Saints seek to cement top spot

HEATHCOTE is primed for another huge challenge this Saturday in the penultimate round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football League season.

The ladder-leading Saints are on their turf at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve to take on North Bendigo.

One of Heathcote’s two defeats in a win-loss tally of 12-2 was at North Bendigo in round eight and on that day the Bulldogs won by 17 points.

Saints’ coach Andrew Saladino said the team learnt plenty from the defeat and would be prepared for another huge challenge against the Dogs.

“Workrate and pressure on our opponent, especially at centre ball-ups and stoppages will be really important,” Saladino said.

“We cannot allow North Bendigo an easy run through midfield and to pass to key targets like Dylan Klemm and Jordan Ford with ease.

“It’s a massive challenge for our back six, but also for every player on the field.

“North Bendigo has the ability to get three or four goals in quick succession.

“A goal is to not allow that, or if they have momentum being able to slow the game down and take back control.”

The past two rounds Heathcote has lifted when challenged in the last quarter to take the points.

In last Saturday’s match at Lockington the Saints led 51-49 at three quarter-time.

Heathcote scored 4.4 to just three points for a 79-52 result.

“It was always going to be a tough match. LBU’s place in the top five was on the line,” Saladino said. “They are reigning premier until they are not, so the pressure was going to be high.

“The way we have finished our past two games against Lockington Bamawm United and Mount Pleasant is really pleasing.

“We believe we are one of the fittest teams in the league.”

Runner-up for the Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best in 2022, Heathcote on-baller Braden Padmore is in hot form and will test the Dogs all match.

Other players to watch include on-ballers Jesse Davies, Liam Jacques and Tom Pain.

A powerful attack is led by Corey Grindlay, and there’s captain Codie Price dominating across half-back.

 

Seniors

Lockington Bamawm United 7.10 (52)

Heathcote 11.13 (79)

GOALS: Lockington Bamawm United: A. McMahon 3, B. Kennedy 2, R. McIvor 1, T. Phillips 1

Heathcote: C. Grindlay 3, B. Padmore 2, v. butler 1, T. Pain 1, S. Dowsett 1, B. Price 1, L. Birch 1, J. Conforti 1

BEST: Lockington Bamawm United: B. Kennedy, B. Holman, M. Jones, B. Collins, C. Hinks, T. Eade

Heathcote: B. Padmore, L. Jacques, C. Hamilton, C. Price, B. Price, J. Beedle

 

TEAM P W L D B Pts %

Heathcote 14 12 2 0 2 48 146.22

North Bendigo 14 11 3 0 2 44 134.91

White Hills 14 10 4 0 2 40 139.72

Mount Pleasant 15 9 6 0 1 36 156.56

L’ville G’bower 15 8 7 0 1 32 92.42

LBU 14 7 7 0 2 28 103.58

Colbinabbin 14 3 10 1 2 14 84.18

Elmore 14 2 11 1 2 10 61.66

Huntly 14 1 13 0 2 4 44.09

 

Reserves

Lockington Bamawm United 7.4 (46)

Heathcote 8.11 (59)

GOALS: Lockington Bamawm United: B. Phillips 4, D. Kelly 2, Z. Coatsworth 1

Heathcote: R. Bolton 3, M. Powers 2, C. Luscombe 1, J. Badger 1, Z. Brown 1

BEST: Lockington Bamawm United: B. Lochhead, J. Griggs, D. Dalziel, R. Bradley, S. Eade, K. Bambling

Heathcote: R. Bolton, A. Williamson, M. McLean, A. Mcivor, J. Kelly, L. Baron

 

TEAM P W L D B Pts %

Mount Pleasant 15 12 3 0 1 48 218.78

White Hills 14 11 3 0 2 44 206.96

North Bendigo 14 10 3 1 2 42 187.06

LBU 14 8 5 1 2 34 135.61

Heathcote 14 7 7 0 2 28 109.54

Huntly 14 7 7 0 2 28 94.64

Elmore 14 4 10 0 2 16 59.13

L’ville G’bower 15 2 13 0 1 8 47.51

Colbinabbin 14 2 12 0 2 8 23.87

 

Under 18s

Lockington Bamawm United 4.3 (27)

Heathcote 7.4 (46)

GOALS: Lockington Bamawm United: L. Holgate 2, C. Betts 1, J. Milligan 1

Heathcote: M. Buhagiar 2, K. Baldwin 2, D. Butler 1, T. Johnson 1, B. Ferguson 1

BEST: Lockington Bamawm United: W. Hann, J. McAsey, N. Condliffe, X. Hann, H. Keele, M. Scurrah

Heathcote: D. Butler, R. Foster, E. Hurley, W. Butler, W. Smith, K. Baldwin

 

TEAM P W L D B Pts %

North Bendigo 14 13 1 0 2 52 378.32

White Hills 14 12 2 0 2 48 395.71

Heathcote 14 10 4 0 2 40 130.25

Huntly 14 9 5 0 2 36 124.39

Elmore 14 6 8 0 2 24 97.59

L’ville G’bower 15 4 10 1 1 18 90.14

LBU 14 4 8 1 2 18 46.04

Mount Pleasant 15 3 12 0 1 12 24.1

Colbinabbin 14 2 12 0 2 8 32.18