HEATHCOTE coach Andrew Saladino welcomes what will be another finals-type clash at Lockington in this Saturday\u2019s sixteenth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.<\/p>\n
The ladder-leading Saints will be aiming to march to victory at Lockington\u2019s Nichol Trading Oval.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be another great challenge for us,\u201d Saladino said after Heathcote\u2019s four-point win against Mount Pleasant at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve last Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s virtually a final for Lockington Bamawm United as Leitchville Gunbower has charged into finals contention.\u201d<\/p>\n
In round seven Heathcote beat the reigning premier by 33 points and belief and work rate have been key factors in the Saints charge to the top of the ladder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was incredibly proud of the way the boys fought on against Mounts,\u201d Saladino said. \u201cIt was an ideal lead-up to finals and a great contest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heathcote FNC also played in the purple guernseys on what was Memorial Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a special day for the club,\u201d said Saladino.<\/p>\n
Georgia was emblazoned on the back of the jumpers in honour of Georgia French.<\/p>\n
On-field there were many key contributors to the Saints\u2019 victory.<\/p>\n
The versatile Braden Padmore again showed he\u2019s a leading contender for the Sam Cheatley Medal as league fairest and best.<\/p>\n
\u201cBraden was able to kick three goals early, did a lot of work in the midfield, and went into the ruck in the final quarter,\u201d said Saladino.<\/p>\n
The work of Joseph Beedle from a wing, Jesse Davies in and around the packs, Ben Connelly and Connor Hamilton in defence, and Liam Jacques was superb.<\/p>\n
Brayden Klemke was given the task against Mounts co-coach Adam Baird and performed well against the Blues\u2019 champion.<\/p>\n
Although he conceded height and weight, Lachlan Freeman Taber competed well in the ruck and faces a big task against LBU gun Tyler Phillips this round.<\/p>\n
The Saints also had key forwards Corey Grindlay and Shannon Dowsett back in action.<\/p>\n
Grindlay finished with a match-high four goals for a season tally of 49.<\/p>\n
Next two matches will again be a huge test as the Saints play on the Cats turf and then face North Bendigo at Barrack Reserve.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Seniors<\/strong><\/p>\n Heathcote 11.9 (75)<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 10.11 (71)<\/p>\n GOALS: Heathcote: C. Grindlay 4, B. Padmore 3, c. Birch 1, S. Dowsett 1, J. Conforti 1, J. Davies 1<\/p>\n GOALS: Mount Pleasant: B. Weightman 3, M. Rovers 3, M. Wakefield 1, A. Baird 1, F. White 1, R. McNamara 1<\/p>\n BEST: Heathcote: B. Padmore, C. Hamilton, B. Connelly, L. Jacques, J. Beedle, B. Klemke<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant: B. Weightman, W. Wallace, A. Baird, R. McNamara, F. White, M. Rovers<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TEAM P W L D B Pts %<\/p>\n Heathcote 13 11 2 0 2 44 145.86<\/p>\n White Hills 13 10 3 0 2 40 146.61<\/p>\n North Bendigo 13 10 3 0 2 40 135.36<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 14 8 6 0 1 32 149.02<\/p>\n LBU 13 7 6 0 2 28 106.8<\/p>\n L\u2019ville G\u2019bower 14 7 7 0 1 28 89.69<\/p>\n Colbinabbin 14 3 10 1 1 14 84.18<\/p>\n Elmore 13 2 10 1 2 10 65<\/p>\n Huntly 13 1 12 0 2 4 41.99<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reserves<\/strong><\/p>\n Heathcote 9.6 (60)<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 13.9 (87)<\/p>\n GOALS: Heathcote: W. Pointer 3, M. McLean 3, B. Price 1, A. Williamson 1, L. Baron 1<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant: J. Mackenzie 5, J. O\u2019Connell 2, Z. Featherby 2, N. Edwards 1, R. Pontell 1, J. Smith 1, J. Nihill 1<\/p>\n BEST: Heathcote: M. McLean, J. Badger, J. Cavallaro, B. Price, R. Bolton, J. Kelly<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant: R. Pontell, J. Craig, O. Bish, J. Mackenzie, A. Hand, N. Edwards<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TEAM P W L D B Pts %<\/p>\n White Hills 13 11 2 0 2 44 231.5<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 14 11 3 0 1 44 199.2<\/p>\n North Bendigo 13 9 3 1 2 38 189.22<\/p>\n LBU 13 8 4 1 2 34 141.73<\/p>\n Heathcote 13 6 7 0 2 24 108.45<\/p>\n Huntly 13 6 7 0 2 24 82.66<\/p>\n Elmore 13 4 9 0 2 16 67.99<\/p>\n L\u2019ville G\u2019bower 14 2 12 0 1 8 51.7<\/p>\n Colbinabbin 14 2 12 0 1 8 23.87<\/p>\n <\/p>\n