THERE was plenty to celebrate as North Bendigo marked its 80th anniversary in Saturday’s round 17 matches in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
It was a momentous day in club history as captain Aarryn Craig marked his 302nd senior game to surpass the long-held record of 301 set by the legendary Andrew “Nibbet” McClellan.
The Bulldogs led 42-13 at quarter-time of the clash with Leitchville Gunbower at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
As North Bendigo scored six and five goals in quarters two and three it worked incredibly hard in defence to limit the Bombers to just a goal in either term.
A high-scoring final term went the way of the Bulldogs, 42-20.
At the final siren North Bendigo led 159-46 which was a 20-goal turnaround from when the Joel Donehue-coached Bombers beat the Bulldogs in round eight at Gunbower by seven points.
The Bulldogs showed they have plenty of attacking options.
In this match it was Storm Giri and Cody Riddick who led the way on four goals each as co-coach Ryan Harley kicked three.
Other multiple goalkickers were Bailey Cain, Aarryn Craig, Jake Dean and Jordan Ford on two.
Blake Dye marked his return to the Bombers’ line-up with four goals.
North Bendigo’s best were Bailey Cain, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Ryan Gillingham, Nic Waterson, Storm Giri and Aarryn Craig.
The day/night for North Bendigo FNC included the reunion of premiership teams from 1956, ’66, ’76 and 2016.
Co-coach of this season’s team, Rob “Bomber” Bennett was co-coach of North Bendigo’s senior premiership team in 2015 and sole coach when the club achieved back-to-back premierships a year later.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Blake Dye, Luke Davis, Frank Fazzolari, Jye Keath, Xavier Colvin and Charles Hancock.
The Bombers held fifth place on the ladder, but are less than two per cent clear of Lockington Bamawm United as both are locked on 28 premiership points going into the final round.
Despite six changes to the team which won the previous round, Heathcote was able to mark a 44-point win on the White Hills turf in Scott Street.
The Saints made a brilliant start to lead 43-27 at quarter-time.
In term two the Demons turned up the heat and scored 5.3 as they kept the visitors to a tally of two goals.
At half-time White Hills was up 60-58.
Quarter three was dominated by the Saints as on-ballers Stefan Rasinac and Dillon Williams, and co-coach Liam Jacques at half-back set up plenty of attacks.
As Heathcote scored seven goals in term three the Demons added a solitary major.
Despite an inaccurate 2.7 in the last, Heathcote kicked on for a 121-77 victory.
Dylan Johnstone starred in the Saints’ attack with seven goals as Jackson Conforti kicked three and Justin Bateson and Tim Long chipped in with two each.
White Hills captain Jake Thompson kicked three goals as Cohen Kekich and Strahan Robinson booted two each.
Best for Heathcote included Dylan Johnstone, Hugh Freckleton and Archer Obst.
The Saints have Andrew Saladino as non-playing co-coach.
Best for White Hills were Patrick Crawford, Khy Sawyer, Nick Wallace, Tamba Basha, Jack Lawton and Ben Irvine.
The Demons are jointly coached by Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer.
Colbinabbin rounded out its home-and-away campaign with a 59-point win at home against Lockington Bamawm United at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin led 29-12 at half-time.
As the green and gold scored 5.6 in the second it kept the LBU Cats to a tally of 2.4.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU did well to win the third, 29-25, but it was Colbinabbin which finished the match with plenty of run.
Colbinabbin added four goals in the last and kept the Cats scoreless to complete a 116-57 victory.
Brandyn Grenfell and Alex Carr led the Grasshoppers’ attack on three goals as Clint Shields kicked two.
LBU’s leading goalkicker was Jesse Collins on three.
Best for Colbinabbin were Tanner Nally, Nathan Basile, Isaac Carracher, Brandyn Grenfell, Alex Carr and Charlie Ryan.
A premiership-winning player with Hawthorn, ruckman-forward Ben McEvoy played his first senior match of the season for Colbinabbin.
McEvoy has played in four reserves matches for the Grasshoppers and qualifies for the finals.
Best for the LBU Cats were ruckman and triple Cheatley medallist Tyler Phillips along with Patrick Keele, Riley Carr, Jack O’Callaghan, Bowden Stone and Lachlan Holthuisen.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks marked a 44-point win on Elmore’s ground.
Huntly led 19-12 at quarter-time and then scored 5.3 as it kept the Bloods to tally of 1.4 in the second.
A five-goal buffer for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks at half-time became seven goals at a quarter to play.
The Hawks won the last, 19-17, on their way to a 98-54 victory.
Seven goals by Sam Dunstan has given a one-goal lead to Heathcote’s Dylan Johnstone in the goalkicking race.
Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson also kicked three goals against the Bloods.
Sidelined because of a shoulder injury since round 13, James Harney marked his return for Elmore by kicking three goals as Xavier Coghill added two.
Best for Huntly were Nathan Dunstan, Abe Sladden, Mitch Billings, Sam Dunstan, Harrison Campbell and Darcy Lawler.
Rhys Holmberg, Matt Filo, Matt Gilmour, Luke Price, Xavier Coghill and Charlie O’Toole were best for the Luke Freeman-coached Bloods.
Mount Pleasant had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder after 17 rounds:
Mount Pleasant 145 per cent, 48 points; North Bendigo 166, 46; Colbinabbin 133 , 44; Heathcote 119, 42; Leitchville Gunbower 85, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 83, 28; Huntly 98, 20; White Hills 61, 8; Elmore 55, 8.
Match of the day in next Saturday’s 18th and final round in the home-and-away series will be Heathcote against Mount Pleasant from 2.15pm at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Saints and Blues drew earlier in the season at Toolleen.
A win would put Heathcote back on the third rung as Colbinabbin has the bye.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks take on North Bendigo at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United faces Elmore at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
Leitchville Gunbower and White Hills meet in the battle of the Bombers and Demons at Leitchville Recreation Reserve.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
56 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
55 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
52 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
49 Ben Weightman, MP.
39 Sean Williams, H’cote.
34 Blake Dye, LG.
33 Alex Carr, C; Dylan Klemm, NB.
31 Cody Riddick, NB.
28 Jordan Ford, NB.
27 Ryan Hartley, NB.
26 Jake Dean, NB; James Harney, Elm.
24 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
23 Jack Dye, LG; Billy Hawken, LG; Jake Thompson, WH; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
22 Lachie Gawel, Elm.
20 Tyler Phillips, LBU.
19 Laine Fitzgerald, C; Brayden Hull, LBU; Storm Giri, NB.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; Patrick Conlan, WH; Brodie Leonard-Shannon,
In the netball, ELMORE and North Bendigo clinched their place in the A-grade netball elimination final as they won Saturday’s round 17 matches in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
The Bloods were on their court at Elmore Recreation Reserve against Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
It was a clash between fifth and sixth in the premiership race.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore responded to Huntly’s pressure to record a 49-36 victory.
The Bloods will travel to Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval for next Saturday’s final match in the home-and-away series against the Lockington Bamawm United Cats.
North Bendigo marked its seventh win of the season in a 51-41 victory against Leitchville Gunbower.
It was a big day for North Bendigo FNC as it marked 80th anniversary celebrations at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached Bulldogs earnt a long-awaited appearance in the A-grade finals.
North Bendigo will play at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve next Saturday.
Was another strong performance by the Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower to again pass the 40-goal mark.
Results in the two other matches went as expected.
Unbeaten in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Colbinabbin scored a 63-goal win against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin poured in 90 goals on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Was a tough hit-out for the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU Cats.
White Hills also put in one its best scoring performances of the season against Heathcote.
The Elley Lawton-coached White Hills won 80-31 against the Saints.
A high for the Brooke Price-coached Heathcote was a 10-goal win on North Bendigo’s court.
Mount Pleasant had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition after 17 rounds:
Colbinabbin 220 per cent, 64 points; Mount Pleasant 185, 52; White Hills 117, 40; North Bendigo 93, 28; Elmore 82, 28; Huntly 83, 22; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 63, 14; Heathcote 59, 8.
In next Saturday’s 18th round, Leitchville Gunbower plays White Hills from 2.30pm at Leitchville Recreation Reserve.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks play North Bendigo at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United takes on Elmore at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
It’s a 3pm start for the Heathcote and Mount Pleasant match at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball, round 17 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Elmore 36 lt Huntly 50, North Bendigo 53 d Leitchville Gunbower 35, White Hills 63 d Heathcote 17, Colbinabbin 60 d Lockington Bamawm United 34, Mount Pleasant bye.
B-grade:
Elmore 35 lt Huntly 61, North Bendigo 25 lt Leitchville Gunbower 57, White Hills 59 d Heathcote 39, Colbinabbin 37 d Lockington Bamawm United 20, Mount Pleasant bye.
B-reserve:
Elmore 42 lt Huntly 57, North Bendigo 44 d Leitchville Gunbower 19, White Hills 42 d Heathcote 36, Colbinabbin 16 lt Lockington Bamawm United 77, Mount Pleasant bye.
17-and-under:
Elmore 34 d Huntly 33, North Bendigo 24 lt Leitchville Gunbower 46, White Hills 65 d Heathcote 29, Colbinabbin 34 lt Lockington Bamawm United 55, Mount Pleasant bye.
15-and-under:
Elmore 24 lt Huntly 30, North Bendigo 19 lt Leitchville Gunbower 37, White Hills 50 d Heathcote 19, Colbinabbin 35 lt Lockington Bamawm United 43, Mount Pleasant bye.
13-and-under:
Elmore 21 d Huntly 16, North Bendigo 14 lt Leitchville Gunbower 36, White Hills 14 lt Heathcote 20, Colbinabbin 26 lt Lockington Bamawm United 29, Mount Pleasant bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 17 rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 132 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 195, 50; Huntly 131, 48; White Hills 121, 40; North Bendigo 127, 38; Leitchville Gunbower 77, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 61, 8; Heathcote 52, 8; Elmore 65, 4.
B-grade:
White Hills 162 per cent, 56 points; Mount Pleasant 134, 46; Huntly 119, 42; Leitchville Gunbower 117, 42; Heathcote 101, 40; Colbinabbin 90, 18; North Bendigo 76, 14; Elmore 66, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 59, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 173 per cent, 52 points; Lockington Bamawm United 173, 52; White Hills 146, 52; Heathcote 109, 32; Mount Pleasant 102, 32; North Bendigo 111, 28; Elmore 96, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 42, 4; Colbinabbin 39, 4.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 167 per cent, 60 points; White Hills 171, 52; Lockington Bamawm United 141, 44; Leitchville Gunbower 108, 34; Elmore 89, 32; Huntly 89, 22; Heathcote 75, 18; Colbinabbin 59, 10; North Bendigo 55, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 192 per cent, 56 points Lockington Bamawm United 172, 56; Colbinabbin 107, 36; Heathcote 97, 34; Mount Pleasant 101, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 89, 26; Elmore 77, 18; Huntly 57, 10; North Bendigo 53, 4.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 266 per cent, 56 points; Lockington Bamawm United 199, 56; Colbinabbin 135, 44; Mount Pleasant 134, 40; Elmore 95, 32; Huntly 75, 22; North Bendigo 77, 18; White Hills 54, 4; Heathcote 22, 4.