HEATHCOTE outran the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in Saturday’s round 17 clash in Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
The Heathcote Saints started the match on their turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve just two points clear of the bottom-placed Demons.
Huge plus for the Saints was the return of co-coach Liam Jacques for his first match since he was injured in round six at Elmore.
Other changes included the return of Liam Birch and teenager Archer Obst in his senior debut.
It was 10-all at quarter-time after Rhys Bolton was on target for Heathcote and White Hills co-coach Ben Taylor goaled.
In the second the Saints powered to a five-goal lead which included back-to-back goals by full-forward Dylan Johnstone.
When Jacques goaled the Saints were up 46-11.
White Hills struck back through a Jarrell Ratcliffe goal.
The Demons rued their inaccuracy as they were on 2.9 as the Saints had kicked six majors.
Brilliant play by Mitch Dole to win the footy against two opponents, sprint clear and slot a goal put the red and black with 20 points in the 24th minute.
Just minutes later and Jacques was sent-off.
Although it was down to 17 on-field at the start of the second half, Heathcote goaled through Codie Price, Rhys Bolton and Dylan Johnstone.
The Demons only reply was after captain Cohen Kekich marked a Jayden Sheean pass.
Not long after his return to the field, Jacques put a left-foot snap through the sticks as Heathcote led 72-33.
The Demons scored the next two goals before Johnstone replied.
Dylan Johnstone won a marking contest and kicked his sixth early in the last term.
Ben Taylor goaled after a 100m penalty to be within 33 points.
Joe Beedle was rewarded for a great tackle on a defensive kick-in and goaled.
After a mark, Dylan Johnstone passed to Archer Obst to boot his first goal in senior footy.
Great play by ruckman Aaron Gundry to take the footy from a boundary throw-in and kick to Dylan Johnstone resulted in the Saints’ star’s eighth goal.
At the final siren the Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques-coached Heathcote led 110-67.
Best for the Saints were Rhys Bolton, Dylan Johnstone, Codie Price, the hard-running Justin Bateson, Will Tobin and Connor Hamilton.
The Demons’ best were Jayden Sheean, Ben Taylor, Jack Lawton, Jake Dickens, Jake Thompson and Jarrell Ratcliffe.
White Hills has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
At Colbinabbin the Grasshoppers kicked away in the second half to score a nine-goal win against Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The Hoppers led 33-20 at quarter-time of the clash at M.J. Morgan Oval.
A closely-fought second term went Colbinabbin’s way, 23-20.
The Grasshoppers racked up 12 scoring shots in the third from which they racked up 5.7 to open up a 29-point lead going into the last.
Led by the play of Matt Riordan, Jude and Sam Ryan, Colbinabbin marked a 127-73 victory.
Nick Knight capped his 150th match for Colbinabbin with four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the green and gold were Alex Carr and Sam Ryan, four, and Brandyn Grenfell, three.
Huntly’s attack was led by Sam Dunstan on a match-high six goals as Lachy Wilson added three.
Best for the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin included Alex Carr, Angus Martin and Nick Knight.
Ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Steve Kairn, Sam Dunstan, Harrison Campbell, Darby Walsh and Josh Hull were best for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks.
It was the clash of the Cats and Bulldogs as Lockington Bamawm United took on North Bendigo at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Bulldogs dominated the opening term, but led by just 17 points after they scored 4.11 and LBU replied with three straight goals.
An evenly-fought second term went North Bendigo’s way, 27-25.
On-ballers Ryan Gillingham and Ryan Hartley, and midfielders Bailey Cain and Riley Paetow kept racking up the possessions in the second half for the Bulldogs.
The ladder-leaders won the third term, 32-10.
In the last it was the Jayden Howe-coached LBU which battled for accuracy as it scored 2.7 and the Dogs added 4.2.
By the final siren the Rob Bennett and Ryan Hartley-coached North Bendigo led 120-72.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Jake Dean, Ryan Hartley and Darcy Richards on three each as Cody Riddick chipped in with two.
LBU’s attack was led by Bart Phillips with four and Matt Butler on two.
Best for the Bulldogs included Jordan Ford and Jake Dean.
A big plus for North Bendigo was the return of Tyson Findlay for his first game since round nine.
Best for LBU were ruckman Tyler Phillips, Patrick Keele, Bart Phillips, Charlie Hinks, Bowden Stone and Jack O’Callaghan.
Leitchville Gunbower won every quarter on its way to a 125-32 victory against Elmore at Gunbower.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers led 26-15 at quarter-time and then slammed on 5.8 as they kept the Bloods to a point in term two.
The Bombers’ pressure and run did not ease up as they scored 9.7 in the second half and kept Elmore to a tally of 2.4.
Blake Dye ran riot in attack to finish with eight goals.
The Bombers had Bryce Barnstable slot three goals in a best-on-ground performance as Chris Horman kicked two.
Jake Dick-O’Flaherty kicked two goals for Elmore.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were Bryce Barnstable, Blake Dye, James Brereton, Nic Cattapan, Jye Keath and Zeb Ellwood.
Matt O’Dwyer, Hayden Trewick, Lachie Gawel, Liam Bianco, Mattia Curry and Angus McNamara were Elmore’s best.
It was the final hit-out of the season for the Nathan Kay-coached Elmore which finished on a win-loss record of 4-12.
Mount Pleasant had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 247 per cent, 56 points; Colbinabbin 205, 48; Mount Pleasant 166, 48; Leitchville Gunbower 108, 30; Huntly 90, 30; Lockington Bamawm United 82, 22; Elmore 57, 16; Heathcote 67, 14; White Hills 47, 8.
The 18th and final round in the home-and-away series will be played next Saturady.
Match of the day will be at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant tackles in a qualifying final prelude from 2.30pm.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be back in the nest at Strauch Reserve to play Heathcote.
North Bendigo and Leitchville Gunbower meet in the clash of the Bulldogs and Bombers at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills will be in their Scott Street den to take on Lockington Bamawm United.
Elmore has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
68 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
58 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
43 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
41 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
39 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
38 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
38 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
34 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
34 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
29 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
29 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
26 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
26 James Harney, Elmore.
22 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
20 Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
19 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
19 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
19 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
18 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
17 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
17 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
16 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
16 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
16 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
16 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
15 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
15 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
14 Sam Ryan, Colbinabbin.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
13 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
13 Bailey Cain, North Bendigo.
13 Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Elmore.
13 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
12 Liam Bianco, Elmore.
12 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.
12 Patrick Eefting, White Hills.
12 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
12 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.