-By Nathan Dole
THE unbeaten streak of Mount Pleasant and North Bendigo is on the line in Saturday’s fifth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
It’s the ladder-leading Mount Pleasant, four-nil, which has home ground advantage at Toolleen to take on the Bulldogs from 2.30pm.
A hat-trick of wins has put North Bendigo, three-nil, in second place.
Both teams are in hot form.
Mount Pleasant won last Saturday’s match at Elmore by 10 goals as premiership-winning defender Bryce Hinneberg was best afield.
Two other premiership winners in Brodie Montague from Sandhurst and Jack Hickman from Golden Square starred for the Blues.
Key forwards Mitch Bennett and Brodie Leonard-Shannon have a combined tally of 32 goals for the Mounts and will test the Bulldogs’ defence.
A Blues’ line-up which has Josh Hann as playing coach and Cameron Carter as director of coaching includes captain William Wallace, Adam Baird, Coby Dunlop, Sam and Seb Greene, Calean Smith, and Michael Whiting.
Mounts will be without captain and gun ruckman Chris Down after he was handed a three-match ban at Wednesday’s tribunal hearing for rough conduct against the Bloods.
North Bendigo dominated last Saturday’s home game against Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to win by 95 points.
Ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Bailey Cain, Liam Dillon and Nic Waterson were the Bulldogs’ best.
There’s plenty of goalkicking options through Dylan Klemm, Jake Dean, Darcy Richards and Cody Riddick.
A Bulldogs’ team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, includes the experience of captain Aarryn Craig, Ryan Alford, Tyson Findlay, Jordan Ford and Storm Giri.
Another big match will be at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve where the Saints take on Leitchville Gunbower.
Although it’s nil-three and eighth on the ladder, Heathcote has lifted form dramatically in the past two hit-outs.
Best for the Saints in the clash on Lockington Bamawm United’s turf at Nichol Trading Oval were Will Tobin, co-coach Liam Jacques, Zak Saad and Codie Price.
The Saints’ squad which has Andrew Saladino as non-playing co-coach includes Daniel and Dylan Johstone in key positions, ruckman Aaron Gundry, Jackson Jones, Joseph Beedle, Lachlan Freeman-Taber, and Jackson Conforti.
Runner-up in ’24, Leitchville Gunbower is also out of the top five on a one-three record and in seventh place.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers could not halt Colbinabbin’s charge to a 70-20 win at Leitchville last round.
Best for LG were Jye Keath, Jett Keam, Will Brereton and Max Hagan.
The Bombers’ squad to tackle the Saints includes Cheatley medallist and ruckman Jobee Warde, Chris Horman, co-captains Tom Brereton and Josh Hawken, Joel Donehue, Blake Dye and Austin Windridge.
An in-form Colbinabbin will be back on home turf at M.J. Morgan Oval to play Elmore.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers are also unbeaten.
Best in Colbinabbin’s win at Leitchville were Daniel Hill, Nathan Basile, Jack Lear and Matt Riordan.
A strong team in green and gold includes Will Lowe in the centre, Julian Bull in the ruck, Jai Carn, Brandyn Grenfell and Nick Knight in attack.
Colbinabbin has Connor Aldous, Toby Howlett and Angus Martin as part of a tight-knit defence.
Another big test for Elmore after playing the ladder-leading Mount Pleasant last round.
In-form players for the Bloods are full-back Cobi Fitzpatrick, Joseph Harney, coach Nathan Kay, and Jack Trewick.
Massive challenge for Elmore defenders Rhys Holmberg, Sam Lees and Lachie Munro in this match.
Other players to watch for the Bloods are James Harney, ruck-rover Liam Bianco, Matt O’Dwyer, Phil Smith and ruckman Jarrad Kyne.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks are back on their turf at Strauch Reserve to face White Hills.
A win will ensure the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks fly to the fourth rung.
Sam Dunstan, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson lead Huntly’s attack.
The brown and gold has Dale Lowry as ruck-rover, Ben Daley in the centre, Nathan Dunstan in the ruck, Mitch Billings and Flynn Campbell in defence.
After two matches in the reserves, Harry Whittle is back in the senior team.
Whittle’s record includes a Frank Harding Medal as Loddon Valley FNL fairest and best when at Newbridge.
After the dizzying heights of a premiership victory last September, White Hills is yet to win in ’25.
Been a tough run for the Ben Taylor, playing, and Brad McConnell, non-playing, coached Demons.
White Hills had the bye last round.
Key players for the Demons include Patrick Eefting in the centre, captain Cohen Kekich, Mitch Dole, ruckman Jack Lawton, Seth Boyd, Jack Dickens and Nick Wallace.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 268 per cent, 16 points; North Bendigo 279, 12; Colbinabbin 180, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 82, 8; Huntly 76, 8; Elmore 96, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 64, 4; Heathcote 55, 0; White Hills 35, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
18 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
18 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
14 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
12 James Harney, Elmore.
11 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
11 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
10 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
8 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
8 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
8 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
8 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
7 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
6 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
6 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
6 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
6 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
6 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.
6 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.