STAKES are raised significantly for this weekend’s semi-finals in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
Winners of Saturday’s second semi-finals at the White Hills ground in Scott Street are first to the September 5 grand final, while it’s season over for those defeated in Sunday’s first semi-finals in Toolleen.
Another chapter in the great rivalry between Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin will be played out in the senior footy second semi-final.
Mount Pleasant finished the home-and-away on top of the ladder as it chases back-to-back premierships.
A Blues’ team coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, won both showdowns with Colbinabbin in the run to the finals.
In round four, Mount Pleasant marked a three-goal win at home against the Grasshoppers in Toolleen.
When they met in the 13th round at M.J. Morgan Oval it was the Blues who kicked clear of the Linton Jacobs-coached green and gold to win by 29 points.
As Mount Pleasant had a rest on the first weekend of the finals, Colbinabbin outplayed and outran North Bendigo to win the qualifying final at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park by 21 points.
Key inclusion for Mount Pleasant is dual premiership-winning ruckman and captain Chris Down to help counter Colbinabbin’s height.
Although he declared the ’25 grand final would be his last match, Down returned to the field.
Down’s play in 10 matches in the reserves competition earnt the Tom Morgan Medal as league fairest and best.
This Saturday’s match will be Down’s third senior game of the season.
A Mount Pleasant defence led by William Wallace, Deklan Wille, Bryce Hinneberg and Michael Whiting faces a huge challenge against Brandyn Grenfell, Jai Carn, Alex Carr, and Hawthorn premiership ruckman-forward Ben “Big Boy” McEvoy.
In the qualifying final it was Laine Fitzgerald, three goals; Carr, William Le Deux and McEvoy all on two goals who led the Grasshoppers’ attack.
For the on-ball duels the Blues have Jett Nicholas, Nathan Kay and Jack Hickman to take on Jasper McArdle, Jude Ryan and Isaac Carracher.
Mount Pleasant did not name gun forward Ben Weightman who missed the 18th round because of injury for this match.
Targets in the Blues’ attack include Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Xavier Carter and Jaxson Nihill.
Mount Pleasant also has the “big game” experience of Brodie Montague, Alex and Joel Wharton from their time with Sandhurst.
In-form players for Colbinabbin include Nathan Basile, Isaac Carracher, Toby Howlett, Tanner Nally and Josh Smithson.
There was one change to Colbinabbin’s line-up as Alex Van Ruiswyk is in for the experienced Matt Riordan.
On Sunday it will be North Bendigo and Lockington Bamawm United fighting to stay in the race when they contest the elimination final in Toolleen.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Bulldogs and Cats.
LBU kicked off ’26 by scoring a four-point win at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval in the first round.
In round 10 the Bulldogs dominated on their turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to win by 64 points.
There’s plenty of premiership experience in the North Bendigo team, but several players have also endured the agony of consecutive finals defeat.
A Bulldogs’ team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and this season’s Sam Cheatley medallist and gun on-baller Ryan Hartley will bring plenty of fight to this contest.
After missing last week because of injury, Hamish McCartney returns to the North Bendigo defence where he will team with the likes of Matt Gray, captain Aarryn Craig, Will Gilmore and Darcy Richards.
There’s plenty of goalkicking and marking power in the North Bendigo line-up.
Dylan Klemm, Jake Dean, Cody Riddick and Jordan Ford were outpointed by Colbinabbin’s defence last Saturday.
The Bulldogs have Bailey Cain, Ryan Gillingham, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, and Nic Waterson capable of setting up many attacks.
The Jayden Howe-coached Lockington Bamawm United teamed brilliantly for a 39-point win against Heathcote in the elimination final in Elmore.
Thomas Leech marked his return from a five-match suspension to lead the Cats’ attack with five goals.
Other multiple goalkickers were Brayden Hull, four; Nick Smart, three; Jesse Collins and Bowden Stone, two.
Players to watch for LBU include triple Sam Cheatley medallist and ruckman/forward Tyler Phillips, Marcus Angove, Ed and James Brentnall, Brodie Collins, Charlie Hinks, Patrick Keele, Jack O’Callaghan and Bowden Stone.
In the reserves competition, North Bendigo takes an unbeaten run into the second semi-final clash with Lockington Bamawm United.
A 16-nil run by the Bulldogs includes a 15-point win at Lockington in round one and a 70-48 victory against the Cats at North Bendigo in the 10th round.
The LBU team kicked off its finals campaign by doubling Huntly’s score in last Saturday’s qualifying final.
Jack Jansen kicked five goals and Henry Peris added four in a 78-39 victory against the Hawks to be among the best.
The Cats had Joel Felmingham, Cody Betts, Kyle Baker and Jacob Haines led the charge.
North Bendigo’s squad includes Denzel Cooper, Harlan Draper, Noah Filo, Billy Meade, Nathan Newlan, Austin Robinson, Brodie Thomson, Jack Towers, Liam Westerway and Bailey Wingrave.
The Cats’ line-up includes captain Paul van der Sluys, Jordan Cooper, Toby Coutts and Luke Saligari.
On Sunday it will be Huntly against Mount Pleasant in the elimination final.
The Hawks won on Mounts’ ground in Toolleen by 67 points in round two.
It was much closer in the 11th round where Huntly fought for a 38-20 victory at Strauch Reserve.
The Hawks’ best in the qualifying final were Jack Burns, Lachie Ross, Jayden Kiel and Hunter Connors.
Toby Brook led the attack on four goals.
Players to watch in the brown and gold include captain Thomas Kairn, Daniel Artavilla, Felix Barber, Hunter Connors, Jackson Fry, Luke Heagney and Harry Whittle.
Mount Pleasant dominated the elimination final against White Hills to win by 103 points.
Jesse O’Connell kicked six goals as Nick Edwards and Daniel Dempster slotted four and three majors.
Best for the Blues included William Bowles, Jack Kristiansen and Nathan Ross.
Mounts will be without ruckman Chris Down who will play in the seniors on Saturday.
The Blues’ squad which beat the Demons included captain Hayden Gillingham, Jack Hetherington, Rusty Hickman, Oscar McNamara, Jacob Smith, and coach Shaun Young.
In the under-18s competition it will be White Hills against Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings.
A 14-2 run by White Hills includes win against Mounts by
White Hills beat the Blues by 55 points in the Demons’ den in round seven.
When they met in the 16th round it was Mount Pleasant which won 72-49.
The White Hills squad includes Deklan Cleave, Charlie Mortimer, Dustin Murley, Kobie Nieto, Brodie Schintler, and Cooper Williams.
Mount Pleasant won the qualifying final against Lockington Bamawm United by 12 points.
Joseph Buchanan and Ed Harrop led the attack on two goals each.
Best for the Blues included James Balic, Van Bortolotto, Kaleb Hodgskiss, Mitch Lawrence and captain James Mathews.
The Mounts’ team to face the Demons includes Ned Browell, Seb Carter, Sonny Cluff, Bailey Holland and Raphael Perez.
On Sunday it will be Lockington Bamawm United against Huntly in the elimination final.
The LBU Cats have beaten the Hawks by 25 and 26 points.
Best for LBU in the qualifying final were Harrison Keele, Harrison Lees, Campbell Keele, William Walshe, Noah Fletcher and Charlie McIntyre.
A big week for Huntly’s Caleb Pellegrino included being declared the David Roulston medallist as the league’s fairest and best.
Huntly won the elimination final against Colbinabbin by four goals.
Zavyer Marwood kicked three goals to be among the best with Zane Whyte, Caleb Pellegrino, Cash Caldis, Hudson Archer and Oscar Davis.
In the under-15s competition it will be Leitchville Gunbower against Lockington Bamawm United in the second semi-final.
A great run by the LG Bombers of 12 wins and one defeat earnt top spot on the ladder.
The Bombers have won all four clashes with the Cats.
In round five, LG’s rising stars won 68-36 in Lockington.
It was a 14-point margin at Elmore in round nine, and then 10 and 16 in the 14th and 18th round showdowns in Leitchville.
LBU won the qualifying final against Rebels by 17 points as Cody Cook, Finn Hughes and Paddy Kenna all kicked two goals.
Best were Paddy Kenna, Raiden Baines, Hunter Sharp, Ryder Murray, Fletcher Norman and Cody Isherwood.
The Cats’ squad to tackle the Hawks includes Declan and Logan Carmichael, Jude Dobson and Kiefer Haines
Rebels take on the Saints from Heathcote in Sunday’s first semi-final.
In round five it was 23-all at Colbinabbin.
Rebels won the round 12 and 14 matches on Heathcote’s turf at Pigeon Park by four and two points.
In the 15th round the Rebels beat the Saints by 17 points in Elmore.
Best for Rebels in qualifying final clash with LBU were Heath Ogden, Nicolas Weppner, Jordan Peters, Zach Froon, Josh Hawking and Charlie Pascoe.
Heathcote scored a nine-goal win against Mount Pleasant in the elimination final.
Max Dellar kicked four goals as Jack Brooke, Isaac Pianta-Cook and Luca Slee kicked two each.
Best were Tristan Foster, Isaac Pianta Cook, Max Dellar, Tarkyn Langdon, Harry Dellar and Luca Slee.
A highlight of the week for Heathcote included Tristan Foster being the first recipient of the Ged McCormick Medal as league fairest and best.
Foster led the medal race on 30 votes.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at White Hills Recreation Reserve in Scott Street:
Under-15s at 8.45am: Leitchville Gunbower v Lockington Bamawm United.
Under-18s at 10.20am: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
Reserves at 12.15pm: North Bendigo v Lockington Bamawm United.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Toolleen Recreation Reserve:
Under-15s at 8.45am: Rebels v Heathcote.
Under-18s at 10.20am: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
Reserves at 12.15pm: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
Seniors at 2.30pm: North Bendigo v Lockington Bamawm United.
In the netball…..MOUNT Pleasant will aim to break Colbinabbin’s unbeaten streak in A-grade netball when they meet in Saturday’s second semi-final in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL competition.
The Blues and Grasshoppers will play on court one at the White Hills Recreation Reserve in Scott Street from 2.30pm.
The winner is first to the September 5 grand final at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
It’s already been a big week for Colbinabbin as Olivia McEvoy earnt the Esther Cheatley Medal as A-grade fairest for a fourth time.
Colbinabbin went one-two as McEvoy and last season’s winner, Ella Kerlin led the medal race on 25 and 24 votes.
It’s a rematch of the ’25 grand final in which Colbinabbin beat Mount Pleasant by 29 goals.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin is unbeaten since an 11-goal loss to Elmore in the 2024 grand final.
This season’s meetings between the Blues and Grasshoppers were decided by margins of 12 and 10 goals.
Colbinabbin scored a 68-56 victory in the round four showdown on Mount Pleasant’s court in Toolleen.
When they met in round 13 the Anthea McCleary-coached Blues cut the deficit, but it was the green and gold which won 63-53 at M.J. Morgan Oval.
As Colbinabbin had a rest in week one of the finals campaign the Blues dominated the qualifying final against White Hills at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Mounts led 74-32 at the final siren.
There’s plenty of attacking flair, skill, and defensive strength in all thirds of the court for Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant.
Key players for Colbinabbin include Ella Kerlin, Olivia McEvoy, Grace and Matilda McIntyre, and Tanzin Myers.
A key inclusion for Mount Pleasant was goalshooter/goal attack Kelsey Meade as assistant coach.
Meade was a multiple premiership winner with Sandhurst.
A tally of 22 votes earnt Claudia Collins third place in the Esther Cheatley Medal award as Blues’ team-mate Maeve Tupper was fifth.
Mount Pleasant’s line-up for Saturday’s match includes Emmie Banfield, Maggie Burke, Chloe Gray and Ivy Harrop.
On Sunday it will be White Hills and Elmore fighting to stay in the premiership race when they play at Toolleen Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
A place in the August 29 preliminary final at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve is the reward.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Demons and Bloods.
In round four the Elley Lawton-coached White Hills dominated on its court to score a 61-34 victory.
A superb second half of the season by Elmore included a 46-37 win at home against the red and black in the 13th round.
After a 44-goal loss at Colbinabbin in the 10th round the Adam Boldiston and Steph Donnellon-coached Elmore has gone on a seven-one run.
It was vastly different results for White Hills and Elmore in week one of the finals campaign.
The Demons were outpointed by Mount Pleasant in the qualifying final.
White Hills will be aiming to field a stronger team this Saturday.
The Demons’ squad includes captain Annie Spear, Isabel Eliades, Caitlin Richardson, Daisy Stringer and Amy West.
Elmore stayed in the flag race as it won the elimination final against North Bendigo by four goals.
The Bloods won 40-36 against the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo team.
Players to watch for Elmore include Lily Den Houting, Abbey Hay, Abbey Hromenko, Kelsey Niven and Ashleigh Ripper.
Five clubs feature across Saturday’s second semi-finals.
In A-reserve, Mount Pleasant takes on Colbinabbin.
The Blues are coached by Anthea McCleary and Keeley Jones.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin scored a 50-49 win against Huntly in the qualifying final.
White Hills has home-court advantage for the B-grade clash with Mount Pleasant.
The Demons squad is coached by Rindy Sawyer and Annie Spear.
A Mount Pleasant team coached by Carine Comer scored a 45-42 win against Huntly in the qualifying final.
It’s the Cats against the Hawks in B-reserve as Lockington Bamawm United faces Huntly.
The LBU team is coached by Anita Livsey.
Huntly won the qualifying final against White Hills by five goals.
The Hawks are coached by Lauren Campbell and Megan Runnalls.
Mount Pleasant and White Hills will be vying to be first to the 17-and-under grand final.
The Mounts line-up is coached by Kirsten Pollock.
White Hills won the qualifying final against Lockington Bamawm United by 19 goals.
A player to watch for White Hills is league medallist Poppy Gladstone.
The Demons’ squad is coached by Bronwyn McConnell.
A big day for White Hills includes the 15-and-under team against Lockington Bamawm United.
Kristi Coller coaches the White Hills line-up.
A tally of 34 votes earnt Milla Cooney from White Hills the competition’s fairest and best award.
The Rebecca Eade-coached LBU won the qualifying final against Colbinabbin by 18 goals.
Among the teams first-up on Saturday will be the 13-and-under squads for Lockington Bamawm United and Leitchville Gunbower.
The LBU team is coached by Beth Howlett and Rebecca Eade.
Leitchville Gunbower fought on for a 22-19 win against Mount Pleasant in the qualifying final.
The LG Bombers are coached by Cara Pretty.
It’s season on the line in Sunday’s first semi-finals in Toolleen.
All nine clubs will be represented across the day’s play.
Huntly meets North Bendigo in the A-reserve match.
The Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Hawks are on the rebound from a one-goal loss in the qualifying final.
The Huntly team includes Samantha Nelson who was joint winner of the league fairest and best award with Serryn Eenjes from White Hills on 25 votes.
North Bendigo won the elimination final against White Hills by two goals.
Liz Taylor is North Bendigo’s coach.
In B-grade it’s Huntly against Leitchville Gunbower.
The Hawks’ squad is coached by Benita Hare and Montana Barber.
The Phoebe Dye-coached LG won the elimination final against Heathcote by 19 goals.
After polling 29 votes to earn the league medal, Lauren Dehne from Leitchville Gunbower will be doing all she can to ensure the team’s run rolls on.
After a one-goal victory in the B-reserve elimination final, Heathcote takes on White Hills.
The Vicki Carolan-coached Saints ended Mount Pleasant’s run in a 47-46 result.
An outstanding season by Nicky Walker for Heathcote was capped by a tally of 27 votes to claim the league medal.
A White Hills team coached by Karly O’Toole is on the rebound from a five-goal loss to Huntly in the qualifying final.
Lockington Bamawm United meets Elmore in the 17-and-under match.
The Jessie Hardess-coached LBU was beaten in the qualifying final clash with White Hills by 19 goals.
It was a seven-goal win for the Abbey Hay and Lauren Dawes-coached Elmore to end Leitchville Gunbower’s run.
Colbinabbin takes on Mount Pleasant in the 15-and-under contest.
There’s a great rivalry between the Grasshoppers and Blues across all grades.
The Breanna Cox-coached Colbinabbin will be fired up after an 18-goal loss on day one of the finals series.
The Sue Tupper and Kerryn Purcell-coached Mount Pleasant won the elimination final against Heathcote by two goals.
At 13-and-under level it will be Mount Pleasant against Elmore in the first semi.
The Carine Comer was defeated in the qualifying final by three goals.
A 23-16 win by the Bloods against Colbinabbin in the elimination final ensured the Abbey Hromenko and Amy Pascoe-coached team stayed in the race for premiership glory.
The Colbinabbin team included Maisy Masterson who scored 28 votes to be the league’s medal winner.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at White Hills
17-and-under, 8.45am on court one: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
13-and-under, 8.45am on court two: Lockington Bamawm United v Leitchville Gunbower.
B-grade, 10am on court one: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under, 10am on court two: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
B-reserve, 11.30am on court one: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
A-reserve, 1pm on court one: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
A-grade, 2.30pm on court one: Colbinabbin v Mount Pleasant.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Toolleen
17-and-under, 9.30am on court one: Lockington Bamawm United v Elmore.
13-and-under, 9.30am on court two: Mount Pleasant v Elmore.
B-grade, 11am on court one: Huntly v Leitchville Gunbower.
15-and-under, 11am on court two: Colbinabbin v Mount Pleasant.
A-reserve, 12.30pm on court one: Huntly v North Bendigo.
B-reserve, 12.30pm on court two: White Hills v Heathcote.
A-grade, 2pm on court one: White Hills v Elmore.