BY NATHAN DOLE
Demons face Saints at White Hills
A SHOWDOWN of the Demons and Saints at Winslow Constructors Oval in White Hills highlights Saturday’s eighth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.
The ladder-leading Winslow White Hills Demons will aim to capitalise on home-ground advantage in Scott Street against the third-placed Heathcote.
Match of the round starts at 2.15pm.
Latest hit-out for White Hills was at Gunbower where the Demons beat Leitchville Gunbower by 55 points.
It was a superb defensive effort by the red and black to limit the Bombers to just two goals.
Best for the Demons included Thomas Brereton, Alex Davis and Cameron Taggert across the half-back line.
A powerful attack for White Hills includes co-coach Kaiden Antonowicz, Cohen Kekich, Mitch Dole and James Davies.
Massive test for a Saints defence led by Bill Direen, Daniel Johnstone, Billy and Codie Price.
At the other end of the field, Heathcote has the brilliance of Corey Grindlay who leads the competition’s goalkicking race on 28 goals.
The support of Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Liam Birch and Jackson Conforti will be crucial to the chances of the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints beating the Demons.
In the on-ball and midfield duels, White Hills has Callum Crisp, co-coach Jack Fallon, Ryan Walker and Liam Bartels up against James Orr, Liam Jacques, Callum Birch and Mitchell McLean.
Before the bye, Heathcote was beaten on home turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve by Leitchville Gunbower.
The Saints will be desperate to avoid consecutive defeats.
Huge match at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve where the Harlowe Huntly Hawks take on Leitchville Gunbower.
The Hawks are eyeing a hat-trick of wins.
Two of Huntly’s victories have been at home.
Huntly stunned Lockington Bamawm United in round four and North Bendigo in the sixth.
A victory for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks will mean they soar to the fifth rung and the Bombers drop a spot or more.
Huntly fought on for a one-point win at Elmore last Saturday.
Best for the brown and gold were Ben Daley, Harry Whittle, Harrison Campbell and Darby Walsh.
The Hawks have Abe Sladden, Steve Kairn, Lachy Wilson, Jacob Greenwood and Dale Lowry to play key roles.
Leitchville Gunbower will be determined to bounce back from a 55-point loss to White Hills at Gunbower.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers have played great football.
Best result was a 70-63 victory at Heathcote in the sixth round.
Leitchville Gunbower’s best against White Hills included Will Brereton, Xavier Colvin, Brad Green, Caleb Hislop, Jye Keath and Austin Windridge.
Another big match will be at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval where Lockington Bamawm United takes on North Bendigo.
Consistency in matches and every round is what the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU is determined to achieve.
A six-goal win by the Cats against Mount Pleasant was followed by a 10-goal loss to Colbinabbin on the Grasshoppers’ ground at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Lockington Bamawm United will need big games from ruckman Tyler Phillips, Taylor Butler, Thomas Leech, Anthony McMahon, Matt Hore, Jeremy Mundie and Joseph Wolfe to challenge the Bulldogs.
Big task for LBU’s defence against Dylan Klemm, Jordan Ford, Hakeem Johnson and Cody Riddick.
North Bendigo rolls into Lockington following a hard-fought 76-64 win at home against Mount Pleasant at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Best for the Bulldogs were Jordan Quirk, Will Gilmore, Nic Waterson, Hamish McCartney, Ryan Hartley and Tyson Findlay.
Fans can expect another fierce contest between the Cats and Bulldogs.
Mount Pleasant is on home turf Toolleen to take on Elmore.
A two-four record has the Cam Carter-coached Mount Pleasant in seventh place.
Victory and the Blues keep the heat on those on the lower rungs of the top five.
Mount Pleasant played great football to finish within two goals of North Bendigo last round.
Best for the Blues were on-baller Jack Hickman, Daniel Whiting, ruckman and captain Chris Down, and Caelan Smith.
A highlight for Mounts was the return to form of pacy small forward/on-baller Mitch Rovers who kicked four goals at North Bendigo.
The Blues will look to Zebb Murrell, Reardon McIvor, Jack Craig, Bailey and Fletcher White to set up many attacks.
Elmore almost broke its winless run when it finished within a point of Huntly.
Players to watch for the Mick Woolhouse-coached Bloods include forward James Harney, co-captains Daniel Russell and Rhys Holmberg, Nathan Kay, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty and Jarrad Kyne.
Elmore’s line-up to face the Blues includes Cobi Fitzpatrick in defence, Zack Holmberg, Liam Gundry and Jack Trewick.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 216 per cent, 24 points; North Bendigo 157, 20; Heathcote 149, 16; Colbinabbin 83, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 12; Huntly 71, 12; Mount Pleasant 115, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 65, 8; Elmore 46, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
27 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
19 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
19 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
19 James Harney, Elmore.
19 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
17 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
17 James Davies, White Hills.
16 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
13 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
12 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
10 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
10 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
9 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
9 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
9 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
8 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
8 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
8 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
8 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
7 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
7 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
7 Christian Hatzis, Mount Pleasant.
7 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
7 Jake Miller, White Hills.