Round 16 of Heathcote District Football League had no surprises as all four sides favoured in their match-ups recorded victories.
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Mount Pleasant is on the cusp of the minor premiership after it thrashed White Hills, Colbinabbin met expectations against Huntly and Elmore fell to a third straight defeat with a loss at Leitchville-Gunbower.
The round
Mount Pleasant 22.12 (144) d White Hills 10.11 (71)
Huntly 6.2 (38) lt Colbinabbin 14.13 (97)
Leitchville-Gunbower 15.6 (96) d Elmore 9.4 (58)
Heathcote 12.9 (81) lt North Bendigo 18.11 (119)
Lockington-Bamawm United bye
Mount Pleasant v White Hills
An electrifying second quarter from reigning premier Mount Pleasant saw it cruise to a 73-point win over White Hills at Toolleen Recreation Reserve.
The lowly Demons held their own in the first quarter against the heavily favoured Mounts, only trailing 37-26 at the first change.
But Cam Carter’s side, which was coming off a defeat to North Bendigo last time out, flipped the match on its head in the second term.
Pleasant booted 10.2 in the period to White Hills’ 1.1, suddenly holding an 11-goal half-time advantage as it led 16.3 (99) to 5.3 (33).
That burst effectively secured the four points for the hosts, with the Demons being unable to make any inroads into the deficit during an even second half.
The visitors won the third quarter 26-23 before the Mounts finished stronger with three goals to one in the fourth, running out as comfortable 22.12 (144) to 10.11 (71) winners.
Mounts forward Ben Weightman booted 10 majors on the day, moving into equal-first on the competition’s top goal-kickers list in the process, while Xavier Carter added four of his own.
Weightman and Carter were also named in the best players alongside Caelan Smith, Jack Hickman, Deklan Wille and Joel Wharton.
League leader Pleasant (11-2-2) only has one match left in its regular season as it serves the bye for round 17.
Second-placed North Bendigo still has two fixtures to play and currently trails the Mounts by six points.
A Bulldogs win in their next game against Leitchville-Gunbower would send the minor premiership race to the final day, though the Mounts could also secure first should the Bombers prevail at North Bendigo Oval.
Huntly v Colbinabbin
Colbinabbin comfortably took care of business with a 59-point triumph over Huntly at Strauch Reserve.
The first three quarters of the fixture were relatively even, with the Grasshoppers being a touch better than their opponents and gradually building a healthy lead throughout.
Colbo kicked one more goal than the Hawks in the first and second periods, which it won 23-13 and 17-6, respectively.
The Hoppers would have had a greater lead with better goal-kicking, having generated 11 more scoring shots, but Linton Jacobs’ side was still in a solid position at half-time, ahead 5.10 (40) to 3.1 (19).
The third quarter was much of the same, as the visitors again had that extra bit of quality, booting two more majors than Huntly to open up a 33-point advantage entering the fourth.
Colbo was unlikely to lose its lead in the final period, but instead of slowing down, it seized the opportunity to boost percentage.
Jacobs’ side kicked 5.2 to the Hawks’ 1.0 in the quarter, claiming a 14.13 (97) to 6.2 (38) win and ballooning its final margin to about 10 goals.
Laine Fitzgerald’s six majors stood out for the Hoppers and he joined Angus Martin, Aidan Basile, Domonic Grant, Benjamin Barton and Nathan Basile as their best players.
Colbinabbin (10-5) has moved above Heathcote into third on the ladder, ahead of the Saints by two points, but only with a game left to play as it will serve the final-round bye.
Should Heathcote win its remaining two matches, it will likely condemn the Hoppers to fourth and a first up elimination game with fifth in the first week of finals.
Colbo needs to beat Lockington-Bamawm United at home in its next fixture to give itself an optimal opportunity of securing the double-chance in the post-season.
Leitchville-Gunbower v Elmore
Elmore couldn’t keep up with Leitchville-Gunbower at Leitchville Recreation Reserve, going down to the Bombers by 38 points.
The Bloods were unable to win any of the four quarters on the day, despite being relatively competitive in each period.
The visitors lost the first term 25-18, and allowed 25 points again in the second, still offering 13 in reply to only trail 5.1 (31) to 8.2 (50) at half-time.
Like the first, Leitchville booted one more major and exactly seven more points than Elmore in the third, with a comeback for the struggling Bloods a tall order entering the fourth as they trailed by 26.
There would be no final term miracle for Luke Freeman’s side, with a repeat of the second quarter in the fourth, which Leitchville won 25-13, gradually building its lead over the day in a 15.6 (96) to 9.4 (58) triumph.
Xavier Coghill’s three goals were a positive for Elmore, with the defender also named in its best alongside Charlie O’Toole, Rhys Holmberg, Matthew Filo, Kynan Sharpe and Matthew O'Dwyer.
Elmore (2-12) is bottom of the ladder but only due to a marginal percentage difference from White Hills.
The Bloods face Huntly at home next, the Hawks having picked up only two more wins than Elmore this season.
Elsewhere in round 16, a 71-40 second half from North Bendigo powered it to a convincing 18.11 (119) to 12.9 (81) win over Heathcote at Barrack Reserve.