Saints outplayed by red-hot Blues

HEATHCOTE could not halt Mount Pleasant’s charge to a huge victory in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.

Saints’ co-coach Andrew Saladino said a 114-point defeat was a return to several years ago when the club was the league’s easybeats.

“To be honest that was an embarrassing display today,” Saladino said of a contest played at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Reserve because of the hard surface at Toolleen.

“We were outworked and smashed in the contest,” Saladino said of the first match in his fourth year in charge.

“Mounts were hungrier, fitter and their skills much better than ours.”

The Saints scored the first two goals of the match, but then Mounts took charge all over the ground.

By half-time Mounts led 84-35.

Just two days after the passing of committee member and triple premiership player Adam Tuohey, Mounts played inspired football.

There was more than just four premiership points at stake as the first meeting of the clubs each season is for the Cliff and Peter White Memorial Shield.

A 169-55 victory meant the Shield returns to Mount Pleasant’s home in Toolleen.

Best for the Blues were on-baller Jack Hickman, ruckman Chris Down, key defender Will Wallace, and strong-marking forwards Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Mitch Bennett who kicked six and four goals.

On a tough afternoon it was Codie Price, young ruckman Aaron Gundry, Will Keogh and Oscar Keogh who were standouts for the red, white and black.

Heathcote had planned not to train on Good Friday eve, but did so.

“How we respond is the challenge for all of the group,” Saladino said.

“We can turn this around. There is too much talent in this group not to.”

After a break for Easter, Heathcote takes on Colbinabbin on April 26 at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.