Saints aiming to end North’s hoodoo

HEATHCOTE will be striving to break its hoodoo on North Bendigo’s turf in Saturday’s seventh round of senior footy in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.

It’s been many years since the Saints have taken the four premiership points at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.

The showdown of the Bulldogs and Saints will start at 2.20pm.

After consecutive wins Heathcote is fourth rung on the ladder on a three-two record.

A Saints’ line-up coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, faces an opponent which drew last Saturday’s rematch of the ’25 grand final with Mount Pleasant in Toolleen.

Heathcote dominated the final quarter of its home game against Elmore in Pigeon Park to win by 29 points.

Key forwards Dylan Johnstone and Sean Williams slotted six and four goals to be among the best with Liam Jacques, Rhys Bolton, Codie Price and Jonty Kelly.

The Saints’ squad includes Hugh Freckleton, Daniel Johnstone, Jordan Marcroft, Will Tobin and Dillon Williams.

In-form players for North Bendigo include co-coach Ryan Hartley, Jordan Ford, Dylan Klemm, Hamish McCartney and Jesse Clark.

A Bulldogs team which has Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach includes Aarryn Craig, Jake Dean, Will Gilmore, Matt Gray and Jordan Hargreaves.

Elmore’s back on its turf to play Leitchville Gunbower.

The Luke Freeman-coached Bloods will look for big games from Matt Filo, James Harney, Rhys Holmberg and Matt O’Dwyer.

Players to watch for the Joel Donehue-coached Bombers include Nic Cattapan, Billy Hawken, Jye Keath, Josh Koster and Matt McClellan.

After a bye, White Hills will host the unbeaten Mount Pleasant at Scott Street.

Another massive test for the Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer-coached Demons who were beaten by 113 points in their previous hit-out with North Bendigo.

The Blues are coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing.

It’s the Linton Jacos-coached Grasshoppers against the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks as Colbinabbin is on its turf at M.J. Morgan Oval against Huntly.

Two of the competition’s best forwards in Colbo star Brandyn Grenfell and Huntly’s Sam Dunstan will be in action.

Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.