Saints make way into Demons’ den

HEATHCOTE steps into the Demons’ den at White Hills to contest this Saturday’s eighth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.

Both teams will be desperate to mark their first win of the ’25 campaign.

It’s been a dramatic drop in form by both teams.

After soaring to premiership glory last September, White Hills endured the exodus of many players.

The Demons near the halfway mark of this season winless and on the rebound from a 20-plus goal defeat at Colbinabbin last Saturday.

Runner-up in ’23, Heathcote’s only points this season have been two from the drawn clash with Leitchville Gunbower on the Saints’ turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.

Latest hit-out at home for the Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques-coached Saints ended in a 25-goal drubbing from unbeaten ladder-leaders North Bendigo.

Centre bounce duels will be vital to the chances of the Demons and Saints this round.

White Hills had Jack Lawton, Mitch Dole, Seth Boyd and Patrick Eefting as the starters in the centre at Colbinabbin.

They are likely to be up against Aaron Gundry, Ben Connelly, Ibrahim Taha and Connor Hamilton.

Best for White Hills against the Grasshoppers were Patrick Crawford at centre half-back, Isaac Tzouroutis, Nick Wallace and Josh Dwyer.

Was a tough run for Heathcote against North Bendigo, especially in the third quarter as the Bulldogs scored 14 goals.

Best for the Saints were Jackson Jones, Codie Price, Connor Hamilton and Will Tobin.

A few kilometres north of White Hills will be the clash between Huntly and Colbinabbin at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.

The Harlowe Huntly Hawks fought from three goals down at the start of the final quarter to claim a 74-72 win against Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.

A win-loss tally of four-two has put the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks in fourth place.

The Linton Jacobs-coached Grasshoppers are second on a five-one record.

Elmore has climbed to the fifth rung on the ladder and will be on home turf against Leitchville Gunbower.

North Bendigo tackles Lockington Bamawm United at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.

Mount Pleasant has the bye.