New-look North Bendigo tackles Blues

A NEW-look North Bendigo is at home to tackle Mount Pleasant in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s senior footy season.

The Bulldogs take a formidable record at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street into a clash which starts at 2.30pm.

The task will not be easy against last year’s runner-up which has brilliant mid/forward Adam Baird as playing coach.

Stung by last season’s elimination final defeat, North Bendigo has brought in quality recruits such as Jake Hall, Rhys Healey, Lachlan Furness, and Ben Knight.

A talented Mounts line-up includes ruckman Chris Down, Ben Weightman at full-forward, Bryce Hinneberg and Will Wallace in defence.

Another big match will be at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval where the Grasshoppers take on Heathcote.

Colbinabbin has a new coach in Jed Brain and retained a lot of last year’s squad which made it to the preliminary final.

Newcomers for the green and gold include Riley Hogan, Aidan Basile, Jai Carn and Connor Aldous.

A strong team includes ruckman Hadleigh Sirett, Todd Clarke and Ben Barton.

Heathcote will aim to build on the momentum of last season’s seven wins and sixth placing and the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints welcome back Liam Jacques to bolster the midfield.

Players to watch include Jesse Davies, Corey Grindlay, Callum Birch, Ben Connelly, Braden Padmore and Codie Price.

Leitchville-Gunbower faces White Hills at Leitchville.

The Bombers have a new coach in Shannon Keam who will be doing all he can for the team to be more competitive.

James Brereton, Riley Heath, Tyler Jones and Jye Keath are all back in the red and black.

The Jack Fallon-coached White Hills was one of the most active on the recruiting front as it strives to improve on last year’s fourth placing.

Newcomers for the Demons include Jake Pallpratt, classy forward Kaiden Antonowicz, Ben Taylor, Tom Brereton and Nick Warnock.

Huntly and Elmore meet in the Hawks’ nest at Strauch Reserve.

The Hawks welcome back Harry Whittle to be co-coach with Jayden Cordy.

A new-look attack will be led by Lachlan Wilson from Kangaroo Flat, while the play of Brodie and Jackson Fry, Braidy Dickens, Ben Daley, Ryan Burt, Sam Mitchell and Tom Paterson will be crucial to Huntly’s chances.

The Dylan Friedberger-coached Elmore has brought in ruckmen Jarrad Kyne and Daniel Russell from Rochester which frees up Dylan Gordon to play in defence.

Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.