-By Nathan Dole
YET another dramatic match was played out between Heathcote and Leitchville Gunbower in Saturday’s fifth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The LG Bombers fought from 40 points down at the start of the final term to hit the front before a Zak Saad goal regained the lead for Heathcote.
A point for the Bombers was shortly followed by the final siren in which scores were 73-all at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques-coached Heathcote started strongly to lead 20-1 at quarter-time.
Just a goal separated the teams at the long break after the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers won the second quarter, 21-8.
Six goals as it kept the visitors to a tally of four points in the third term meant Heathcote led 66-26 going into the final term.
Inspired by the play of ruckman and Sam Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde, Leitchville Gunbower dominated most of the last term.
The Bombers slammed on seven consecutive goals before Saad slotted his first goal of the contest.
Dylan Johnstone kicked a match-high three goals for Heathcote as Liam Birch booted two.
Multiple goalkickers for the Bombers were Blake Dye, Charles Hancock and Chris Horman on two each.
Heathcote’s best were Connor Hamilton, Codie Price, Will Tobin, Daniel Johnstone, Aaron Gundry and Liam Jacques.
Jobee Warde, Brad Green, Austin Windridge, Charles Hancock, Max Hagan and Jett Keam were the Bombers’ best.
North Bendigo ended Mount Pleasant’s unbeaten run in the clash on the Blues’ turf at Toolleen.
Mounts led 32-28 at half-time, but the Bulldogs won a hard-fought third quarter, 14-8.
In the last Mounts was down to 16 on-field after two players were sent off for rough conduct.
The Bulldogs capitalised to score seven goals as the Blues added two.
An 86-52 victory meant North Bendigo jumped to top spot on the ladder.
North Bendigo’s attack was led by the classy Cody Riddick on three.
Mitch Bennett booted three majors for the Blues as Mitch Rovers kicked two goals in his first senior match of the season.
The Gus Roulston Medal which honours the Bulldogs and Blues gun forward of the 70s and 80s was awarded to North Bendigo wingman Nick Waterson.
Also in the best for the Bulldogs were Harrison Jarvie, Matt Gray, Liam Dillon, Bailey Cain and Cody Riddick.
Mount Pleasant’s best were Adam Baird, Caelan Smith, Coby Dunlop, Jett Nicholas, Bryce Hinneberg and Luke Marchesi.
The Bulldogs are jointly coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing.
Mount Pleasant has Josh Hann and Adam Baird as co-coaches, and Cameron Carter as director of coaching.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks were too strong for the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Hawks led 21-10 at quarter-time and then scored 3.3 as the Demons added just four behinds in the second term.
Huntly then won the next two quarters, 25-8 and 28-20.
Key recruit Sam Dunstan kicked three goals for the Hawks as did Joseph Artavilla in a 95-42 victory.
The Hawks had Abe Sladden and Lachy Wilson add two goals each.
Demons’ captain Cohen Kekich kicked two goals.
Best for the Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly were ruckman Nathan Dunstan, Joseph Artavilla, Dale Lowry, Mitch Billings, Kyle Forster and Harrison Campbell.
White Hills co-coach Ben Taylor, Ben Irvine, Seth Boyd, Oliver Edmiston, Jake Dickens and Patrick Crawford were best.
The Demons have Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
Colbinabbin’s goalkicking power was on show in its first home game of the season at M.J. Morgan Oval against Elmore.
The leader of Marong’s attack in the premiership-winning seasons of 2022 and ’23, Brandyn Grenfell booted 10 goals for Colbinabbin against the Bloods.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin kicked away to lead 45-7 by quarter-time.
The Grasshoppers then added 6.3 in the second as Elmore added a point.
Colbinabbin added four goals in the third and five in the last on the way to a 144-23 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the green and gold were Dean Smith on four and Nick Knight on two.
Elmore’s attack was led by Jake Dick-O’Flaherty on two.
Best for Colbinabbin were Brandyn Grenfell, Charles Ryan, Dean Smith, Nathan Basile, Daniel Hill and Jai Carn.
Elmore’s best were Lachie Munro, Rhys Holmberg, Cobi Fitzpatrick, Matt O’Dwyer, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty and coach Nathan Kay.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 250 per cent, 16 points; Colbinabbin 248, 16; Mount Pleasant 202, 16; Huntly 92, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 82, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 70, 6; Elmore 72, 4; Heathcote 63, 2; White Hills 36, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s sixth round will be the clash of the unbeaten North Bendigo and Colbinabbin at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 2.30pm.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons will be in their Scott Street den to take on Mount Pleasant.
Elmore tackles Heathcote in a match where both teams will be desperate for the points on the Bloods’ turf.
Leitchville Gunbower meets Lockington Bamawm United in the showdown between fifth and sixth at Leitchville.
Leading goalkickers:
21 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
21 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
15 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
14 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
14 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
12 James Harney, Elmore.
12 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
10 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
10 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
9 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
9 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
9 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
9 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
8 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
7 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
6 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
6 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
6 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
6 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
6 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
6 Stuart Taylor, Lockington Bamawm United.
6 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
6 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
5 Liam Bianco, Elmore.
5 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
5 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
5 Nick Sheldon, Lockington Bamawm United.
5 Caelan Smith, Mount Pleasant.
5 Jordan Thomson, Elmore.