THERE’S plenty at stake for many clubs in Saturday’s 18th round to wrap up the home-and-away series in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
Finishing order in the top five could stay the same or change dramatically.
Fourth-placed Heathcote has a chance to climb to the third rung by beating reigning premier Mount Pleasant at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Saints and Blues played out a 98-all drawn when they met in round nine in Toolleen.
Huge test for Heathcote which has several players on the sidelines, including gun forward Dylan Johnstone who was given a one-match ban after an early guilty plea to using abusive, insulting or obsence language towards or in relation to an umpire.
The Saints will rely a lot on Hugh Freckleton as a marking target in attack and the play of Justin Bateson, Jackson Conforti and James Pringle at ground level.
Heathcote’s best in last Saturday’s win at White Hills were Stefan Rasinac, Dillon Williams and co-coach Liam Jacques.
A squad which has Andrew Saladino as non-playing coach includes Jonty Kelly, Will Tobin and Dillon Williams.
Victory would ensure Mount Pleasant earns a rest in the first week of the finals as it chases back-to-back premierships.
A powerful attack for the Blues includes Ben Weightman, Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Caelan Smith.
Huge strength for Mount Pleasant is the run and skills of Jack Hickman, Nathan Kay, Joey Bell, Seb Greene, and Alex and Joel Wharton in on-ball or midfield roles.
The experienced Brodie Montague returns for his first match since round 12 after a hip arthroscope.
Josh Hann and Cam Carter team up as playing and non-playing coach of Mount Pleasant.
Just who qualifies for the elimination final will be decided by results at Leitchville and Lockington.
The fifth-placed Leitchville Gunbower is locked on 28 points with sixth-placed Lockington Bamawm United.
The Joel Donehue-coached LG Bombers are 1.87 per cent clear of the LBU Cats.
Leitchville Gunbower is back in Leitchville to take on White Hills.
The Bombers won at White Hills in round nine by 13 points.
Key players for Leitchville Gunbower include ruckman and Sam Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde, Blake and Jack Dye, Matt McLellan, Jye Keath, Austin Windridge, and Tom and Will Brereton.
After a two-nil start, White Hills has not won since then.
The Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons will be determined to end the season on a high.
Best for White Hills in last week’s clash with Heathcote were Patrick Crawford, Nick Wallace, Tamba Basha, Jack Lawton and Ben Irvine.
Other players to watch for the Demons include Seth Boyd, Mitch Dole, Ben Irvine, Cohen Kekich and captain Jake Thompson.
The Demons will be without Khy Sawyer who starts a two-match penalty after an early guilty plea to rough conduct.
Lockington Bamawm United is on home turf at Nichol Trading Oval to take on Elmore.
The Jayden Howe-coached Cats could jump to the fifth rung, depending on what happens at Leitchville.
Back in round nine the Cats won at Elmore by 46 points.
Key match-ups for the Cats include triple Cheatley medal winner Tyler Phillips in the ruck against Jarrad Kyne, Lachlan Holthuisen ruck-roving against Matt Filo, and Cooper Mitchell at full-back opposed to James Harney.
The Cats have Brodie and Jesse Collins, Charlie Hinks, Brayden Hull and Jack O’Callaghan capable of winning many contests.
The Luke Freeman-coached Elmore will look to Rhys Holmberg, Matt O’Dwyer, Lachie Gawel, Joseph Harney, Xavier Coghill and Peter Rothacker to lead the way to an upset victory.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be in their nest at Strauch Reserve to take on North Bendigo.
Gun forward Sam Dunstan has a seven-goal buffer on Mount Pleasant’s Ben Weightman in the race for the goalkicking award.
In round nine it was North Bendigo which beat the Hawks by 58 points to claim the Provincial Cup.
Putting a consistent four quarters together is what the Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly has struggled to do for most of the season.
Key players in the brown and gold include ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Mitch Billings, Brodie Fry, Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson.
The Hawks are against an opponent which could grab top spot should Heathcote win.
North Bendigo is on an eight match winning streak.
Key players in a team which has Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach include Ryan Gillingham, Bailey Cain, co-coach Ryan Hartley, Jordan Hargreaves, captain Aarryn Craig, Storm Giri, Cody Riddick and Nic Waterson.
Colbinabbin has 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.
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, MP.
ELMORE and North Bendigo will be aiming to keep the winning run rolling in this Saturday’s 18th round of A-grade netball to compete the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL home and away series.
The Bloods and Bulldogs have both locked in a place in the elimination final to be played on August 16.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore makes its way to Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval for this Saturday’s clash with Lockington Bamawm United.
Back in round nine it was the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU which scored a 57-51 victory on Elmore’s court.
The Bloods will be determined to avoid a second loss to the Cats.
Elmore won a hard-fought clash at home against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks last Saturday.
The Bloods were up 49-36 at the final siren in a clash between fifth and sixth.
The Cats played at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval last Saturday.
An unbeaten run by the reigning premier kept rolling as the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin netted a 63-goal victory.
North Bendigo makes its way to Huntly’s Strauch Reserve to play the Hawks this round.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached Bulldogs won the round eight showdown with Huntly at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street by two goals.
A 51-41 victory by North Bendigo in last Saturday’s home game against Leitchville Gunbower meant the red, white and blue earnt a long-awaited appearance in the A-grade finals.
Was a big day for North Bendigo FNC as the club marked 80th anniversary celebrations.
Leitchville Gunbower rounds out its season by playing White Hills at Leitchville Recreation Reserve.
The Katie Pollock-coached LG Bombers worked hard to pass the 40-goal mark at North Bendigo last Saturday.
Huge test against a White Hills team warming up for a qualifying final.
The Elley Lawton-coached Demons dominated its latest home game against Heathcote’s Saints.
White Hills led 80-31 at the final siren.
The Brooke Price-coached Heathcote returns to its court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to take on Mount Pleasant from 3pm.
When these teams met in round nine it was Mount Pleasant which won 68-32 in Toolleen.
Huge challenge for the Saints as the Anthea McCleary-coached Blues who had the bye last round warm up for a qualifying final showdown with White Hills.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition after 17 rounds:
A-grade:
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.
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.