THE unbeaten run of Colbinabbin or White Hills will be broken in Sunday’s third round match in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy action.
Colbinabbin has home-ground advantage at M.J. Morgan Oval for its clash with the Demons which starts at 2.20pm.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin rode the swings in momentum to score a five-point victory on North Bendigo’s turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Consecutive wins by White Hills under lights have matched last season’s record.
The Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons beat Huntly in round one by two goals and then followed up with a three-point victory against Lockington Bamawm United.
Both of those contests were in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
It’s a massive test for White Hills against Colbinabbin which won at Elmore and then beat the Bulldogs.
Key match-ups include Grasshoppers’ gun forward Brandyn Grenfell against Pat Crawford, and Jude Ryan ruck-roving against Demons’ captain Jake Thompson.
In the ruck it will be Colbinabbin’s Jasper McArdle against Tamba Basha who was among the best for White Hills in last season’s under-18s grand final.
Players to watch in the green and gold include Aidan and Nathan Basile, Jai Carn, Isaac Carracher, Laine Fitzgerald, and Will Le Deux.
White Hills will look for big games from the likes of Seth Boyd, Tom Conlan, Mitch Dole, Ben Irvine, Cohen Kekich, and Nick Wallace.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be desperate to claim the points at home against Heathcote.
The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks have started with losses to White Hills, 10 points, and Mount Pleasant, 45 points.
Although it was defeated, Heathcote showed plenty of positive signs in an 11-point loss to Leitchville Gunbower in Gunbower.
Key players for Huntly include Will Lee in defence, ruckman Nathan Dunstan, gun forward Sam Dunstan, Lachy Wilson, captain Steve Kairn, Dale Lowry, Mitch Billings, and Abe Sladden.
Heathcote’s best against LG were on-baller Stefan Rasinac, young gun Seb Barnett, key forward Dylan Johnstone, and midfielder Dillon Williams.
The Saints’ squad includes Rhys Bolton, Daniel Johnstone, Codie Price, and Sean Williams.
Heathcote is coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing.
After the bye, Elmore is back in action at home against North Bendigo.
The Luke Freeman-coached Bloods face an opponent snarling after defeats to Lockington Bamawm United, four points, and Colbinabbin, five points.
Elmore worked hard in a 15-point loss at home to Colbinabbin in round one.
The Bloods’ line-up includes Matt Filo, Matt Gilmour, James and Joseph Harney, captain Rhys Holmberg, Darcy Irwin, and Matt O’Dwyer.
After finishing runner-up last season a hat-trick of defeats would be a disastrous start for a North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing.
The Bulldogs’ squad includes Bailey Cain, Liam Dillon, Jordan Ford, Jordan Hargreaves, Dylan Klemm, Riley Paetow, and Cody Riddick.
It’s the Cats against the Blues as Lockington Bamawm United faces Mount Pleasant at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
Huge challenge for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU against the reigning premier.
The Cats kicked off ’26 by beating North Bendigo at home, but were overrun in the final quarter at White Hills last Saturday night.
Huge blow for LBU is ruckman and three-time Sam Cheatley medallist Tyler Phillips being out because of a knee injury.
Key players for the Cats include Marcus Angove, Jesse Collins, Charlie Hinks, Thomas Leech, Bowden Stone, and Joseph Wolfe.
Jack O’Callaghan was named as rover where his likely opponent will be the in-form Jack Hickman.
A Blues’ line-up coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, has kicked off the season with wins against Leitchville Gunbower and Huntly.
Players to watch for Mounts include Brodie Leonard-Shannon, ruckman Jett Nicholas, Xavier Carter, Ed Harrop, William Wallace, Alex and Joel Wharton.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 139 per cent, 8 points; Colbinabbin 113, 8; White Hills 111, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 104, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 100, 4; North Bendigo 94, 4; Heathcote 83, 0; Elmore 77, 0; Huntly 65, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
9 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
7 Tyler Phillips, LBU.
6 Ryan Allan, LG; Jake Thompson, WH; Ben Weightman, MP.
5 Tom Conlan, WH; Dylan Klemm, NB.
4 Bailey Cain, NB; Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
3 Liam Dillon, NB; Sam Dunstan, Huntly; Blake Dye, LG; James Harney, E; Brodie Leonard-Shannon, MP.
While in the netball….ANOTHER chapter in the netball rivalry between Colbinabbin and White Hills will be played in Sunday’s third round of A-grade action in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine-backed Heathcote DFNL season.
Colbinabbin has home-court advantage at M.J. Morgan Oval for another big clash with the Demons.
First centre pass will be at 2.30pm.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers have made a flying start in their pursuit of back-to-back premierships.
After an unbeaten run to premiership glory in ’25, Colbinabbin won at Elmore by 36 goals, and then on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street by 27 goals.
It’s Colbinabbin first home of the season.
The lead-up to Sunday’s match will include the unfurling of the premiership flag.
A formidable Colbinabbin squad includes Tanzin Myers, Ella Kerlin, Olivia McEvoy and Ellie Cuttriss.
White Hills also takes an unbeaten record into Sunday’s contest.
The Elley Lawton-coached Demons have won back-to-back night games at home on the Scott Street court.
A 47-37 victory against Harlowe Huntly Hawks in round one was followed by a 68-41 victory against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Demons’ squad includes Daisy Stringer, Issy Eliades, Annie Spear and Serryn Eenjes.
After a second-round bye, Elmore returns to its court to take on North Bendigo from 2.30pm.
The Bloods and Bulldogs have both played Colbinabbin.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore took on the green and gold in round one.
At the final siren Colbinabbin led 71-35.
Elmore’s squad includes Lily Den Houting, Abbey Hay, Abbey Hromenko, Kelsey Niven and Ashleigh Ripper.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo holds fourth place on a one-one record.
After a 10-goal win at Lockington in the season opener the team in red, white and blue could not halt Colbinabbin’s charge last round.
Players to watch for North Bendigo include Sarah Appleby, Courtney Hargreaves, Emily Kinder and Jeanette Ross.
Huntly will be desperate for victory when it hosts Heathcote at Strauch Reserve.
The Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock-coached Huntly has travelled to play top teams White Hills and Mount Pleasant in the opening rounds.
A 10-goal loss at White Hills in round one was followed by a 37-goal defeat inflicted by Mount Pleasant at Toolleen last Saturday.
Huntly’s squad includes Sarah Chalmers, Phoebe Kane, Jorja Bell, Jasmyn Gallagher and Rylee Gallagher.
The Brooke Price-coached Heathcote will be determined to rebound from a six-goal loss to Leitchville Gunbower on the Gunbower court.
The Saints squad across A-grade and A-reserve includes Jess Peck, Jennifer Van Neutegem, Lucy Scott, Ava Harris and Lauren Wright.
Lockington Bamawm United will be back home at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington to take on a red-hot Mount Pleasant.
It’s a massive test for the Stacy Bacon-coached LBU Cats against last season’s runner-up.
The LBU squad across A-grade and A-reserve includes Jessie Hardess, Remi Christian, Sarah Ogden, and Imogen Mackenzie.
Mount Pleasant has made a strong start to this campaign.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues beat Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower in round one by 59 goals.
Mounts surpassed the 70-goal mark in a 77-40 victory against Huntly Hawks last Saturday in Toolleen.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Mount Pleasant 250 per cent, 8 points; Colbinabbin 196, 8; White Hills 147, 8; North Bendigo 82, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 56, 4; Heathcote 86, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 68, 0; Huntly 62, 0; Elmore 49, 0.
League ladders after two rounds:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 233 per cent, 8 points; White Hills 159, 8; Colbinabbin 121, 8; North Bendigo 133, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 68, 4; Huntly 75, 0; Elmore 70, 0; Heathcote 60, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 43, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 225 per cent, 8 points; Mount Pleasant 141, 8; Colbinabbin 100, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 89, 4; Elmore 0, 4; North Bendigo 90, 2; Lockington Bamawm United 58, 2; Heathcote 75, 0; Huntly 65, 0.
B-reserve:
Huntly 149 per cent, 8 points; Lockington Bamawm United 138, 8; Heathcote 407, 4; Elmore 300, 4; North Bendigo 122, 4; Mount Pleasant 105, 4; White Hills 74, 0; Colbinabbin 38, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 31, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 170 per cent, 8 points; White Hills 128, 8; Colbinabbin 103, 6; Lockington Bamawm United 113, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 104, 4; Elmore 100, 2; North Bendigo 79, 0; Huntly 59, 0; Heathcote 58, 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 235 per cent, 8 points; Colbinabbin 148, 8; Mount Pleasant 136, 8; White Hills 161, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 91, 4; Heathcote 85, 0; Elmore 74, 0; Huntly 43, 0; North Bendigo 34, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 475 per cent, 8 points; Lockington Bamawm United 287, 8; Colbinabbin 140, 8; Mount Pleasant 130, 4; Huntly 87, 4; Elmore 93, 0; North Bendigo 46, 0; White Hills 36, 0; Heathcote 1, 0.