MOUNT Pleasant was first to qualify for the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy grand final after Saturday’s second semi-final win against North Bendigo.
The Blues made it two-one in this season’s showdowns with North Bendigo.
After kicking off the finals by beating Colbinabbin in the qualifying final, Mount Pleasant faced the Bulldogs at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Blues had the breeze first and raced to a 23-10 lead by quarter-time.
In the second it was North Bendigo which scored 3.2, but a tally of 1.3 was enough for Mounts to be up 32-30 at half-time.
The Blues controlled a lot of the play in the third and added three goals.
By the last change Mount Pleasant led 52-38.
North Bendigo drew within four points after a Harrison Jarvie goal a couple of minutes into time-on in the fourth quarter.
A Brodie Leonard-Shannoon kick was brilliantly marked by Joey Bell.
A second major by Bell put the Blues up by nine points in the 26th minute.
Bulldogs’ key forward Jake Dean won a marking contest and was on target just on two minutes later.
Mounts won the crucial centre clearance and worked the ball forward to Bryce Hinneberg.
The shot at goal was touched on the line as the Blues led by six points.
North Bendigo had a chance to force the match into extra time.
The Bulldogs worked the ball to the wing, but pressure resulted in a turnover and Mounts retained possession.
At the final siren Mount Pleasant led 63-57.
A Blues’ team which has Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches and Cam Carter as director of coaching racked up 23 scoring shots as the Bulldogs had 17.
Mount Pleasant’s attack was led by Joey Bell and Jesse Tuohey on two goals as Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Riley McNamara, Mitch Rovers and Jack Teasdale added one each.
Was a superb effort by the Bulldogs’ defence to keep the dangerous Ben Weightman who had kicked 43 goals in eight matches goalless in this contest.
North Bendigo’s leading goalkickers were Jake Dean and Jordan Ford on two each as captian Aarryn Craig, Harrison Jarvie, Dylan Klemm and Nic Waterson added one each.
Best for Mount Pleasant were key defenders Deklan Wille and Will Wallace, Adam Baird, Joey Bell, Caelan Smith and Riley McNamara.
North Bendigo’s best were Lachlan Ross, Will Gilmore, Harrison Jarvie, co-coach Ryan Hartley, Nic Waterson and Bailey Cain.
A Bulldogs’ team which has Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach will fight to stay in the premiership race in Saturday’s preliminary final against Colbinabbin on Elmore’s ground.
Mount Pleasant will await to face North Bendigo or Colbinabbin in the September 13 grand final at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Colbinabbin stayed in the senior footy flag race as it won Sunday’s first semi-final against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks by 14 points at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin led 22-15 at quarter-time, but it was the Hawks who were up 29-23 by half-time after they scored 2.2 and kept the Grasshoppers to a point in the second.
Both teams scored 3.3 in the third term
Inspired by the play of ruckman/forward Brandyn Grenfell, Nathan Basile and Alex Carr it was Colbinabbin which took control in the final term.
The green and gold scored five goals and kept Huntly to just two majors.
By the final siren Colbinabbin was up 78-64.
The Grasshoppers’ attack was led by Alex Carr on four goals as Grenfell and Nick Knight added two each.
Other goalkickers for Colbinabbin were Nathan Basile, Isaac Carracher and Sam Ryan.
Lachy Wilson kicked three goals as Sam Dunstan and Deacon Wheelhouse booted two each.
The Hawks also had Darby Walsh and Harry Whittle add a major.
Best for Colbinabbin included Angus Martin, Charles and Sam Ryan.
Huntly’s best were Mitch Billings, Lachy Wilson, Steve Kairn, Deacon Wheelhouse, Dale Lowry and Jaydon Cowling.
It was a superb season by the Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly which achieved a win-loss tally of 8-7 and drew a match.
The Hawks teamed superbly to defeat Leitchville Gunbower in the elimination final.
A memorable second semi-final day for Mount Pleasant included victory in the reserves clash with the previously unbeaten North Bendigo.
The Blues made a brilliant start to lead 31-13 at quarter-time and the pressure did not let up.
Mount Pleasant won the second term, 13-5, and then surged clear in the third.
As the Blues scored 4.1 in the third quarter the Bulldogs added 1.2.
North Bendigo won the last, 14-8, but it was Mount Pleasant which marked a 77-40 victory and progressed to the September 13 grand final.
The Blues’ attack was led by Tyler McNamara on four goals as Jesse O’Connell and Jack Mackenzie kicked three and two goals.
Daniel Dempster, Hayden Gillingham and Shaun Young added a goal each.
Was a tough afternoon for North Bendigo’s forwards in which Pat Bogers, Brandon Etherington, Riley Jones, Billy Robertson and Nic Swan slotted a goal each.
The Bulldogs will now meet the Harlowe Huntly Hawks in the preliminary final.
The Hawks flew to a 26-2 lead by quarter-time of the first semi against Lockington Bamawm United in Lockington.
By half-time the LBU Cats were within a goal after they scored four goals and kept Huntly to a major in the second.
Just seven points separated the teams going into the final quarter.
Huntly was up 51-44 and finished the contest strongly.
The Hawks scored three goals and kept LBU to a tally of three behinds in the last to complete a 69-47 victory.
Max Edwards led Huntly’s attack on three goals as Toby Brook booted two.
Other goalkickers for the brown and gold were Archer Billings, Luke Bonnett, Brad Chalmers, Jack Daley, Jackson Dole and Josh Stone.
The LBU attack was led by Bart Phillips with four goals as Cody Betts booted two and Jacob Haines slotted the other.
Huntly’s best were Daniel Artavilla, Jack Daley, Archer Billings, Sam Keneally, Max Edwards and Jackson Dole.
Best for LBU were Thomas Eade, Matt Cartwright, Kingsley Bambling, Lachlan Holthuisen, Sam Wolfe and Cody Betts.
North Bendigo will carry an unbeaten record into the under-18s grand final.
The Bulldogs marked a 23-point win against the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in the second semi-final.
The Demons started well and led 13-6 by quarter-time.
North Bendigo hit back with two goals in the second as the Demons added two behinds.
By half-time the Bulldogs led a top contest, 19-15.
Quarter three went the way of the Demons, 13-11.
Heat was on the Dogs as they led 30-28 at the start of the final quarter.
Inspired by the play of Noah Filo, Jeremy Corr and Oliver Lythgo the North Bendigo team slammed on three goals and kept the Demons scoreless in the last to complete a 51-28 victory.
Goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Oscar Farrelly, Sam Hancock, Liam Hanley, Max Hibbs, Ned Howe, Jimmy Webb and Liam Westerway.
The Demons’ goalkickers were Tamba Basha, Dustin Crawford, Jackson Lowery and Max Miller.
North Bendigo’s best included Joey Mizzi, Oscar Farrelly and Sam Hancock.
Best for the Demons were Tamba Basha, Finn Millar, Will Malone, Dustin Crawford, Nathan Finch and Jack McGrath.
Lockington Bamawm United passed the century mark in its first semi-final win at home against Heathcote.
The LBU Cats led 18-nil at quarter-time and then slammed on 6.1 as the Saints added a goal in the second.
A closely-fought third term went the way of the Cats, 25-24.
LBU kicked four goals in the last as an incredibly accurate Heathcote added two majors.
At the final siren the Cats were up 16.10 (106) to 7.0 (42).
James Brentnall kicked a match-high five goals for LBU as Flynn Carr booted four and captain Nick Mitchell slotted three.
Other goalkickers for the Cats were Axel Dixon, two; Tye Cox and Charlie Kenna.
Heathcote’s attack was led by Nicholas Long and Jack Mifsud on two each as Seb Barnett, Nicholas Masullo and Bodhi Thompson were also on target.
Best for Lockington Bamawm United were Axel Dixon, James Brentnall, Zac Somerville, Ted Voss, Nicholas Mitchell and Flynn Carr.
Walter Butler, Alfie Taylor, Seb Barnett, Jack McCarthy, Bodhi Thompson and Nicholas Long were best for the Saints.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Elmore Recreation Reserve:
Under-18s at 9.45am: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 12pm: North Bendigo v Huntly.
Seniors at 2.15pm: North Bendigo v Colbinabbin.