Heathcote sweats on fitness of stars

IT MAY be one star back, but another out as Heathcote heads to Gunbower for Saturday’s eleventh round of senior footy action in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.

Second in the premiership race on a seven and two record, Heathcote faces a danger game against Leitchville Gunbower.

The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints may welcome back gun midfielder Jesse Davies who has not played since he was hurt in the third round at White Hills.

Heathcote will sweat on the fitness of star full-forward Corey Grindlay who sustained a finger injury in last Saturday’s home win against Colbinabbin.

In his first year at Heathcote after crossing from Wallan, Grindlay has kicked 45 goals to be leading the HDFNL’s goalkicking race.

Highs of his season include eight goals in the 143-40 victory against Leitchville Gunbower on the Saints’ turf at Barrack Reserve in round two.

The Shannon Keam-coached Bombers have improved dramatically since then to be challenging for a top-five berth.

Upset the Saints and LG will draw level with Lockington Bamawm United, should LBU be beaten at home by North Bendigo.

The fighting spirit of the Saints was to the fore in their match against Colbinabbin.

Led by captain Codie Price off half-back and in-form on-ballers Liam Jacques and Braden Padmore, Heathcote turned a 13-point deficit at half-time into a 13-point win.

Grindlay played the match out, but was held to a goal.

A bonus for the Saints line-up was showing it does not have to be Grindlay carrying the attack every match.

 

Seniors

Heathcote 9.12 (66)

Colbinabbin 8.5 (53)

GOALS: Heathcote: J. Conforti 2, L. Birch 2, B. Price 1, R. Bolton 1, C. Grindlay 1, C. Price 1, L. Inness 1

Colbinabbin: J. Carn 2, C. Shields 1, S. Coughlin 1, L. Fitzgerald 1, J. Brain 1, R. Hogan 1, T. Howlett 1

BEST: Heathcote: C. Price, L. Jacques, B. Padmore, W. Direen, L. Birch, B. Price

Colbinabbin: J. Ryan, L. Moore, L. Fitzgerald, J. McArdle, S. Coughlin, B. Barton

 

TEAM P W L D B Pts %

North Bendigo 9 8 1 0 1 32 138.58

Heathcote 9 7 2 0 1 28 149.23

White Hills 9 7 2 0 1 28 140.75

Mount Pleasant 9 6 3 0 1 24 168.44

LBU 8 4 4 0 2 16 116.84

L’ville G’bower 9 3 6 0 1 12 71.8

Colbinabbin 9 2 7 0 1 8 79.76

Elmore 9 2 7 0 1 8 65.98

Huntly 9 1 8 0 1 4 42.06

 

Reserves

Heathcote 14.12 (96)

Colbinabbin 2.5 (17)

GOALS: Heathcote: W. Pointer 5, M. Powers 2, M. Brayshaw 2, J. Condon 1, D. McLean 1, J. Badger 1, R. Merkel 1, A. Mcivor 1

Colbinabbin: M. Hartland 1, J. Barnett 1

BEST: Heathcote: D. McLean, R. Merkel, Z. Brown, W. Pointer, J. Badger, M. Farley

Colbinabbin: H. Crilly, W. Tollner, X. Connally, J. Duke, J. Colbert, J. Turner

 

Under 18s

Heathcote 10.8 (68)

Colbinabbin 8.9 (57)

GOALS: Heathcote: J. McCarthy 3, A. Taylor 2, T. Johnson 2, B. Ferguson 1, R. Foster 1, O. Ayres 1

Colbinabbin: T. Woodfine 3, T. Howlett 3, J. Gleeson 1, R. Hocking 1

BEST: Heathcote: W. Smith, J. McCarthy, T. Johnson, M. Buhagiar, J. Pringle, R. Foster

Colbinabbin: L. Yates, H. Kerlin, E. Wallace, N. Sinclair, T. Woodfine, R. Hocking