North Bendigo got the best of Mount Pleasant in an important top-of-the-table battle.
The fight for final placings is heating up in Heathcote District Football League as clashes with implications up and down the table took place in round 15 at the weekend.
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North Bendigo cracked opened the door to the minor premiership, while Lockington-Bamawm United delivered in a must-win fixture to keep the finals race interesting.
The round
North Bendigo 15.11 (101) d Mount Pleasant 13.16 (94)
Colbinabbin 15.15 (105) d Leitchville-Gunbower 7.3 (45)
Lockington-Bamawm 7.5 (47) d Huntly 5.9 (39)
Elmore 6.7 (43) lt Heathcote 21.12 (138)
White Hills bye
North Bendigo v Mount Pleasant
The Bulldogs kept the Mounts within reach, at the top of the table, scoring a seven-point win over the defending premier at North Bendigo Oval.
It was a game that swung dramatically from quarter to quarter, Mount Pleasant starting in a strong position and taking a 4.5 (29) to 1.3 (15) lead into quarter-time.
Things flipped completely in the second term and North Bendigo had all the running over the Toolleen outfit in the second quarter.
The Mounts were held to two points, while the Bulldogs slotted seven goals to build a 28-point lead at the half.
Conditions continued to favour one end as Mount Pleasant fought back in the third quarter.
However, the visitor was unable to match the Bulldogs’ defensive efforts and, while they also kicked seven goals, North Bendigo managed three to stay on top by three points.
The Mounts had their opportunities late on, but converted only two of seven scoring shots in the final term, North Bendigo kicking three goals to hold on and win 15.11 (101) to 13.16 (94).
Edward Harrop (4) and Brodie Leonard-Shannon (3) shouldered the scoring load for Mount Pleasant, but the minor premier wasn’t accurate enough to bring home the four points.
The Mounts and Bulldogs are now 1-1-1 over their past three meetings, stretching back to last year’s grand final.
Lockington-Bamawm v Huntly
Lockington earned a much-needed win over Huntly to keep its finals hopes intact.
Lockington-Bamawm United needed to win to keep its finals dreams on track and the Cats made no mistake at home when they took on Huntly in a low scoring stoush.
There was little to separate the sides throughout the game, with the first quarter the most lopsided.
The Cats kicked three goals in the opening term, the most either side would manage in a quarter throughout the game.
Huntly was wasteful in front, kicking 1.3, to trail by nine at quarter-time.
The Hawks worked their way back into the contest over the middle quarters, shaving two points off the deficit in the second and another four in the third as Lockington notched all five of its behinds, and no goals, in the term.
It made it a three-point game headed into the fourth, but in yet another scrappy period the Cats narrowly held on, kicking two goals to one to win 7.5 (47) to 5.9 (39).
In a game where both sides struggled for forward opportunities Brayden Hull stood tall for Lockington with three majors.
The Cats move back into the top five with the victory, but are giving up a game in hand and minor percentage deficit to Leitchville-Gunbower which sits a win back.
Colbinabbin v Leitchville-Gunbower
Colbinabbin locked in a top four spot with a big win over Leitchville-Gunbower.
The Grasshoppers dealt a significant blow to the Bombers’ finals quest, while solidifying their own position, with a dominant 15.15 (105) to 7.3 (45) win at home.
Colbo did most of its damage in the second half, although an 18-point first quarter lead could have been much more significant if not for the Hoppers’ poor accuracy, logging 4.6 to Leitchville’s 2.0 in the opening term.
The Bombers actually cut into the lead in the second, and had dreams of the upset win as they trailed by only 14 at halftime.
However, Colbinabbin would come out of the long break with renewed vigour and discovered all the accuracy it had been missing, kicking a clinical 6.0 in the third quarter to once again break the game open.
The Bombers were this time unable to respond and Colbo ballooned the lead even further in the final quarter to run away 60-point winners.
The Hoppers were also buoyed by the announcement that its coaching team will be re-upping for 2027, with Linton Jacobs again to take the helm.
The victory ensures Colbo a top four finish, with a result as high as second still on the cards if it can finish strong.
Leitchville slips from the finals, but with a superior percentage to Lockington-Bamawm and a match-up with bottom-ranked Elmore on the way this week during the Cats’ bye, the Bombers will be hopeful they can reclaim its position.
Elmore v Heathcote
Elmore couldn’t match Heathcote at the weekend.
The Saints made short work of a struggling Elmore at Elmore Recreation Reserve, running away with a 21.12 (138) to 6.7 (43) win.
The Bloods were immediately on the back foot as Heathcote racked up a 50-point first quarter and were ahead 79-14 by half-time.
Elmore showed more after the main break, more than doubling its score, but was still beaten in all four quarters.
Michael Baker and Lachie Gawel led the scoring for the Bloods with two apiece, while midfielder Matthew Filo was the side’s best on a difficult afternoon.
Elmore can still get off the bottom if it is able to grab another win or two on the run home.
That road could include playing spoiler to a desperate Leitchville-Gunbower away at Leitchville this weekend.
White Hills returns from the bye to face Mount Pleasant, Colbinabbin visits Huntly and Heathcote hosts North Bendigo in the other match-ups.
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