BEING top of the senior footy ladder is a place Heathcote is enjoying after twelve rounds in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.<\/p>\n
The Saints take a well-earned rest for a club bye this weekend.<\/p>\n
By 5pm Saturday the Andrew Saladino-coached Heathcote may not be number one as second-placed Mount Pleasant will start favourite to beat Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower.<\/p>\n
Although it was without key forwards Corey Grindlay and Shannon Dowsett for last Saturday\u2019s home game against White Hills, Heathcote was able to record a 29-point victory.<\/p>\n
In the lead-up to the match, Saladino stressed the importance of a strong start against the Demons.<\/p>\n
The Saints led 19-17 at quarter-time and then slammed on 4.3 to nil in the second.<\/p>\n
White Hills was within 16 points at a quarter to go, but Heathcote lifted to score 3.3 to 1.2 for a 74-45 result.<\/p>\n
Best for the Saints were Will Direen at full-back, Braden Padmore in midfield and attack, and Lachlan Freeman Taber.<\/p>\n
The Saints face a challenging run into the finals.<\/p>\n
After playing at Elmore on July 22, Heathcote is at Barrack Reserve a week later to face Mount Pleasant.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an August 5 trip to Lockington, and then at home to North Bendigo on August 12.<\/p>\n
In the first half of the season, Heathcote beat Mounts and LBU, and went down at North Bendigo by 17 points.<\/p>\n
Final hit-out for the Saints before a long-awaited finals appearance is on August 19 against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly\u2019s Strauch Reserve.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Seniors<\/strong><\/p>\n Heathcote 11.8 (74)<\/p>\n White Hills 6.9 (45)<\/p>\n GOALS: Heathcote: B. Padmore 3, v. butler 2, L. Birch 2, J. Cavallaro 1, L. Jacques 1, K. Cavallaro 1, J. Conforti 1<\/p>\n White Hills: J. Fallon 2, J. Davies 1, T. Brereton 1, L. Bartels 1, N. Warnock 1<\/p>\n BEST: Heathcote: W. Direen, B. Padmore, L. Freeman taber, C. Hamilton, W. Long, L. Inness<\/p>\n White Hills: C. Kekich, N. Wallace, M. Sawyer, T. Brereton, P. Eefting, J. Allport<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TEAM P W L D B Pts %<\/p>\n Heathcote 11 9 2 0 1 36 146.7<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 11 8 3 0 1 32 177.76<\/p>\n North Bendigo 10 8 2 0 2 32 129.16<\/p>\n White Hills 10 7 3 0 2 28 132.12<\/p>\n LBU 10 6 4 0 2 24 123.9<\/p>\n L\u2019ville g\u2019bower 11 4 7 0 1 16 78.64<\/p>\n Colbinabbin 11 2 8 1 1 10 78.87<\/p>\n Elmore 11 2 8 1 1 10 68.59<\/p>\n Huntly 11 1 10 0 1 4 42.59<\/p>\n <\/p>\n