Leitchville Gunbower’s playing coach.
A brilliant mid-courter with Strathfieldsaye Storm, Hamilton and her team-mates are eyeing a winning hat-trick.
Key players for the Bombers include Macey Brereton, Claudia Collins and Ava Hamilton.
Either Mount Pleasant or Huntly will pocket their first premiership points of the season from their match at Toolleen.
The Blues are on the rebound from a 34-goal loss at White Hills.
Huntly had the bye last Saturday after being outplayed by White Hills in the first round.
Tough match-up for Lockington Bamawm United against reigning champions, White Hills at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington.
Elmore has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 252 per cent, 8 points; Leitchville Gunbower 171, 8; Heathcote 144, 8; Elmore 117, 8; Colbinabbin 88, 0; North Bendigo 78, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 53, 0; Mount Pleasant 50, 0; Huntly 40, 0.