Heathcote face Blues first up

GREAT rivals on the netball court, Heathcote and Mount Pleasant will meet in round one of the 2024 Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.

The Saints make their way to Mounts’ territory at Toolleen for the 6 April clash.

Mounts put the Saints out of this year’s premiership race when they won the elimination final at Hibo Hotel Oval in North Bendigo by five goals.

Gun mid-courter Brooke Bolton will again team up with Kelsey Hayes as co-coach of Heathcote’s A-grade netball team.

“It will be a challenging start to the season,” Bolton said of the round one showdown with the Blues.

“We have had a lot of close games with them the past two seasons.”

The ledger from the past five A Grade matches between the clubs stands at 4-1 in favour of Mount Pleasant.

Margin in four of those contests was five goals or less.

Heathcote’s tally of eight wins last season included an 11-goal win against the Blues in the 15th round.

“They are a strong club across all grades, so it will be a great test to see where we are at, not only for A-grade, but the entire senior playing group,” Bolton said of the start to another campaign.

The Saints’ pre-season will start late January or early February.

“We were rapt with the quality of players at our initial try-out,” said Bolton.

“A few have registered and impressed at try-outs run last Saturday at Heathcote and last Monday at the Red Energy Arena courts in West Bendigo,” said Bolton.

The club had more than 50 at try-outs, which included all eight players from the under-17 team which also played finals last season.

On the coaching front, Georgia Bolton will be in charge of A Reserve.

Anna Dundon will coach B Grade, and Kate Sidebottom the B Reserve team.