Reigning premier takes on Saints in Toolleen

THE clash between Mount Pleasant and Heathcote highlights this Saturday’s ninth round of senior football across the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL season.

Mounts has home-ground advantage at Toolleen when the showdown with the Saints kicks off at 2.20pm.

It’s first against third as the Blues fight to keep their unbeaten run intact.

The latest hit-out for the reigning premier, which is coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing, ended in a 47-point victory at White Hills.

As Mount Pleasant had the bye last Saturday the Heathcote team marked a 79-point win against White Hills on the Saints’ turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.

There’s plenty of goalkicking power in both teams.

Saints’ coaches Andrew Saladino, non-playing, and Liam Jacques, playing, will have spent plenty of time looking at options to try to curb the influence the brilliant Ben Weightman has in attack for the Blues.

Players to watch for Mounts include rover Jack Hickman, key defender William Wallace, Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Brodie Montague, Bryce Hinneberg and Xavier Carter.

Key targets in Heathcote’s forward line are Dylan Johnstone, Hugh Freckleton and Sean Williams.

Best for the Saints against White Hills included gun on-baller Stefan Rasinac, Codie Price off half-back, Callum Birch and Dillon Williams.

Another big match will be at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street where the Bulldogs take on Harlowe Huntly Hawks.

North Bendigo is on the rebound from a seven-point loss to Leitchville Gunbower in Gunbower.

The Bulldogs have achieved three-and-a-half wins and are sixth on the ladder, but just two points behind the three teams above them.

Expect a North Bendigo team coached by Rob Bennett, non-playing, and Ryan Hartley, playing, to be fired up for this contest.

The Hamish Morcom-coached Huntly broke the season ‘duck’ in a 79-point victory in its Strauch Reserve nest against Elmore.

It’s the Demons against the Bombers as White Hills hosts Leitchville Gunbower at the Scott Street ground.

Elmore is back on its ground to play the Lockington Bamawm United Cats. Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.

Colbinabbin has the bye.