Bombers mark return to finals

WOODEN spooner in season 2022, Leitchville Gunbower marks a return to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy finals this Sunday.

The Bombers have fought their way from a 0-4 start to achieve a win-loss tally of nine and seven and claim fifth place.

There were some anxious moments for LG’s players and fans last Saturday as they had the bye and needed Mount Pleasant to beat Lockington Bamawm United to hold fifth place.

Mounts took the points and will now tackle Leitchville Gunbower in this Sunday’s elimination final at Hibo Hotel Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.

The Adam Baird and Ben Weightman-coached Mounts beat Leitchville Gunbower in round four on the Blues’ turf at Toolleen by 96 points.

In round 13 it was the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers who fought on for an 81-79 victory at Gunbower.

Huge test for the LG defence this Saturday against a Mounts attack led by Ben Weightman and Mitch Rovers.

At the other end of the field, Chris Horman and Lachlan Sverns are in top form.

Finals action kicks off at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve on Saturday where North Bendigo and White Hills will contest the seniors qualifying final.

The Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs have beaten the Demons by margins of 49 and 21 points this season.

The Bulldogs were nine-nil at the halfway mark, but ended the regular season on a 13-3 record.

Among the players to watch for North Bendigo are midfielder Nic Waterson, ruckman Jeremy Lambden, Dylan Klemm, and the triple premiership-winning trio of Ryan Alford, Aarryn Craig and Jordan Ford.

The form of the Jack Fallon and Jake Pallpratt-coached Demons has been up and down, but there’s plenty of atacking power in this line-up.

A key for White Hills will be Kaiden Antonowicz at full-forward and the Demons KO’d the Bulldogs in last season’s elimination final.

White Hills has the experience of Brady Childs and Mitch Dole, and the skilful Jake Allport, Tom Brereton, James Davies and Patrick Eefting.

Top spot means the Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote watches on and will face either the Bulldogs or Demons in a second semi.