Mounts primed for clashwith Bulldogs

BEING first to the grand final is at stake when Mount Pleasant tackles North Bendigo in Saturday’s second semi-final in Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior football.

The Blues and Bulldogs will clash at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval from 2.15pm.

As Mounts kicked off its finals series by winning last Saturday’s qualifying final against Colbinabbin at Gunbower, it was a rest for North Bendigo which finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.

North Bendigo’s sole defeat across 16 matches was to Mount Pleasant at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street in round 14 by three points.

A North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, has plenty of big-game experience.

The Bulldogs’ attack has the marking power of Dylan Klemm, Jake Dean and Cody Riddick.

At the other end of the ground it’s Ben Weightman who will test North’s defence all match.

Weightman kicked seven goals in the qualifying final win against Colbinabbin for a tally of 43 goals in eight games.

Co-coach of Mount Pleasant’s premiership team in 2023 with Adam Baird, Weightman rejoined the Blues in round 11.

The Blues have Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches and Cameron Carter as director of coaching.

Players to watch for North Bendigo include midfielders Nic Waterson and Bailey Cain, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Ryan Gillingham and Will Gilmore.

In-form players for Mounts include Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Riley McNamara, Jack Hickman, William Wallace and ruckman Chris Down.

A big Saturday for North Bendigo features the unbeaten under-18s and reserves teams to take on White Hills and Mount Pleasant respectively.

On Sunday it will be Colbinabbin and Harlowe Huntly Hawks fighting to stay in the premiership race when they contest the first semi-final at Lockington.

The Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks beat the Grasshoppers by a point in round eight at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.

Their latest showdown was in the 17th round, where the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin beat Huntly on the Grasshoppers’ turf by nine goals.

The Hawks overcame a 14-point deficit at half-time of the elimination final against Leitchville Gunbower to beat the Bombers by 27 points.