Mounts meets LBU in grand final clash

MOUNT Pleasant will fight Lockington Bamawm United for senior footy premiership glory in this Saturday’s grand finale to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football League season.

The Blues and Cats will clash at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve from 2.20pm.

LBU set up another showdown with Mount Pleasant after it won Saturday’s preliminary final with Colbinabbin at White Hills by 25 points.

Stung by a loss to Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final, LBU was under pressure as the Grasshoppers were within a goal in the final quarter.

The Cats kicked away for a 66-41 victory.

Best for the Brodie Collins-coached LBU were Jarod Bacon, Marcus Angove, Tyler Phillips and Lachlan Atherton.

The Cats’ attack was led by Jarod Bacon and Anthony McMahon on three goals each.

As LBU and the Jed Brain-coached Colbinabbin fought it out, Mount Pleasant watched on courtesy of a 31-point win against the Cats in the second semi at Gunbower a week prior.

This season’s meetings between the Blues and Cats stand at two-one in favour of LBU.

A highlight of the grand final will be the ruck duel between Mounts’ gun recruit Chris Down from Sandhurst, and Cats’ star Tyler Phillips who has earned the Sam Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best the past two seasons.

In the second semi it was the Darren Walsh and Adam Baird-coached Mount Pleasant which dominated many of the centre breaks and stoppages, especially in quarters two and four, through Billy Mahony, Zebb Murrell and Jesse Tuohey.

A powerful Blues’ attack is led by the creative Ben Weightman, and the marking power of Travis Baird and Dean Tydell.

Key players for LBU include Nathan and Trent Bacon, Jesse Collins, Thomas Leech, Riley McIvor and Rhys Woodland.

Mount Pleasant will be aiming to double up on the day as the clubs seeks to take out the reserves premiership when it plays White Hills from 11.50am.

The Blues beat Heathcote by 15 points in their preliminary final while White Hills won the second semi-final against Mounts by 10 points.

The Demons have won all three previous contests with the Blues by margins of 37, 37 and 10.

Grand final day kicks off at 9.30am when North Bendigo takes on White Hills in the under-18s clash.

The Demons stayed in the cup race by winning the preliminary final against a Leitchville-Gunbower by nine goals.

LG’s young guns had fought their way from an elimination final.

North Bendigo has a 2-1 record against the Demons.