NORTH Bendigo stayed in the premiership race as Mount Pleasant qualified for a 33rd grand final across the weekend’s Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy semi-finals action.
On Sunday it was the Bulldogs against the Cats as North Bendigo faced Lockington Bamawm United in the first semi-final at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
The Bulldogs led 30-20 at quarter-time before both teams added 3.2 in the second term.
It was 68-60 in favour of North Bendigo going into the last quarter.
It took until the 18th minute for a goal to be scored when North Bendigo co-coach and Sam Cheatley medallist Ryan Hartley ran into an open goal to give his team a 14-point buffer.
That sparked a flurry of goals across the next 11 minutes.
LBU replied quickly when Jesse Collins marked a pass in the pocket.
The Bulldogs won the centre break from which Jake Dean kicked his second major.
The Jayden Howe-coached Cats refused to give up as a Jesse Collins goal put them back within eight points in the 25th minute.
As it had done all quarter, North Bendigo had the answering goal which was off the boot a running Jake Dean.
When Brady Trotman was freed in a marking contest and kicked truly the heat was back on the Bulldogs.
LBU won the ensuing centre break from which Nick Smart mrked and goaled to make it 88-86 in the 28th minute.
In danger of consecutive finals defeats once again a North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley responded.
One of the Bulldogs’ best in this contest, Liam Dillon goaled on the run to seal a 94-86 victory and a date with Colbinabbin in the preliminary final.
North Bendigo’s attack was led by Jake Dean and Cody Riddick on three goals as Liam Dillon, Ryan Hartley and Dylan Klemm kicked two each and Ryan Alford and Jordan Ford were also on target.
LBU’s leading goalkickers were Brayden Hull, three; Charlie Hinks, Thomas Leech and Tyler Phillips, two.
Best for North Bendigo were Jake Dean, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Ryan Hartley, Liam Dillon, Bailey Cain and Harrison Jarvie.
The Cats’ best were Tyler Phillips, Cooper Mitchell, Bowden Stone, Jesse and Brodie Collins, and Brady Trotman.
Reigning premier Mount Pleasant was first to qualify for the grand final after a 22-point win against Colbinabbin in the second semi-final at White Hills Recreation Reserve.
The Blues faced a seven-point deficit at half-time after the Grasshoppers had scored 8.4 and Mounts was on 7.3 at the long break.
A third-quarter blitz of seven goals as it kept Colbo to just two majors meant Mount Pleasant had surged to a 25-point lead going into the final term.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers worked hard to win the last, 25-22, but it was the Blues’ players and fans who celebrated a 112-90 win.
Although it was without gun forward Ben Weightman, hamstring, Mount Pleasant showed it has plenty of attacking options.
Mitch Bennett led the attack on four goals as Bryce Hinneberg and Nathan Kay kicked three each and Xavier Carter and Jack Hickman added two.
The Blues also had Hugo Gibson, Jaxson Nihill and Caelan Smith slot a goal.
Colbinabbin’s leading goalkickers were Nathan Basile and dual Hawthorn premiership player Ben McEvoy with three each.
Laine Fitzgerald kicked two goals for the green and gold as Jai Carn, Alex Carr, Isaac Carracher, Jude Ryan, Sam Ryan and Josh Smithson added one each.
Best for Mount Pleasant were co-captains William Wallace and Caelan Smith, ruckman Chris Down, Deklan Wille, Bryce Hinneberg and Nathan Kay.
Daniel Hill, Nathan Basile, Josh Smithson, Ben McEvoy, Tanner Nally and Toby Howlett played well for the Grasshoppers.
A Mount Pleasant team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, is a win away from a 22nd senior premiership.
North Bendigo’s unbeaten run in the reserves competition kept rolling as the Bulldogs scored a 65-43 victory against Lockington Bamawm United in the second semi-final.
Heat was on the Dogs as the Cats worked hard to be within two points going into the last term.
The Bulldogs responded to the challenge by scoring five goals as LBU added two.
When the final siren sounded North Bendigo was up 65-43 and a win away from claiming back-to-back premierships.
Oscar Farrelly and Sam Hancock kicked three goals each as Ryan Domaille, Billy Meade and Austin Robinson were also on target for the red, white and blue.
Jack Jansen led the Cats’ attack on two goals as Tyson McCoomb, Luke Saligari, Shaun Trice and Paul van der Sluys slotted one each.
Best for the Bulldogs were Ryan Domaille, Nathan Newlan, Adal Zuk, Sam Hancock, Billy Meade and Bailey Wingrave.
LBU’s best were Tyson McCoomb, Jacob Haines, Noah Turner, Kyle Baker, Henry Peris and Luke Saligari.
The Cats will now tackle Huntly in the preliminary final.
On Sunday the Huntly Hawks soared to a 96-64 win against Mount Pleasant in the first semi-final.
Despite playing on the Blues’ turf in Toolleen the Hawks dominated the second half.
Mount Pleasant led 28-26 at half-time, but Huntly slammed on seven goals in the third term to lead by 31 points going into the last.
A closely-fought final term went Huntly’s way, 26-23.
Lists of best players and goalkickers for both teams were not supplied.
In the under-18s competition, Mount Pleasant won through to the grand final after a 43-34 result against White Hills in the second semi-final.
The Demons started well to lead 13-4 at quarter-time, but Mounts fought back to win the second, 16-nil.
After an inaccurate first half in which it scored 2.8, Mount Pleasant added 2.2 in the third.
The Blues led 34-25 going into the final term.
Both teams scored 1.3 in the last quarter.
Goalkickers for the Blues were Jimmy Baker, Sonny Cluff, Harvey Hughes, Ben Miller and Griffin O’Shea.
Jaxson Smith led the Demons’ attack with a match-high two goals as Liam Cummings, Brodie Schintler and Archer Weeks were also on target.
Best for Mount Pleasant were James Mathews, Ben Miller, Bailey Holland, Mitch Lawrence, Ed Harrop and Ned Browell.
Nathan Finch, Charlie Mortimer, Hunter Middleton, Deklan Cleave, Oliver Allan and Brodie Schintler played well for White Hills.
The first semi-final ended in a 10-goal win for Lockington Bamawm United against Huntly.
Quarters two and four were when LBU dominated as it kicked five goals in both of those terms.
Ted Voss and Charlie Kenna led the attack with four and two goals in an 82-22 victory.
Both of Huntly’s goals were kicked by Kallen Villani.
Best for the LBU Cats were Nicholas Mitchell, Noah Fletcher, Harrison Keele, Ted Voss, Jack Alberni and Oscar Palmer.
Cash Caldis, Ryan Harding, Lucas Wheelhouse, Baylee Murley, Chase Wright and Harley Matthews were best for the Hawks.
There were two closely-fought semi-finals in the under-15 competition.
Leitchville Gunbower won the second semi-final against Lockington Bamawm United by 10 points.
Bayly Young kicked four goals in a 43-33 victory for the Bombers.
Cody Cook kicked two goals for LBU.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Bayly Young, Jax Hare, Hugh Ralton, Oli Fletcher, Zane Tuohey and Jack Ridge.
Cody Isherwood, Cody Cook, Kiefer Haines, Raiden Baines, Jude Dobson and Declan Carmichael were LBU’s best.
On Sunday it was Heathcote which marked a 37-33 victory against Rebels in the first semi-final in Toolleen.
The Saints led 22-13 at half-time and 35-21 going into the last quarter.
Rebels fired up to score two goals, but Heathcote kept premiership hopes alive.
Luca Slee led the Saints’ attack on two goals.
Rebels’ captain Jordan Peters kicked two goals.
Best for Heathcote were Tristan Foster, Max Dellar, Tarkyn Langdon, Liam Byrne, Luca Slee and Harry Dellar.
Finlay Rathjen, Hudson Cowan, Zach Froon, Josh Hawking, James Renshaw and Heath Ogden played well for Rebels.
It will be the Cats against the Saints as the under-15 teams representing Lockington Bamawm United and Heathcote kick off preliminary final day.
Schedule for next Saturday’s preliminary finals at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve:
Under-15s at 8.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Heathcote.
Under-18s at 10.20am: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Colbinabbin v North Bendigo.
In the netball action……ELMORE and Colbinabbin were victorious in the weekend’s A-grade netball semi-finals as the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote’s DFNL’s finals action was played in White Hills and Toolleen.
A stunning run by Elmore across the second half of the season kept rolling as the Bloods stunned White Hills in Sunday’s first semi-final at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
The Bloods and Demons were both fighting to keep seasons alive.
It was one-all between the clubs in the home-and-away series.
White Hills won the round four match on its Scott Street court by 27 goals.
When they met again in round 13 it was the Bloods who turned up the pressure on their way to a 46-37 victory on the Elmore Recreation Reserve court.
Week one of the finals featured White Hills in a 42-goal loss to Mount Pleasant in the qualifying final at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
Elmore began its finals campaign with a hard-fought 40-36 victory against North Bendigo in the elimination final in Elmore.
Fans were treated to a thrilling finish to the first semi-final.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore scored a 45-44 win to set up a preliminary final showdown with Mount Pleasant.
Runner-up in ’25, Mount Pleasant was outgunned by the unbeaten Colbinabbin in Saturday’s second semi-final in White Hills.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin netted a 66-47 victory to be first to the grand final set down for September 5 at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Mount Pleasant now takes on an Elmore team riding a six-match winning streak.
The last defeat for the Bloods was a 64-25 loss to Mount Pleasant in the 14th round in Toolleen.
There will be seven clubs represented across preliminary final day.
Five clubs have teams through to the September 5 grand finals.
Those who locked up a place in the season decider at Huntly were Colbinabbin, A-grade; Leitchville Gunbower, 13-and-under; Lockington Bamawm United, B-reserve and 15-and-under; Mount Pleasant, A-reserve; and White Hills, B-grade and 17-and-under.
Heathcote DFNL netball second semi-final scoreboard at White Hills Recreation Reserve:
A-grade: Colbinabbin 66 d Mount Pleasant 47.
A-reserve: Mount Pleasant 54 d Colbinabbin 36.
B-grade: White Hills 51 d Mount Pleasant 50.
B-reserve: Lockington Bamawm United 56 d Huntly 39.
17-and-under: White Hills 58 d Mount Pleasant 55.
15-and-under: Lockington Bamawm United 47 d White Hills 42.
13-and-under: Leitchville Gunbower 28 d Lockington Bamawm United 26.
Heathcote DFNL netball first semi-final scoreboard at Toolleen Recreation Reserve:
A-grade: Elmore 45 d White Hills 44.
A-reserve: North Bendigo 51 d Huntly 41.
B-grade: Huntly 51 d Leitchville Gunbower 41.
B-reserve: White Hills 59 d Heathcote 31.
17-and-under: Lockington Bamawm United 42 d Elmore 24.
15-and-under: Colbinabbin 33 d Mount Pleasant 26.
13-and-under: Mount Pleasant 25 d Elmore 11.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve:
17-and-under, court one at 8.45am: Mount Pleasant v Lockington Bamawm United.
13-and-under, court two at 8.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under, court two at 10am: White Hills v Colbinabbin.
B-grade, court one at 11.15am: Mount Pleasant v Huntly.
B-reserve, court one at 12.30pm: Huntly v White Hills.
A-reserve, court one at 1.45pm: Colbinabbin v North Bendigo.
A-grade, court one at 3pm: Mount Pleasant v Elmore.