-By Nathan Dole
A CLASH of the powerful Elmore and White Hills teams highlights Saturday’s second round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The showdown between the Bloods and Demons will be played at Elmore Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
Both teams were victorious in round one.
There have been several changes since Elmore won the premiership last September.
The Annie Hockey-coached Elmore scored a hard-fought 36-31 victory on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Bloods’ squad includes Stephanie Donnellon, Abbey Hay, Abbey Hromenko, Maddison Keating, Ashleigh Ripper and Lucy Trewick.
White Hills dominated its first-round match at home under the Scott Street lights against Leitchville Gunbower.
The Demons won 69-45.
The Elly Lawton-coached squad at White Hills includes Annie Spear, Serryn Eenjes, Bree Heiden, Cass Humphrey and Kate Clow.
Colbinabbin marks a long-awaited start to its campaign when it plays at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
After a first-round bye and then Easter break, Colbinabbin will be fired up for its match on the Saints’ court at Barrack Reserve.
Runner-up the past two seasons, Colbinabbin has a strong and settled squad once again.
A newcomer for the green and gold is Georgia Whittle.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers are determined to claim their first A-grade premiership since the 2017 season.
A strength of Colbinabbin’s squad is players being in Victorian Netball League squads at Bendigo Strikers, Casey Demons and City West Falcons.
It’s a tough ask for Heathcote as it aims to bounce back from a 37-goal loss to Mount Pleasant in round one at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
First-year coach at Heathcote, Chloe Meulenmeesters said the Saints worked hard to force several turnovers, but the conversion rate was low.
A key for the red, white and black will be strong defence in all thirds of the court and working to have closer shots to the net.
Lockington Bamawm United is home at Lockington to take on Mount Pleasant.
An LBU team jointly coached by Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone will be keen to hit back after a 22-goal loss to Huntly at Lockington in round one.
The Cats’ squad includes Stacy Bacon, Remee Christian, Rebecca Dodd, Audrey Giorgianni and Hannah Sidebottom.
Mount Pleasant was in hot form against Heathcote at Colbinabbin.
Blues’ goalers Keeley Jones and Remi Phillips were outstanding as the team passed the 60-goal mark.
Players to watch for Mount Pleasant include Claudia Collins, Matisse Perez, Maeve Tupper and Morgan Whatley.
Leitchville Gunbower meets Huntly in the clash of the Bombers and Hawks at Leitchville Recreation Reserve.
The Grant Matthews-coached LG team will be fired up after a 24-goal loss at White Hills.
Huntly made a great start to ’25 as it won its match at Lockington by 22 goals.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks are being coached by Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Mount Pleasant 254 per cent, 4 points; Huntly 173, 4; White Hills 153, 4; Elmore 116, 4; North Bendigo 86, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 65, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 57, 0; Heathcote 39, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
A-reserve:
White Hills 310 per cent, 4 points; Huntly 227, 4; Mount Pleasant 217, 4; North Bendigo 170, 4; Elmore 58, 0; Heathcote 45, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 43, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 32, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 343 per cent, 4 points; Huntly 237, 4; Mount Pleasant 122, 4; Elmore 4, 0; Heathcote 81, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 42, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
B-reserve:
White Hills 272 per cent, 4 points; North Bendigo 170, 4; Huntly 127, 4; Heathcote 102, 4; Mount Pleasant 97, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 78, 0; Elmore 58, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 230 per cent, 4 points; Elmore 185.19, 4; Huntly 185.19, 4; White Hills 125, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 54, 0; North Bendigo 54, 0; Heathcote 43, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
15-and-under:
Elmore 286 per cent, 4 points; White Hills 276, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 256, 4; Heathcote 135 per cent, 4; Mount Pleasant 73, 0; Huntly 39, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 0; North Bendigo 34, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 1000 per cent, 4 points; Elmore 975, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 442, 4; Mount Pleasant 216, 4; Heathcote 46, 0; White Hills 22, 0; North Bendigo 10.2, 0; Huntly 10.0, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.