In a clash of league heavyweights featuring second-placed Colbinabbin and fourth-placed Huntly, it was the Grasshoppers who relinquished control late after leading through three quarters.
Colbinabbin’s lead was never really safe through the entirety of the contest, with a goal and change separating it from the Hawks at quarter-time.
The Grasshoppers created breathing room in the lead-up to half-time, with a trio of goals giving them a 12-point margin at the major break.
With only a pair of behinds separating the two teams’ third term scores, Huntly needed to overcome a 14-point deficit to win the game.
Shockingly, it did just that.
Kicking a trio of goals and behinds while tightening the screws on defence, letting just one Colbo major through, Huntly claimed a stunning one-point victory at Strauch Reserve, 9.11 (65) to 9.10 (64).
LBU v North Bendigo
Lockington-Bamawm United has continued its troubling first half of the 2025 Heathcote District league football season, getting put to the sword by current ladder-leader North Bendigo.
Arriving at North Bendigo, the Cats were immediately under assault, with the Bulldogs kicking 5.3 to open their account.
The Cats slotted one of their own in the first quarter, but it was the second where the visitors pulled back a touch of momentum, bagging 2.3.
North Bendigo matched that score and then some (2.4) and held a 28-point lead at the major break.
Any momentum LBU had leading into half-time vanished in the third term, with the side only managing to add two behinds to its tally while the Bulldogs piled on 5.7.
Salvaging just 1.1 down the stretch, the Cats finished their day with 30 points to their name. Meanwhile, North Bendigo had a subdued 2.5 in the final quarter, but it was enough to crack triple figures, dismantling LBU 14.19 (103) to 4.6 (30).
The 73-point rout is emblematic of LBU’s season, with the team starting off strongly or thereabouts before disappearing later in the game.
White Hills v Heathcote
In the second close contest of round eight, 2024 premier White Hills escaped with the chocolates over Heathcote in a battle at the bottom of the ladder.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Demons, who failed to kick a goal in the first quarter, while the Saints got away to a 23-point lead at quarter-time.
Things began to click for White Hills in the second term, with a couple of goals bringing it back to within 16 at half-time.
A huge third quarter lifted the Demons back into the contest, with the margin just two points with a defining fourth quarter on the horizon.
Limiting the Saints to just one goal in both the third and fourth quarters got the job done for White Hills, who nailed 2.2 in crunch time to steal the win.
The 7.13 (55) to 7.8 (50) victory may not have been pretty, but it’s a start for the defending champion, who has seemingly fallen off a cliff this season.
L-G v Elmore
Leitchville-Gunbower brought Elmore’s winning streak to a close when it took down the Bloods in round eight of Heathcote District league football.
Travelling to Elmore Recreation Reserve, L-G got the drop on the Bloods early, producing a 4.3 effort to dart out to a 19-point first break lead.
Elmore could only find the middle sticks once in the second quarter, while the Bombers made it feel the breadth of its attacking prowess, nailing five goals to stretch the lead out to 44 at half-time.
Things went from bad to worse for the Bloods in the third term, with the hosts only managing two behinds after the major break.
While L-G’s own production was measured, it still added 2.5 to the tally to further increase its substantial lead.
Elmore (1.7) clawed its way back slightly, outscoring the Bombers (1.2) down the stretch, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap the visitors created.
The final score was 12.12 (84) to 3.12 (30).
The Bloods’ inability to convert chances on goal for maximum return cost them dearly in the match, while L-G did enough to break even.
Next week marks the halfway point of the season, with a round of consequential games in play.
Elmore will have the bye, with LBU giving its round eight dance partner to L-G in favour of White Hills, while Huntly will look for a percentage-boosting game against Heathcote and Colbinabbin will tango with third-placed Mount Pleasant in perhaps the most interesting game of round nine.
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