Finals action gets underway in HDFL

BASED on this season’s clashes, Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin will provide many highs for fans in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football League’s finals series.

The Blues and Grasshoppers meet in the qualifying final at Lockington.

Two points was the margin when Mount Pleasant beat Colbinabbin in the ninth round and last Saturday’s 18th round.

The Blues faced a 20-point deficit at three quarter-time of their hit-out at Colbinabbin, but scored 4.4 to a goal in the last to win 74-72.

Stars in the Mounts line-up include Ben Weightman at full-forward, ruck-rover Billy Mahony, ruckman Chris Down, Zebb Murrell and Daniel Whiting.

What he lacks in height, Weightman makes up for with his fast leading, footy smarts, and accuracy near goal.

He is the key target in an attack that includes Zac Featherby and Dean Tydell.

A Michelsen medallist and multiple premiership winner at Golden Square, Adam Baird is a gun onballer and co-coach of the Blues with Darren Walsh.

Key players for the Julian Bull-coached Grasshoppers include ruckman Hadleigh Sirett, Ben Barton, Todd Clarke, Ben Southam, Luke Moore, James and Jed Brain.

Colbinabbin will also look to the experience of Tom Hill, David Price and Stephen Tuohey.

The winner of the Blues and Grasshoppers match will face Lockington Bamawm United in the second semi-final on 20August at either Toolleen or Colbinabbin.

North Bendigo and White Hills fight to stay in the premiership race when they contest the elimination final on Sunday at Colbinabbin’s M. J. Morgan Reserve.

It’s one-all in this season’s clashes between White Hills and North Bendigo.

The Demons won their home game in round three by 12 points, but the Bulldogs won the 11th round clash by 47 points.

The Jack Fallon-coached White Hills ensured it would hold fifth place in a 69-point win against Huntly in the Demons’ den last Saturday.

Players to watch for White Hills include Gavin Bowles, Patrick Eefting, Liam Bartels, Mitch Dole, Bayden Fallon, captain Rhys Irwin, Cohen Kekich, Nathan Moffat, and David Wright.

North Bendigo goes into the finals after a bye.

The Robert Bennett-coached Bulldogs have a strong attack led by Dylan Klemm, Jordan Ford and Matt Gray.

Captain Aarryn Craig has missed the past three games because of an ankle injury.

Ryan Alford, Storm Giri, Shane Harris, Jeremy Lambden, Manny Thalasinos and Nic Waterson provide plenty of finals experience to the North Bendigo line-up.