Saints’ belief keeps on growing

HEATHCOTE coach Andrew Saladino has put no cap on expectations approaching the start of the second half of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL’s senior footy season.

The Saints are third on the ladder as clubs take a break for the general bye on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.

Despite a 17-point loss at North Bendigo last Saturday, Saladino said Heathcote has shown it can be a serious contender for the premiership.

“Our expectations going into the season were finals,” Saladino said of building on from last year’s sixth placing.

A win-loss tally of five and two includes wins over Mount Pleasant at Toolleen, and Lockington Bamawm United in Saints’ territory at Barrack Reserve.

It’s percentage which separates Mount Pleasant, Heathcote and White Hills who are on the second, third and fourth rungs on the ladder.

After the break, Heathcote is at home on 17 June to play Huntly.

In the run to September, Heathcote will be at home to play White Hills on 8 July, Mount Pleasant on 29 July, and North Bendigo on 12 August.

There have been many stars in the Saints’ run.

Among the brightest have been key forward Corey Grindlay who kicked six goals at North Bendigo for a season tally of 41.

Other key players for the Saints include on-ballers Liam Jacques and Braden Padmore, William Direen and Connor Hamilton in defence, and the general of the back six and captain Codie Price off a half-back flank.

Meanwhile, gun onballer Jesse Davies is nearing a return to play.

 

Seniors

North Bendigo 15.8 (98)

Heathcote 12.9 (81)

GOALS: North Bendigo: D. Klemm 4, H. Johnson 4, J. Ford 3, A. Craig 2, S. Giri 1, C. Riddick 1

Heathcote: C. Grindlay 6, v. butler 3, C. Price 2, B. Padmore 1

BEST: North Bendigo: C. Riddick, D. Klemm, J. Francis, J. Ford, R. Paetow, M. Thalasinos

Heathcote: M. McLean, C. Grindlay, L. Jacques, W. Direen, C. Hamilton, C. Price

 

TEAM P W L D B Pts %

North Bendigo 7 7 0 0 1 28 144.93

Mount Pleasant 7 5 2 0 1 20 185.85

Heathcote 7 5 2 0 1 20 140.75

White Hills 7 5 2 0 1 20 138.61

LBU 7 3 4 0 1 12 116.76

L’ville G’bower 8 3 5 0 0 12 71.57

Colbinabbin 7 2 5 0 1 8 83.57

Elmore 7 2 5 0 1 8 66.09

Huntly 7 0 7 0 1 0 36.46

 

Reserves

North Bendigo 19.11 (125)

Heathcote 8.2 (50)

GOALS: North Bendigo: J Somerville 9, M Thompson 3, L Keating 2, A Wild 2, J Brennan 1, H Draper 1, Z Richards 1

Heathcote: M. Farley 2, L. Jaroslawski 2, R. Merkel 1, D. Mawson 1, C. Luscombe 1, J. Badger 1

BEST: North Bendigo: Z. Richards, L. Keating, J. Somerville, M. Thompson, H. Draper, A. Wild

 

Under 18s

North Bendigo 11.12 (78)

Heathcote 4.3 (27)

GOALS: North Bendigo: Z. Holmes 8, N. Anderson 2, F. Paetow 1

Heathcote: P. Bolton 1, K. Baldwin 1, J. McCarthy 1, J. Pringle 1

BEST: North Bendigo: N. Anderson, W. Gilmore, J. Grundy, Z. Holmes, J. Hobbs, S. Marsili

Heathcote: R. Foster, D. Butler, L. Tarbotton, A. Obst, B. Sherwood, J. Pringle