Saints back on the park

HEATHCOTE’S football squads are back on the Pigeon Park turf at Barrack Reserve in the build-up to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.

The Saints resumed pre-season training last night and will have workouts on Tuesday and Thursday at Pigeon Park.

The under-18s will train from 5pm and the seniors from 6pm.

It is a significantly stronger squad the Saints will roll out for the 2026 campaign.

Key recruits at Heathcote include Dillon and Sean Williams, Stefan Rasinac, Hugh Freckleton, Jacob Chahine, Jack Hebbard and Jake Waters.

The Saints will again be coached by Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing.

After a first-round bye on 11 April, Heathcote meets Leitchville Gunbower in the round 2 clash on 18 April at Pigeon Park.

The first senior match of the 2026 campaign will be at Gunbower, where the LG Bombers take on reigning premier Mount Pleasant.

Three night matches will be played in the opening round.

Lockington Bamawm United tackles North Bendigo in the battle of the Cats and Bulldogs at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.

Elmore and Colbinabbin meet on the Bloods’ turf at Elmore Recreation Reserve. The Bloods are now being coached by Luke Freeman, who has crossed from Strathfieldsaye Storm.

The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons take on the Harlowe Huntly Hawks in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.

On the recruiting front, Colbinabbin has signed midfielder-forward Hunter Surrey.

After an unbeaten run to last season’s A-grade netball premiership, Jen McIntyre will coach the Grasshoppers in A-grade and A-reserve this year.