BY NATHAN DOLE
Hawks stun North Bendigo on Huntly’s turf
THE Harlowe Huntly Hawks ended North Bendigo’s unbeaten start to the season in a stunning performance in Saturday’s sixth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
Faced with a 22-point deficit at half-time of the clash at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks lifted their run and workrate in the second half.
The Hawks won the third term, 16-8, and then scored 4.3 to a goal in the last.
A brilliant passage of play by former coach Harry Whittle set up what would be Morcom’s third goal to put the Hawks in front.
At the final siren the Huntly players celebrated a 65-60 victory.
Key forward Lachy Wilson also kicked three goals for the Hawks.
Multiple goalkickers for North Bendigo were Pat Bogers and Cody Riddick on two.
A multiple premiership winner at Golden Square and first-year coach at Huntly, Hamish Morcom was best afield as Harry Whittle, Dale Lowry, Brodie Fry, Abe Sladden and Jacob Greenwood also starred for the brown and gold.
North Bendigo’s best were Ryan Hartley, Aidan Brohm, Nathan Newlan, Will Gilmore, Jordan Quirk and Storm Giri.
The win proved Huntly’s victory against Lockington Bamawm United at Strauch Reserve in round four was no fluke.
The Hawks are determined to make any visit to their ground a tough one for all opponents.
Another upset was at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park where Leitchville Gunbower beat the Saints by seven points.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers led 20-19 at quarter-time and then dominated the second term.
A tally of 3.3 to just three behinds in the second put Leitchville Gunbower up by 19 points at half-time.
Heathcote hit back to win the third term, 21-13.
The Saints also won the last, 20-16, but the Bombers fought on to win 70-63.
Recruited from Moama, Fraser Buchanan marked his second game with LG by booting three goals.
The Bombers also had Billy Hawken and Chris Horman booted three goals in the team’s best performance of the season.
Corey Grindlay kicked a match-high four goals for Heathcote.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Brady Hore at half-back, Mitch Candy, ruckman Jobee Warde, Fraser Buchanan, Will Brereton and Joel Donehue.
Corey Grindlay, Daniel Johnstone, Mitch McLean, Rhys Bolton, Codie Price and ruckman James Orr were best for the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints.
Mount Pleasant won all quarters on the way to a 109-35 victory on its turf at Toolleen against Colbinabbin.
The Cam Carter-coached Blues raced to a 33-2 lead by quarter-time.
Mounts led 54-9 by the long break and did not ease off.
The Blues scored 8.7 to 3.8 in the second half.
Ben Bisset was in superb form as he kicked six goals and the classy Mitch Rovers marked a welcome return to form with three goals.
Colbinabbin’s attack was led by Clint Shields on two goals.
Best for Mount Pleasant were ruckman Chris Down, Ben Bisset, Mitch Bennett in defence, Mitch Rovers, Tyler McNamara and Daniel Frame.
Charles Ryan, Will Lowe, Clint Shields, Julian Bull, Alex Carr and Jude Ryan worked hard for the Jed Brain-coached Grasshoppers.
A brilliant opening term set up a big win for the Winslow White Hills Demons against Elmore.
The Demons slammed on 11.3 to a point in the first quarter of the clash at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
By half-time the Demons had reached the century mark as the scoreboard read 100-16.
Liam Bartels and Cohen Kekich went on to kick a match-high six goals as co-coach and classy forward Kaiden Antonowicz added five.
The Demons also had James Davies, four; Ben Taylor, three; and Ryan Walker, two, capitalise on their team-mates dominance of the midfield and on-ball contests.
Elmore’s attack was led by James Harney and Nathan Kay on two goals.
Best for White Hills were Cohen Kekich, Alex Davis, Ben Taylor, co-coach Jack Fallon, Ryan Walker and Jake Pallpratt.
Nathan Kay, Kynan Sharpe, Jack Smith, Mitch Boyd, Sam Lees and Rhys Holmberg were best for the Bloods.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 208 per cent, 20 points; North Bendigo 164, 16; Heathcote 149, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 83, 12; Mount Pleasant 122, 8; Colbinabbin 69.6, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 69.6, 8; Huntly 65, 8; Elmore 40, 0.
In next Saturday’s seventh round, North Bendigo is home at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on Mount Pleasant.
Colbinabbin and Lockington Bamawm United clash on the Grasshoppers’ ground at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Elmore tackles Huntly at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower faces White Hills in the battle of the Bombers and Demons at Gunbower.
Heathcote has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
24 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
17 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
17 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
16 James Harney, Elmore.
15 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
15 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
15 James Davies, White Hills.
14 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
13 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
11 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
10 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
9 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
9 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
9 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
8 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
8 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
8 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
8 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
7 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
7 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
7 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
7 Christian Hatzis, Mount Pleasant.
7 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
6 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
6 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
6 Liam Jacques, Heathcote.
6 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
6 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
6 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
6 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.