BY NATHAN DOLE
Huge match for Bombers, Blues at Gunbower
IT’S a huge match at Gunbower this Saturday when Leitchville Gunbower takes on Mount Pleasant in the ninth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
Fourth takes on fifth, but ladder positions will flip should Mounts beat the Bombers in a contest which starts at 2.15pm.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers start the day’s play locked on 16 points with Heathcote, but more than 33 per cent behind the third-placed Saints.
Leitchville Gunbower and Mount Pleasant take winning form into this match.
Best for LG in a 53-point win against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly were Caleb Hislop, Austin Windridge and Jye Keath.
The Blues outplayed Elmore as ruckman Chris Down, Jack Hickman and Bailey White led the way.
There is plenty of goalkicking power in the Leitchville Gunbower and Mount Pleasant teams.
The Bombers have Fraser Buchanan and Chris Horman leading the way.
Mount Pleasant’s leading goalkickers are Ben Bisset and Mitch Rovers.
Highlight of this clash will be the ruck where Jobee Warde takes on Chris Down, the Blues captain and best afield in last September’s grand final win.
Players to watch for the Bombers include captain Hoby Bussey, Brady and Noah Hore, Joel Donehue, and James, Tom and Will Brereton.
A gun recruit for Mounts following a premiership win at Golden Square, Jack Hickman is in great form.
Jaxson Nihill led the Blues attack last round and Mounts also have Callum and Jack Craig, Reardon McIvor and Zebb Murrell able to win many contests.
Elmore has a great chance to break its winless run when it’s at home against Lockington Bamawm United.
Latest hit-out at home for the Bloods ended in a one-point loss to Huntly.
The Mick Woolhouse-coached Elmore takes on an opponent which has a two-five record and struggled for consistency.
The Bloods will look to forwards James Harney and Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, ruckman Daniel Russell, ruck-rover Nathan Kay, and defenders Cobi Fitzpatrick and Rhys Holmberg to lead the way to victory.
A win is a must for the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU to stay in touch with the top five.
Gun ruckman Tyler Phillips will again play a vital role for the Cats, along with Jack and Taylor Butler, Brodie Collins, Charlie Hinks, Thomas Leech and captain Joseph Wolfe.
Heathcote needs a huge injection of confidence as it takes on Huntly at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Consecutive defeats to Leitchville Gunbower and White Hills have rocked the Saints.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote must lift workate.
Saints’ ruckman James Orr has had an outstanding season and Corey Grindlay has shown he is one of the best forwards in the region.
Co-captains Liam Jacques and Codie Price will show the way with their attack at the footy.
A key return is Lachlan Freeman-Taber at centre half-back.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly has just the one away win, albeit by a point at Elmore.
Huntly will be desperate to make it two.
Key players for the brown and gold include Dale Lowry in the centre, Lachy Wilson and Abe Sladden in attack, Brodie Fry and Steve Kairn in defence, the versatile Harry Whittle, and rover Ben Daley.
North Bendigo is on home turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on Colbinabbin.
A six-one record has the Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo in second place.
Colbinabbin is sixth on a three-four record.
Athletic forward Dylan Klemm was in great form as the Bulldogs won at Lockington last round.
A Bulldogs attack that includes Klemm, Jordan Ford, Hakeem Johnson and Cody Riddick will test the Grasshoppers all match.
North Bendigo captain Aarryn Craig is also back after concussion protocols.
Two of the Bulldogs recruits in ruck-rover Ryan Hartley and ruckman Aidan Brohm will play crucial roles.
A 61-point win by Colbinabbin against LBU in round seven was followed by the bye.
Best for the Jed Brain-coached Colbo against the Cats included former coaches Julian Bull and Nick Knight, Charles and Jude Ryan.
The Grasshoppers attack has the marking power of Alex Carr and Jai Carn.
Another key factor will be Logan Fitzgerald in just his second match of the season.
The Grasshoppers will need strong defensive games from Hugh McMurtrie, Hugh Barlow, Aidan Basile and Connor Aldous.
White Hills has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 229 per cent, 28 points; North Bendigo 163, 24; Heathcote 119, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 86, 16; Mount Pleasant 138, 12; Colbinabin 83, 12; Huntly 66, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 62, 8; Elmore 42, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
33 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
29 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
26 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
22 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
22 James Harney, Elmore.
20 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
19 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
17 James Davies, White Hills.
17 Anthony McMahon, Lockington Bamawm United.
14 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
14 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
13 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
12 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
10 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
10 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
9 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
9 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
8 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
8 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
8 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
8 Jake Miller, White Hills.
8 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
8 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
8 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.