Pleasant still the team to beat, Elmore off the mark

The pick of the round four action was undoubtedly Mount Pleasant’s meeting with Colbinabbin, both sides entering the clash at Toolleen Recreation Reserve with perfect records.

Finals contender Colbinabbin would have seen the fixture as an opportunity to send an early-season warning to the reigning premier and the Grasshoppers started well, being more clinical with four majors to Pleasant’s two to hold a slender quarter-time lead.

The Mounts responded in the second term, though they only successfully converted three times from eight scoring shots, still winning the quarter as Colbo added one major, Pleasant leading 5.9 (39) to 5.3 (33) at half-time.

The hosts kicked another three goals in the third quarter, though Colbo took total control of the contest, laying on six goals in the term to take a 14-point lead into the fourth and be on the verge of a major win.

But writing off a Mounts side that has won two of the past three premierships would have been a mistake.

Pleasant would come from behind in stunning fashion, booting six of their own in the final quarter while holding Colbo to 1.2, completing a 32-point turnaround from three-quarter time to win 14.15 (99) to 12.9 (81).

The Mounts had a solid distribution in the goal-kicking department, with Xavier Carter, Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Ben Weightman booting three each, while Isaac Carracher and Alex Carr were among Colbo’s leading goal-kickers with three and two, respectively.

Carracher was also listed in Colbinabbin’s best players alongside Josh Smithson, William Le Deux, Toby Howlett, Angus Martin and Tanner Nally, while Brodie Montague, Joshua Hann, Deklan Wille and Ben Miller joined Carter and Leonard-Shannon on Mount Pleasant’s list.

Next up the Mounts will look to make it five straight wins when they travel to Elmore, while Colbinabbin will want a response to its first defeat when it hosts Heathcote.

White Hills v Elmore

A winless Elmore travelled to take on a White Hills outfit that had a positive 2-1 record to begin its season, but was thrashed by Colbinabbin last time out.

Both seeking a victory for different reasons, neither the Bloods or Demons were able to take the game by the scruff of the neck in a lacklustre first quarter with no goals kicked.

The action improved in the second term and it would be Elmore that took the initiative, booting five goals to White Hills’ two to take a 5.7 (37) to 2.4 (16) lead into half-time.

The Bloods kicked five again in the third, but whatever Demons coach Brad McConnell told his players at the main break clearly struck a nerve.

White Hills came out a different beast by booting eight majors during the quarter, four in a row to begin the period and three in a row to end it.

That left the two sides deadlocked with 69 points each entering the final quarter, which started with a goal on either side, Lachie Munro for Elmore and Cohen Kekich for White Hills, the hosts leading 79-78 entering the final five minutes.

In a dramatic way to earn its first win, Elmore found an extra gear to boot two majors towards the end of the match, hitting the front and holding on to win 13.13 (91) to 11.13 (79).

Bloods player Lachie Gawel led all goal-kickers with four majors, also joining Munro, Ashton Sinn, Matt Gilmour, Mychael Baker and Joseph Harney as Elmore’s best players.

Luke Freeman’s team will undoubtedly gain a huge confidence boost from the win, which comes at a good time as league leader Mount Pleasant visits Elmore Recreation Reserve next.

Heathcote v Lockington Bamawm United

After consecutive defeats Lockington Bamawm United travelled to face a Heathcote side that had earned its first win of the season in round three.

The two sides were evenly matched in the first quarter, kicking three majors each as the Cats took a slender two-point lead into the first change.

Locky tightened its grip on the contest during the second period, booting four goals to Heathcote’s one to increase its lead to 21 at half-time, 7.8 (50) to 4.5 (29).

The Saints clearly made good use of the main break, as they came out and stunned Lockington in the third term, kicking seven majors to suddenly take the lead, though three for the Cats in reply ensured they stayed within a goal entering the fourth.

In a match that swung numerous times from the first quarter onwards, the visitors would benefit from another momentum shift in the final quarter, kicking four majors to Heathcote’s one to claim their first away win of the campaign, Locky prevailing 14.15 (99) to 12.11 (83).

Captain Tyler Phillips once again led the way for the Cats with three goals, but was not named in the best players as that list included Marcus Angove, Toby Coutts, Brayden Hull, Nick Smart, Jacob Gardiner and Thomas Leech.

Lockington hosts Leitchville-Gunbower in its next game, looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and it will be aided by a special inclusion with former Essendon star Dyson Heppell set to feature for the Cats.

The Bombers featured in round four’s other fixture, defeating Huntly by four points after producing a strong second-half display.

The Hawks led by 25 points at half-time, but eight goals to three in favour of the Bombers after the main break helped them complete a turnaround and notch a second win.