Midfield duels key against North

MIDFIELD contests will be a key factor as Heathcote plays North Bendigo in this Saturday’s senior footy action in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.

It’s first against third as Heathcote, who site five and one, tries to end North Bendigo’s unbeaten run.

The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints make their way to Hibo Hotel Oval on Atkins Street in North Bendigo riding a wave of confidence.

The Saints broke their Lockington Bamawm United hoodoo at Barrack Reserve last Saturday and the previous round and Heathcote marked an 11-point victory on Mount Pleasant’s turf at Toolleen.

Now the task is to upset North Bendigo at home, a feat few teams have achieved in recent seasons.

Heathcote has on-ballers and midfielders such as Braden Padmore, Liam Jacques, Callum Birch and Thomas Pain in great form.

Corey Grindlay has kicked 35 goals in six matches and his athleticism and marking power will test North Bendigo’s defence.

A talented forward line includes Liam Birch, and Jordan and Kai Cavallaro, but it’s quality and quantity of supply that will be important.

In defence it will be the likes of William Direen, Will Long, Ben Connelly and Codie Price who work to negate the Dogs’ scoring punch and also to rebound.

The run and gun style of Heathcote has troubled all opponents.

Although it has not had its best 22 in action the past few rounds, Heathcote has shown it has considerable depth.

A powerful North Bendigo has Jordan Ford, Aarryn Craig, Nic Waterson, Shane Harris and Tim Devereux leading the charge.

 

Seniors

Heathcote 13.10 (88)

Lockington Bamawm 8.7 (55)

GOALS: Heathcote: C. Grindlay 4, L. Birch 3, L. Jacques 2, B. Padmore 2, J. Conforti 1, V. Butler 1

LBU: F. Monahan 2, C. Cox 1, M. Johnson 1, T. Leech 1, R. McIvor 1, T. Phillips 1, S. Brentnall 1

BEST: Heathcote: W. Long, B. Padmore, L. Jacques, B. Connelly, C. Price, V. Butler

LBU: T. Phillips, J. Collins, B. Kennedy, F. Monahan, M. Johnson, B. Collins

TEAM P W L D B Pts %

North Bendigo 6 6 0 0 1 24 149.32

Mount Pleasant 7 5 2 0 0 20 185.85

Heathcote 6 5 1 0 1 20 155.61

White Hills 6 4 2 0 1 16 106.92

LBU 6 2 4 0 1 8 99.39

Colbinabbin 6 2 4 0 1 8 84

Elmore 6 2 4 0 1 8 76.97

Leitchville Gunbower 7 2 5 0 0 8 66.87

Huntly 6 0 6 0 1 0 41.66

 

Reserves

Heathcote: 0.2, 0.2, 1.4, 3.4 (22)

Lockington Bamawm: 3.6, 5.9, 7.9, 9.12 (66)

GOALS: Heathcote: A. Mcivor 1, W. Pointer 1, J. Badger 1

LBU: D. Kelly 4, L. Thompson 3, W. Ross 1, H. Quincey 1

BEST: Heathcote: A. Williamson, M. Powers, Z. Brown, L. Freeman taber, J. Badger, L. Jaroslawski

LBU: D. Kelly, E. Brentnall, H. Quincey, J. Maddison, C. Shaw, J. Felmingham

 

Under 18s

Heathcote 4.4 (28)

Lockington Bamawm 5.5 (35)

GOALS: Heathcote: T. Johnson 2, M. Buhagiar 1, J. Pringle 1

LBU: B. Miller 2, J. Milligan 2, B. Hutchins 1

BEST: Heathcote: D. Butler, T. Johnson, W. Smith, E. Hurley, R. Foster

LBU: B. Miller, C. Mitchell, C. Betts, T. Coutts, J. Milligan, B. Hutchins