BY NATHAN DOLE
Bulldogs, Bombers confront finals jinx
A JINX will be broken by North Bendigo or Leitchville Gunbower in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy finals at Lockington.
The Bulldogs and Bombers clash in the qualifying final at 2.15pm.
Both will be determined to end their finals jinx.
Knocked out in the elimination final in 2022 the Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo was beaten in last season’s qualifying final and then first semi.
Although North Bendigo’s line-up has changed markedly there are still a lot of players who were part of those experiences.
Wooden spooner in 2022 on a 1-15 record, Leitchville Gunbower made a remarkable rise to last year’s elimination final where it was beaten by Mount Pleasant on its way to premiership glory.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers have worked incredibly hard to achieve a 10-6 record and earn the double chance this season.
Both teams had contrasting fortunes in last Saturday’s final round.
As North Bendigo was beaten by 28 points at Colbinabbin, Leitchville Gunbower won on Mount Pleasant’s ground at Toolleen.
There are four changes to North Bendigo’s team for the qualifying final.
Ins are ruckman Aidan Brohm, experienced defender Ryan Alford, key defender Hamish McCartney and young gun Will Gilmore.
The Bulldogs have won both of this season’s meetings with the Bombers by 89 points in round three, and 27 points in the 10th round.
Create enough chances and the Bulldogs have the likes of Dylan Klemm, Jake Dean, Sam Barnes and Jordan Ford to cap off a high workrate with goals.
North Bendigo also has the experience of Ryan Hartley, Nic Waterson, Nathan Newlan and Aarryn Craig in and around the contests.
The Bombers’ attack in the win against Mounts was led by Blake Dye on five goals as Fraser Buchanan booted three and Billy Hawken added two.
Max Hagan was again best afield for the LG team as James Brereton, Chris Horman, Charles Hancock, Joel Donehue and Blake Dye won plenty of the ball.
On Sunday it will be Heathcote and Colbinabbin fighting to stay in the premiership race when they contest the elimination final at Leitchville from 2.15pm.
It’s a one-all record between the Saints and Grasshoppers this season.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote won on Colbinabbin’s ground at M.J. Morgan Oval in round three by 99 points.
Next time around it was the Jed Brain-coached Grasshoppers who stunned Heathcote at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to win by 26 points.
The Saints and Grasshoppers marked victories in the lead-up to the finals.
Heathcote won a hard-fought contest with the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve by 26 points.
The classy Zak Saad kicked four goals and was also damaging from centre breaks in a best afield performance.
Players to watch for the Saints include ruckman James Orr, Mitch McLean, co-captain Liam Jacques, Corey Grindlay, Braden Padmore and Connor Hamilton.
The Saints regain the hard-running Rhys Bolton at half-back or a wing and skilful forward Jackson Conforti.
Injury has forced midfielder Joseph Beedle out and co-captain Codie Price is also on the sidleines.
Colbinabbin regains former coach Nick Knight, Toby Howlett and Geordie McMurtie for this match
Alex Carr kicked five goals in a best on ground performance against North Bendigo and looms as a huge threat to the Saints prospects.
The Grasshoopers also have the talented Clint Shields, Jai Carn, Logan Fitzgerald, Charles Ryan and Jordan Wilson in attack.
Driving forces in Colbinabbin’s run across the second half of the season include centreman Nathan Basile, captain Will Lowe, ruckman Patrick Taban, and former coach Julian Bull.
Big test for Grasshoppers’ defenders Hugh McMurtrie, Angus Martin and Connor Aldous.
In the reserves competition, Lockington Bamawm United has home ground advantage for the qualifying final against Leitchville Gunbower.
The clash of the Cats and Bombers starts at 11.50am.
Sunday’s reserves elimination final at 11.50am features Huntly and Mount Pleasant at 11.50am.
The Hawks start as favourites following wins against the Blues by three points and 12 goals.
First-up in the finals series will be the under-18 teams from Huntly and Lockington Bamawm United in Saturday’s qualifying final at 9.45am.
The Hawks and Cats both achieved win-loss record of 10-4 in the home-and-away series.
Huntly beat LBU by 11 points in round four, and won at Lockington by 28 points in the 13th round.
It will be North Bendigo against Heathcote in the under-18s elimination final starting at 9.45am on Sunday at Leitchville.
The Saints scored a 40-26 win against the Bulldogs in round four at Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
In round 13 it was North Bendigo which marked a 73-24 win on its turf Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Lockington:
Under-18s at 9.45am: Huntly v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 11.50am: Lockington Bamawm United v Leitchville Gunbower.
Seniors at 2.15pm: North Bendigo v Leitchville Gunbower.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Leitchville:
Under-18s at 9.45am: North Bendigo v Heathcote.
Reserves at 11.50am: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Heathcote v Colbinabbin.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 178 per cent, 56 points; North Bendigo 151, 48; Leitchville Gunbower 110, 40; Heathcote 117, 36; Colbinabbin 93, 32; Mount Pleasant 116, 28; Huntly 69, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 77, 20; Elmore 46, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
59 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
59 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
57 James Harney, Elmore.
51 Corey Grindlay, Heathcote.
41 Liam Bartels, White Hills,
41 Ben Bisset, Mount Pleasant.
37 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
30 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
30 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
29 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
28 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
27 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
26 Clint Shields, Colbinabbin.
24 Sam Barnes, North Bendigo.
24 Anthony McMahon, – Lockington Bamawm United.
23 James Davies, White Hills.
22 Fraser Buchanan, Leitchville Gunbower.
21 Mitch Bennett, – Mount Pleasant.
21 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
21 Jordan Ford, North Bendigo.
20 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
20 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
19 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
19 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
18 Mitch Dole, White Hills.
18 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
18 Cooper Webber-Mirkin, Heathcote.
17 Liam Birch, Heathcote.
16 Jed Brain, Colbinabbin.
16 Jackson Conforti, Heathcote.
16 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Flynn Campbell, Huntly.
14 Caleb Hislop, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Jaxson Nihill, Mount Pleasant.
14 Charles Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
14 Jordan Wilson, Colbinabbin.
13 Pat Bogers, North Bendigo.
13 Lachlan Sverns, Leitchville Gunbower.
13 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.
12 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Jacob Greenwood, Huntly.
12 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
12 Hamish Morcom, Huntly.
12 Braden Padmore, Heathcote.
12 Tyler Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
12 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
12 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.
11 Bailey Cain, North Bendigo.
11 Jeremy Mundie, Lockington Bamawm United.
11 Nic Warnock, White Hills.
11 Daniel Whiting, Mount Pleasant.
10 Callum Crisp, White Hills.
10 Hakeem Johnson, North Bendigo.
10 Riley McNamara, Mount Pleasant.