Mount Pleasant and Colbo return to HDFNL winners’ list

Lockington-Bamawm United has plenty to think about ahead of the finals series after league-leader Mount Pleasant confidently dealt with the Cats.

Round 12 saw a fairly routine performance for the leaders at Toolleen Recreation Reserve, rolling through Lockington 14.13 (97) to 6.5 (41).

The first quarter wasn’t a bloodbath, but the Cats would have counted themselves fortunate to only trail 24-12 after kicking two straight and watching the Mounts spray 3.6 at the sticks.

Mount Pleasant converted better in the second, and that corresponded with the game starting to escape Lockington’s grasp.

A much more clinical 5.1 eclipsed the Cats’ two goals and stretched the lead to 29 at the half.

Lockington stayed the course after the break and continued its trend of knocking through two majors a quarter, but the Mounts pulled away even further to likely put the game away.

That was confirmed in the final term when the Cats’ attack failed to fire and Mount Pleasant sealed the 56-point win with a 22-3 final term.

Jesse Collins was the only multiple goal-kicker for Lockington, while Mount Pleasant had four different players with two majors.

Collins made the Cats’ best alongside Marcus Angove, Tyler Phillips, Joseph Wolfe, Jack O’Callaghan and Nick Smart, while the Mounts’ list included William Wallace, Jaxson Nihill, Joel Wharton, Nathan Kay, Bryce Hinneberg and Jack Hickman.

Lockington (6-5) is fighting to keep its finals hopes intact, the Cats in the last finals spot and a game ahead of Leitchville-Gunbower.

Mount Pleasant is a game clear at the top after posting 8-2-1 this year.

Lockington next hosts Heathcote, while Mount Pleasant travels for a top-of-the-table clash with Colbinabbin.

White Hills vs Colbinabbin

A dominant second quarter was the difference as Colbinabbin notched a relatively comfortable victory over White Hills at White Hills Recreation Reserve.

After the two sides went goal for goal in the first term — which the Grasshoppers edged 19-12 — the visitors took total control in the second.

Colbo’s Alex Carr, who led all goal-kickers on the day with a whopping seven, booted the first three of the quarter, and another trio of majors before half-time had the Hoppers comfortably up 9.2 (56) to 2.5 (17) at the main break.

After it was powerless to resist the Colbo avalanche, being held goalless in the second, White Hills improved and won the third quarter, edging it by a goal.

The road back for the Demons was still long heading into the fourth, and the Hoppers put the result beyond doubt early in the final quarter by kicking three of the first four goals, at one stage leading by 47 points.

The hosts kicked the final three majors of the game, affecting a bigger spike to Colbo’s percentage, but Linton Jacobs’ side still came away with a solid 14.13 (97) to 9.10 (64) triumph.

Carr was arguably the visitors’ most impactful player and he was recognised for his efforts by making the best players list alongside Jai Carn, Toby Howlett, Tanner Nally, Josh Smithson and Charlie Ryan.

The win for Colbinabbin was a bounce back into form after a loss to North Bendigo and is a timely confidence boost ahead of the aforementioned top-of-the-table clash against Mount Pleasant.

North Bendigo vs Elmore

With only one win to its name in 2026, Elmore was not expected to trouble the red-hot North Bendigo at North Bendigo Oval, and the Bulldogs met expectations in a dominant 22.11 (143) to 8.8 (56) win.

The Bloods were on the back foot from the off, as North Bendigo booted six first-quarter goals to Elmore’s three to lead 37-18 at the first change.

Luke Freeman’s side produced a solid first half in attack, adding another two majors to its total in the second term.

But Elmore’s defence couldn’t slow down the hosts, who added another four to hold a comfortable 10.4 (64) to 5.4 (34) half-time lead.

The third quarter saw the Bulldogs tighten the screws and secure the four points as they laid on 6.2 to Elmore’s 1.1, running up the margin to an unassailable 61 points heading into the final term.

The Bloods weren’t able to slow down the second-half avalanche in the fourth, as despite kicking two goals themselves, North Bendigo booted another six to come away an 87-point winner.

Lachie Munro accounted for a quarter of Elmore’s majors, kicking two, while Rhys Holmberg, Matt Gilmour, Hayden Trewick, Lachlan Giffin, Matthew Filo and Kynan Sharpe made the side’s best.

Elmore — on a seven-game losing streak — has a 1-9 record and has not won since a round four victory at White Hills.

The Demons are the Bloods’ next opponent, Elmore hosting the clash between the two sides, which both sit at the bottom of the ladder.

Elsewhere in round 12, a seven-goal first quarter for Heathcote proved crucial as it held off a late Huntly surge at Barrack Reserve, the Saints prevailing 11.5 (71) to 10.6 (66).