Dogs seek to howl in the Hills

HOPES are high for further improvement on North Bendigo’s season record as they take the very short road trip to White Hills in round three Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football League’s senior footy action

The winless White Hills have taken on the powerful Lockington Bamawm United and Mount Pleasant in consecutive weeks.

North Bendigo has a 2-1 record and will be determined to take the points.

The Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs unearthed the exciting Cody Riddick who kicked seven majors in the 10-goal win against Elmore.

Riddick is a vital cog in an attack that has the marking power of Dylan Klemm, Matt Gray and Shane Harris.

The Bulldogs best against the Bloods included ruckman Ryan Gow, captain Aarryn Craig and Nathan Newlan.

Key players for White Hills include Brady Childs, Jake Dickens, Rhys Irwin, Samual Lowes and Kaiden Skelton.

Heathcote face a daunting task when they come up against the in-form Mount Pleasant.

The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints are on the rebound from an 81-point defeat at Lockington.

Now they take on a Mounts line-up which is undefeated following wins at Elmore and at home against White Hills.

A key for Heathcote will be the centre restarts where it must limit Mounts’ ability to move the ball quickly to an attack where Ben Weightman and Dean Tydell are key targets.

The task will not be easy as the Blues have recruited gun ruckman Chris Down from Sandhurst to work the ball to the likes of Adam Baird, Billy Mahony and Zane Keighran.

Heathcote will look for big games from the likes of Jordan and Kai Cavallaro, Connor Hamilton, Jackson Jones, Billy and Codie Price.

After a victory at Huntly to start its season, Leitchville Gunbower faces Lockington Bamawm United at home.

Stars in the Bombers one-point win were Blake Azzopardi with seven goals and Billy and Josh Hawken, Jobee Warde and Leyton Shenfield.

The Tim Bannan-coached Bombers face an LBU line-up led by Brodie and Jesse Collins, Tyler Phillips, Thomas Leech, Jarod Bacon and Rhys Woodland.

Elmore is back on home turf to take on a Colbinabbin which had the Easter bye.

The Bloods showed positive signs in the first half, but fell away in the final hour.

Players to watch for Elmore include Rhys and Zack Holmberg, Tannar Cerrone, Matt Gilmour and Nic Palmer.

The Julian Bull-coached Colbo has the class of Jed and James Brain, Logan Fitzgerald, Hadleigh Sirett, Todd Clarke and Ben Southam.

Huntly has the bye.