TOP teams Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin clash in this Saturday’s 13th round in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
It’s second against first as Colbinabbin hosts the Blues at M.J. Morgan Oval from 2.20pm.
When these clubs met in round four it was Mount Pleasant which marked a three-goal win at Toolleen.
The Grasshoppers and Blues take winning form into this showdown.
Colbinabbin won last Saturday’s match at White Hills by 33 points as the Blues marked a 56-point victory at home against Lockington Bamawm United.
Among the many highlights of the Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant match will be in their respective forward lines.
A strong Colbinabbin attack is led by Brandyn Grenfell, Alex Carr and Jai Carn.
They will be up against Blues’ defenders William Wallace, Mitch Whiting, Sam Greene and Jaxson Nihill.
In the on-ball duels Colbinabbin has Matt Riordan, Jude Ryan and Isaac Carracher to take on Mitch Bennett, Jack Hickman and Xavier Carter.
The defence of the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin includes Toby Howlett, Charlie Palmer, Connor Aldous and Daniel Hill.
In just his second match for the club since crossing from South Bendigo, Nathan Kay was named at full-forward for the Blues who will be without Ben Weightman.
Mount Pleasant is coached by Josh Hann and Cameron Carter in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships.
Another important match will be at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval where Lockington Bamawm United takes on Heathcote.
It’s fifth against fourth as these teams are separated by two premiership points.
In round four the Jayden Howe-coached LBU Cats won at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park by 16 points.
LBU had a tough hit-out at Toolleen last Saturday as Heathcote fought on for a 71-66 win at home against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
Crucial match-ups include the ruck where LBU has Tyler Phillips to take on Daniel Johnstone.
The Cats have Marcus Angove and Jack O’Callaghan in on-ball roles and Bowden Stone in the centre.
Jesse Collins, Charlie Hinks and Lachlan Holthuisen are among the targets in LBU’s attack.
The Cats go into this match without Thomas Leech who was given a five-match ban for striking North Bendigo’s Darcy Richards in round 10.
An investigation was held following an incident in the match between the Cats and Bulldogs at North Bendigo’s Atkins Street ground.
Key players for Heathcote include Stefan Rasinac in the centre, Dylan Johnstone, Justin Bateson and Hugh Freckleton in attack; Lachlan Freeman-Taber and Codie Price in defence, and rover Dillon Williams.
The Saints are jointly coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing.
Huntly is back on its turf at Strauch Reserve to play Leitchville Gunbower.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks start this round eight points behind the sixth-placed Leitchville Gunbower.
In round four the Joel Donehue-coached Leitchville Gunbower beat Huntly in Gunbower by four points.
The Bombers had the bye last Saturday as the Hawks endured another close defeat.
Key players for Huntly include Sam Dunstan at full-forward, Nathan Dunstan in the ruck, Will Lee and Mitch Billings in defence, captain Steve Kairn, Dale Lowry, Abe Sladden, Darby Walsh and Lachy Wilson.
The LG Bombers will be determined to hit back after a 13-point loss at Heathcote in round 11.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower in that match were Matt McLellan, Charles Hancock, Jack Dye, Nic Cattapan, Jye Keath and James Brereton.
Elmore is back on its turf to play White Hills.
Both teams face two of the league’s best last round.
The Luke Freeman-coached Elmore played at North Bendigo, and White Hills hosted Colbinabbin.
In round four it was Elmore which won at White Hills by two goals.
Key players for Elmore include Matt Filo in the centre, Rhys Holmberg and Matt O’Dwyer across half-back, James Harney, Lachie Gawel and Ethan Sinn in attack.
For the on-ball roles the Bloods have Jarrad Kyne, Lachlan Giffin and Kynan Sharpe to team up against Jack Lawton, Tom Conlan and Seth Boyd.
Elmore will be without Matt Gilmour who was given a one-match ban after an early guilty plea for rough conduct against North Bendigo.
A Demons’ team coached by Brad McConnell and Lachie Shawyer has not won since a two-nil start to the season.
The play of Mitch Dole, Ben Irvine, Cohen Kekich, Doolan Nihill, Khy Saweyr, and captain Jake Thompson will be important to marking a long-awaited victory for the red and black.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 134 per cent, 36 points; Colbinabbin 131, 32; North Bendigo 156, 30; Heathcote 108, 26; Lockington Bamawm United 90, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 94, 20; Huntly 95, 12; White Hills 65, 8; Elmore 58, 4.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
39 Ben Weightman, MP.
37 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
35 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
34 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
27 Alex Carr, C.
25 Cody Riddick, NB.
23 Blake Dye, LG.
22 Dylan Klemm, NB; Sean Williams, H’cote.
19 Jake Dean, NB; James Harney, E; Jake Thompson, WH.
18 Ryan Allan, LG; Ryan Hartley, NB; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
16 Brayden Hull, LBU; Thomas Leech, LBU; Abe Sladden, Huntly; Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
15 Lachie Gawel, E.
In the netball………A REMATCH of last season’s A-grade netball grand finalists, Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant highlights this Saturday’s 13th round in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.
The unbeaten Colbinabbin will be on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval to play the Blues from 1.30pm.
When these clubs met in round four it was the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin which claimed a 68-56 victory in Toolleen.
The league’s top two showed their attacking prowess in last Saturday’s play.
Colbinabbin won 80-36 at White Hills as Mount Pleasant scored a 60-goal victory at home against Lockington Bamawm United.
It’s another big test for the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant in trying to end Colbinabbin’s unbeaten streak.
Elmore’s run at a finals berth is far from done.
A one-goal win by Elmore at North Bendigo last Saturday kept the Bloods within six points of the fifth-placed Huntly.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Bloods face a huge test this round as they host the third-placed White Hills from 1.30pm.
In round four the Elley Lawton-coached White Hills beat Elmore by 27 goals.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will host Leitchville Gunbower at Strauch Reserve from 2.30pm.
A 49-all draw with the Hawks at Gunbower in round four was one of the best performances by the Katie Pollock-coached Leitchville Gunbower this season.
Huntly scored a 20-goal win at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve last Saturday as the Bombers had the bye.
A Huntly team coached by Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock has achieved 4 ½ wins this season.
There’s plenty at stake for Lockington Bamawm United and Heathcote in their match at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The clash of the Cats and Saints will start at 2.30pm.
An LBU team coached by Stacy Bacon can move a win clear of the Saints.
In round four the Cats defeated the Brooke Price-coached Heathcote by three goals.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 213 per cent, 44 points; Mount Pleasant 201, 40; White Hills 117, 32; North Bendigo 89, 20; Huntly 81, 18; Elmore 71, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 61, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 70, 8; Heathcote 69, 8.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 12 rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 140 per cent, 40 points; Mount Pleasant 190, 34; Huntly 129, 32; White Hills 126, 30; North Bendigo 130, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 69, 16; Heathcote 51, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 59, 4; Elmore 62, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 166 per cent, 44 points; Mount Pleasant 132, 32; Huntly 112, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 109, 24; Heathcote 98, 24; North Bendigo 85, 14; Colbinabbin 87, 12; Elmore 72, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 57, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 157 per cent, 40 points; Lockington Bamawm United 153, 36; White Hills 150, 36; Mount Pleasant 95, 24; North Bendigo 112, 20; Heathcote 108, 20; Elmore 99, 12; Colbinabbin 44, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 41, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 156 per cent, 44 points; White Hills 172, 40; Lockington Bamawm United 134, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 103, 24; Elmore 89, 22; Huntly 85, 14; Heathcote 79, 10; Colbinabbin 60, 10; North Bendigo 57, 0.
15-and-under:
White Hills 181 per cent, 40 points; Lockington Bamawm United 165, 40; Heathcote 116, 26; Mount Pleasant 106, 24; Colbinabbin 93, 20; Elmore 94, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 14; Huntly 61, 6; North Bendigo 51, 4.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 362 per cent, 40 points; Lockington Bamawm United 196, 40; Mount Pleasant 134, 28; Colbinabbin 128, 28; Huntly 22, 85; Elmore 94, 20; North Bendigo 72, 10; White Hills 52, 4; Heathcote 14, 0.