NORTH Bendigo faces the heat from the White Hills Demons in Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
The Bulldogs and Demons will play at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 1.30pm.
It’s fourth against third as both fight to gain or held their place in the top three.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo is back on court after a bye.
In the previous round the Bulldogs won on Elmore’s court by 10 goals.
First home game for the red, white and blue was in round two where Colbinabbin marked a 57-30 victory on North Bendigo’s court.
White Hills rolls into this match on a three-one record and in third place.
The Elley Lawton-coached White Hills scored a 27-goal win in last Saturday’s home game against Elmore.
It was a strong response by the team in a red and black after a 62-35 loss at Colbinabbin in round three.
Lockington Bamawm United will on its court at Nichol Trading Oval against Leitchville Gunbower.
Although winless the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU has played well to finish within 10 goals of North Bendigo, and three goals of Heathcote.
Tough run for the Cats included playing at White Hills in round two, and a 36-goal loss at home to Mount Pleasant a week later.
Win at Lockington and the Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower will move into the top five.
The LG Bombers fought on in a 49-all draw with the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Gunbower last Saturday.
Elmore faces a big ask at home against Mount Pleasant.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Bloods are yet to win.
The Bloods began their season with a 36-goal loss to Colbinabbin, had a bye, and were then beaten a week later at home by North Bendigo.
Last Saturday the Bloods were up against White Hills in the Scott Street den where the Demons won by 27 goals.
Mount Pleasant is on the rebound from a 12-goal loss to Colbinabbin.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues are likely to have too much scoring power for the Bloods to hold across four quarters.
On what’s a remarkable unbeaten streak, Colbinabbin should add to the stretch when it hosts Heathcote at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers controlled a lot of the play to score a 12-goal victory in the re-match of the ’25 grand final with Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.
Heathcote celebrated a long-awaited victory after a 46-43 result against Lockington Bamawm United on the Saints’ court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve last Saturday.
The Saints are coached by Brooke Price, nee Bolton, a multiple winner of the Esther Cheatley Medal as leagie fairest and best.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 165 per cent, 16 points; Mount Pleasant 170, 12; White Hills 121, 12; North Bendigo 92, 8; Huntly 89, 6; Leitchville Gunbower 69, 6; Heathcote 80, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 68, 0; Elmore 57, 0.
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 122 per cent, 16 points; Mount Pleasant 180, 12; White Hills 133, 12; North Bendigo 147, 8; Huntly 125, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 68, 4; Heathcote 60, 4; Elmore 54, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 52, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 198 per cent, 16 points; Mount Pleasant 159, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 8; Elmore 77, 8; Heathcote 96, 4; Huntly 83, 4; Colbinabbin 76, 4; North Bendigo 93, 2; Lockington Bamawm United 51, 2.
B-reserve:
Huntly 180 per cent, 16 points; Lockington Bamawm United 154, 16; North Bendigo 150, 8; White Hills 131, 8; Mount Pleasant 104, 8; Heathcote 100, 4; Elmore 94, 4; Colbinabbin 39, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 28, 0.
17-and-under:
White Hills 163 per cent, 16 points; Mount Pleasant 157, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 121, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 107, 8; Elmore 95, 6; Colbinabbin 60, 6; Huntly 93, 4; North Bendigo 72, 0; Heathcote 50, 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 195 per cent, 16 points; White Hills 179, 12; Mount Pleasant 98, 12; Colbinabbin 94, 8; Heathcote 104, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 88, 4; Elmore 70, 4; Huntly 61, 4; North Bendigo 45, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 312 per cent, 16 points; Leitchville Gunbower 622, 12; Colbinabbin 132, 12; Elmore 146, 8; Mount Pleasant 101, 8; Huntly 66, 8; North Bendigo 49, 0; White Hills 44, 0; Heathcote 8, 0.
In the football action ………….there is 250-plus games of AFL experience added to Lockington Bamawm United’s team for this Saturday’s fifth round in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell will play for the LBU Cats against the Leitchville Gunbower Bombers at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval from 3.20pm.
It’s a huge day for Lockington Bamawm as it kicks in to raise funds and awareness for the Mates for Men’s Health Foundation.
A 253-game stint for Heppell for Essendon ended after the 2024 season.
Since then the former Essendon captain has played in the VFL with Port Melbourne, and also played in last season’s premiership win with Leongatha.
In ’26 he has lined up for Leongatha and also played some matches in Tasmania.
Heppell’s inclusion is a huge lift for LBU as it stats this round on a two-two record and in fourth place.
Heppell’s stint with the Cats begins with a clinic at 11.30am and then lining up as rover and in the number 21 guernsey against the LG Bombers.
He will then be special guest at a Sportsman’s Night.
On field the Jayden Howe-coached Cats will be determined to build on the momentum from last Saturday’s win at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park.
Key match-ups for LBU include Jacob Gardiner at full-back against Ryan Allan, Charlie Hinks at centre half-back opposed to Jack Dye, and Cooper Mitchell rucking against Sam Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde.
There’s plenty of experience at the centre ball-ups and stoppages as Heppell teams up with Bowden Stone and Marcus Angove.
A strong attack for LBU includes Jesse Collins, Jack O’Callaghan and Tyler Phillips.
The Joel Donehue-coached Bombers have taken the points in close wins against Heathcote, 11 points, and Huntly, four points, after starting with a five-point loss to reigning premier Mount Pleasant at Gunbower in round one.
Colbinabbin will be back on home turf at M.J. Morgan to take on Heathcote.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers will have learnt plenty from last Saturday’s loss to Mount Pleasant in Toolleen.
Key players for Colbinabbin include Aidan and Nathan Basile, Jai Carn, Isaac Carracher, Laine Fitzgerald, gun forward Brandyn Grenfell, Jasper McArdle and Matt Riordan.
Massive task for Heathcote in a season where losing margings have been 11 and 16 points.
Best for the Saints in the 16-point loss to Lockington Bamawm United at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve were Stefan Rasinac, Seb Barnett, Rhys Bolton and Will Tobin.
The Saints’ squad coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, includes Hugh Freckleton, Daniel and Dylan Johnstone, Codie Price and Sean Williams.
After a breakthrough victory on the White Hills turf, Elmore is back home to take on reigning premier, Mount Pleasant.
Key match-ups for the Bloods include Joseph Harney at full-back against Caelan Smith, Rhys Holmberg opposed to skilful forward Ben Weightman, Matt O’Dwyer ruck-roving against Xavier Carter.
The Bloods’ line-up coached by Luke Freeman includes Jarrad Kyne in the ruck, Lachie Gawel roving, Matt Filo and James Harney in attack.
Talented youngster Xavier Coghill will play a crucial role in the centre against Seb Greene.
Unbeaten as it chases back-to-back premierships, Mount Pleasant turned a 14-point deficit at the start of the last quarter into a three-goal win against Colbinabbin last Saturday at Toolleen.
A powerful team representing Mounts includes William Wallace and Deklan Wille in defence, rover Jack Hickman, the athletic Jett Nicholas, strong marking Brodie Leonard-Shannon, and the experienced Brodie Montague and Alex Wharton.
The Blues are coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing.
After a bye, North Bendigo is back on its turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to play White Hills.
The Bulldogs kicked off this campaign with narrow losses to Lockington Bamawm and Colbinabbin by four and five points.
North Bendigo won its home game against Elmore in round three by 40 points as Jordan Ford, Liam Dillon, co-coach Ryan Hartley and Jett Grundy led the way.
Key roles for the red, white and blue will be played by ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Dylan Klemm and Cody Riddick in attack, Will Gilmore and Matt Gray in defence.
A team which has Rob Bennett as non-playing coach includes Bailey Cain, Aarryn Craig, Billy Robertson and Darcy Richards.
White Hills made a superb start to the season as it beat Huntly, 60-48, and then Lockington Bamawm United, 90-87.
The past two rounds the Demons were outplayed by Colbinabbin, 53-point loss, and Elmore, 79-91 loss.
Huge test for the Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons to avoid a hat-trick of defeats.
White Hills captain Jake Thompson will play a crucial role ruck-roving and also when in the forward 50m arc.
Jack Lawton is in the ruck and Tom Conlan as rover.
In defence the Demons have Patrick Crawford, Ben Irvine, Liam Monghan and Nicholas Wallace.
Mitch Dole, Cohen Kekich, Seth Boyd and Lachlan Martin will aim to cap off attacks with goals.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 148 per cent, 16 points; Colbinabbin 117, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 105, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 87, 8; White Hills 85, 8; North Bendigo 113, 4; Heathcote 90, 4; Elmore 82, 4; Huntly 78, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
16 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
14 Tyler Phillips, LBU.
13 Jake Thompson, WH.
10 Ryan Allan, LG; Sam Dunstan, Huntly; Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
9 Dylan Klemm, NB; Ben Weightman, MP.
8 Tom Conlan, WH; Bryce Hinneberg, MP.
7 Lachie Gawel, E.
6 Xavier Carter, MP; Brodie Leonard-Shannon, MP; Sean Williams, H’cote.