-By Nathan Dole
EITHER North Bendigo or Colbinabbin will be the only unbeaten team after they clash in Saturday’s sixth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL.
The Bulldogs and Grasshoppers meet at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street at 2.30pm.
Both teams are in hot form and there will be many great match-ups.
North Bendigo surged clear in the last quarter of last Saturday’s match against Mount Pleasant at Toolleen to win by 34 points.
The Bulldogs’ best were Nick Waterson, Harrison Jarvie, Matt Gray and Liam Dillon.
Cody Riddick led the attack on three goals.
A huge challenge for North Bendigo this Saturday will be in defence and trying to contain the play of Colbinabbin gun forward and recruit Brandyn Grenfell.
Leader of Marong’s attack in the premiership-winning seasons of 2022 and ’23, Grenfell hit form as he kicked 10 goals for Colbinabbin in last Saturday’s win against Elmore.
There is plenty of big-game experience in the North Bendigo line-up.
The Bulldogs have premiership winners Darcy Richards, Tyson Findlay, Jordan Ford, Ryan Alford, Aarryn Craig, Callum Tardrew and Storm Giri.
A Feeny medallist in his time at Wedderburn, Jordan Hargreaves has starred in the ruck for North Bendigo.
Co-coach Ryan Hartley is capable of winning plenty of the footy for a team which has Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach.
Best for the Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers in their first home game of the season at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval were Brandyn Grenfell, Charles Ryan, Dean Smith and Nathan Basile.
Players to watch for the Grasshoppers include Nick Knight, Jai Carn, Julian Bull, Matt Riordan, Will Lowe, Isaac Carracher and Clint Shields.
After a drawn match at Heathcote last round, Leitchville Gunbower will be back at Leitchville to take on Lockington Bamawm United.
It’s a crucial match between the sixth-placed LG Bombers and fifth-placed LBU Cats who are separated by two points.
The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers fought from 40 points down at the start of the final quarter at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park to draw the contest, 73-all.
Best for Leitchville Gunbower were ruckman and Sam Cheatley medallist Jobee Warde, Brad Green, Austin Windridge and Charles Hancock.
A key for the Bombers will be the on-ball group of Warde, Bryce Barnstable and Kyle Green, and centreman James Brereton.
Players to watch for LG include Chris Horman, Tom Brereton, Jett Keam, Charles Hancock, Joel Donehue and Josh Hawken.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye last round.
Previous clash for the Jayden Howe-coached Cats ended in an 87-78 at home against Heathcote as Thomas Leech, Tyler Phillips, Matt Hore and Stuart Taylor led the way.
LBU’s line-up for this round includes Jack Reiter at centre half-forward, Taylor Butler, Brodie Collins, Charlie Hinks, James Yosiffidis, Luke Saligari and Jack O’Callaghan.
Elmore and Heathcote will be desperate for victory when they meet on the Bloods’ turf at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
The Bloods have not won since round two against White Hills, and Heathcote’s record is three defeats and a draw.
Nathan Kay is coach and a crucial player for an Elmore team that includes Liam Bianco, Lachie Munro, captain Rhys Holmberg, Cobi Fitzpatrick and Matt O’Dwyer.
The Bloods also have Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Joseph Harney, Jack Barras and Jack Trewick.
Heathcote will be determined to not let this match slip.
The Saints did a lot right across the opening three quarters, but could not halt Leitchville Gunbower’s run in the final term.
Best for the Saints against the Bombers were Connor Hamilton, Codie Price, Will Tobin and Aaron Gundry.
The attack was led Dylan Johnstone and Liam Birch on three and two goals.
Co-coaches for Heathcote are Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Cheatley medallist Liam Jacques, playing.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons will be on their ground in Scott Street against Mount Pleasant.
It’s been a tough run for the reigning premiers who are winless.
Best for the Demons in a 95-42 loss at Huntly last round were co-coach Ben Taylor, Ben Irvine, Seth Boyd and Oliver Edmiston.
The White Hills line-up which has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach will look for big games from Mitch Dole, captain Cohen Kekich, Patrick Eefting, Jack Lawton and Jake Dickens.
Kaden Mitchell has earned a recall to the ‘ones’.
Mount Pleasant has the goalkicking power of Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Michael Whiting who are clear to play after a reprimand for rough conduct against North Bendigo last round.
A talented Blues’ line-up which is third on a four-one record includes captain William Wallace in defence, Jack Hickman, Bryce Hinneberg, Seb Greene, Brodie Montague, Mitch Rovers and Caelan Smith.
The Blues will be without Jesse Tuohey who was handed a two-match ban at the tribunal for striking.
Mount Pleasant co-coach Josh Hann is still on the sidelines.
The Blues have Cam Carter as director of coaching and Adam Baird as a playing co-coach.
Huntly has 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.
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.
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.