League’s top two clash at Heathcote

TOP teams Heathcote and North Bendigo will go head-to-head in this Saturday’s seventeenth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.

The Saints have home-ground advantage at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve for the showdown with the Bulldogs from 2.30pm.

One of Heathcote’s two defeats in 2023 was by 17 points at North Bendigo in round eight.

Since then, the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints have won seven in a row with the latest hit-out for Heathcote ended in a 27-point win against reigning premier Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.

The Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo fought back from a first-quarter onslaught by White Hills in the kennel at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to win by 21 points.

A fired-up Demons led 45-19 at the first break, but the Doggies struck back to claim a 93-72 victory.

Heathcote goes into this round a win and more than 11 per cent clear of the second-placed Bulldogs.

Players to watch for the Saints include the versatile Braden Padmore, on-baller Liam Jacques, Connor Hamilton and Codie Price in defence, and Corey Grindlay at full-forward.

Bulldogs’ ruckman Jeremy Lambden was best afield against the Demons as Shane Harris, Nic Waterson and Matt Gray starred for the red, white and blue.

An attack led by the athletic Dylan Klemm and Cody Riddick will test the Saints.

Leitchville-Gunbower jumped to the fifth rung after an away win against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks and LBU was beaten.

The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower is back at Gunbower to take on Colbinabbin this Saturday.

It’s the final game of the home-and-away series for the Bombers who have won eight of their past 11.

Elmore is back home to take on a Lockington Bamawm United line-up reeling from a hat-trick of defeats.

The Stacy Fiske-coached Cats should beat the Bloods ahead of a round 18 clash on Mount Pleasant’s turf at Toolleen.

Must-win is what LBU must do to regain its place in the top five.

White Hills is home again to take on Huntly at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.

Mount Pleasant has the bye.