TOP teams Heathcote and North Bendigo will go head-to-head in this Saturday\u2019s seventeenth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.<\/p>\n
The Saints have home-ground advantage at Pigeon Park in Heathcote\u2019s Barrack Reserve for the showdown with the Bulldogs from 2.30pm.<\/p>\n
One of Heathcote\u2019s two defeats in 2023 was by 17 points at North Bendigo in round eight.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Andrew Saladino-coached Saints have won seven in a row with the latest hit-out for Heathcote ended in a 27-point win against reigning premier Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.<\/p>\n
The Rob Bennett-coached North Bendigo fought back from a first-quarter onslaught by White Hills in the kennel at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to win by 21 points.<\/p>\n
A fired-up Demons led 45-19 at the first break, but the Doggies struck back to claim a 93-72 victory.<\/p>\n
Heathcote goes into this round a win and more than 11 per cent clear of the second-placed Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
Players to watch for the Saints include the versatile Braden Padmore, on-baller Liam Jacques, Connor Hamilton and Codie Price in defence, and Corey Grindlay at full-forward.<\/p>\n
Bulldogs\u2019 ruckman Jeremy Lambden was best afield against the Demons as Shane Harris, Nic Waterson and Matt Gray starred for the red, white and blue.<\/p>\n
An attack led by the athletic Dylan Klemm and Cody Riddick will test the Saints.<\/p>\n
Leitchville-Gunbower jumped to the fifth rung after an away win against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks and LBU was beaten.<\/p>\n
The Shannon Keam-coached Leitchville Gunbower is back at Gunbower to take on Colbinabbin this Saturday.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the final game of the home-and-away series for the Bombers who have won eight of their past 11.<\/p>\n
Elmore is back home to take on a Lockington Bamawm United line-up reeling from a hat-trick of defeats.<\/p>\n
The Stacy Fiske-coached Cats should beat the Bloods ahead of a round 18 clash on Mount Pleasant\u2019s turf at Toolleen.<\/p>\n
Must-win is what LBU must do to regain its place in the top five.<\/p>\n
White Hills is home again to take on Huntly at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.<\/p>\n
Mount Pleasant has the bye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TOP teams Heathcote and North Bendigo will go head-to-head in this Saturday\u2019s seventeenth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season. The Saints have home-ground advantage at Pigeon Park in Heathcote\u2019s Barrack Reserve for the showdown with the Bulldogs from 2.30pm. One of Heathcote\u2019s two defeats in 2023 was by 17 points at […]<\/p>\n