THERE\u2019S lots at stake across all four senior footy matches in this Saturday\u2019s last round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL regular season.<\/p>\n
The Heathcote Saints start the round on top of the ladder locked on 48 points with North Bendigo.<\/p>\n
The teams are separated by 1.46 per cent in the race to decide who will have a rest in the first week of the finals.<\/p>\n
Heathcote heads to Huntly\u2019s Strauch Reserve to tackle the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.<\/p>\n
The Andrew Saladino-coached Saints are on the rebound from a six-goal loss at home to North Bendigo at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve last round.<\/p>\n
A second-quarter blitz of nine straight goals by North Bendigo as the Saints added 3.1 gave the Bulldogs a 42-point lead by half-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were smashed in clearances and stoppages in the second quarter,\u201d Saladino said. \u201cIt was a lesson in work rate, especially in big matches.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heathcote won the second half, 55-49, but the North Bendigo hoodoo rolled on.<\/p>\n
The Saints have not beaten North Bendigo since 2013.<\/p>\n
The Rob Bennett-coached Bulldogs were remarkably accurate as they scored 21.2 (128) to 13.14 (92) and ended Heathcote\u2019s seven-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
The Saints unbeaten run at home in season 2023 was also broken.<\/p>\n
Heathcote beat Huntly by 80 points in round nine and will start hot favourite against the brown and gold.<\/p>\n
Key players for Heathcote include on-ballers Liam Jacques and Braden Padmore, captain Codie Price at half-back, Corey Grindlay at full-forward, Jesse Davies, Ben Connelly, and Joseph Beedle on a wing.<\/p>\n
North Bendigo is on home turf at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to take on Elmore this Saturday.<\/p>\n
Another big clash is at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant takes on Lockington Bamawm United.<\/p>\n
A win for the Stacy Fiske-coached LBU will put it back in fifth place at the expense of Leitchville Gunbower which has the bye.<\/p>\n
The third-placed White Hills heads to Colbinabbin\u2019s M.J. Morgan Oval to tackle the Grasshoppers.<\/p>\n
White Hills is a win behind Heathcote and North Bendigo, but has far superior percentage and would move to number one should the Saints and Bulldogs be beaten.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Seniors<\/strong><\/p>\n Heathcote 13.14 (92)<\/p>\n North Bendigo 21.2 (128)<\/p>\n GOALS: Heathcote: C. Grindlay 4, B. Padmore 3, B. Price 2, R. Bolton 1, J. Davies 1, L. Jacques 1<\/p>\n North Bendigo: D. Klemm 4, B. Robertson 3, A. Craig 2, J. Ford 2, C. Riddick 2, R. Healey 1, N. Newlan 1<\/p>\n BEST: Heathcote: L. Jacques, B. Padmore, J. Beedle, C. Hamilton, B. Price, C. Price<\/p>\n North Bendigo: J. Lambden, D. Klemm, N. Newlan, B. Robertson, N. Waterson, J. Ford<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TEAM P W L D B Pts %<\/p>\n Heathcote 15 12 3 0 2 48 136.73<\/p>\n North Bendigo 15 12 3 0 2 48 135.27<\/p>\n White Hills 15 11 4 0 2 44 151.3<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 15 9 6 0 2 36 156.56<\/p>\n L\u2019ville G\u2019bower 16 9 7 0 1 36 93.75<\/p>\n LBU 15 8 7 0 2 32 106.82<\/p>\n Colbinabbin 15 3 11 1 2 14 84.51<\/p>\n Elmore 15 2 12 1 2 10 61.44<\/p>\n Huntly 15 1 14 0 2 4 41.9<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reserves<\/strong><\/p>\n Heathcote 12.5 (77)<\/p>\n North Bendigo 12.9 (81)<\/p>\n GOALS: Heathcote: W. Pointer 4, L. Baron 2, A. Williamson 1, C. Luscombe 1, J. Conforti 1, A. Mcivor 1, M. McLean 1<\/p>\n North Bendigo: M. Thompson 5, Z. Richards 2, A. Robinson 1, H. Draper 1, C. Anderson 1, P. Bogers 1<\/p>\n BEST: Heathcote: M. McLean, A. Williamson, W. Long, L. Baron, J. Kelly, J. Conforti<\/p>\n North Bendigo Reserves: Z. Richards, P. Bogers, D. Love, M. Thompson, H. Draper, A. Wild<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TEAM P W L D B Pts %<\/p>\n Mount Pleasant 15 12 3 0 2 48 218.78<\/p>\n White Hills 15 12 3 0 2 48 203.73<\/p>\n North Bendigo 15 11 3 1 2 46 178.09<\/p>\n LBU 15 9 5 1 2 38 147.43<\/p>\n Heathcote 15 7 8 0 2 28 108.26<\/p>\n Huntly 15 7 8 0 2 28 92.33<\/p>\n Elmore 15 4 11 0 2 16 55.61<\/p>\n Colbinabbin 15 3 12 0 2 12 25.77<\/p>\n L\u2019ville G\u2019bower 16 2 14 0 1 8 49.12<\/p>\n <\/p>\n