A JOURNEY to reach the summit as the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL\u2019s senior footy champion was achieved by Mount Pleasant on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Mounts\u2019 co-coaches Adam Baird and Ben Weightman, director of coaching Darren Walsh, players, committee members and fans basked in the glory of a 20th premiership victory.<\/p>\n
The Blues turned a one-point deficit at three quarter-time of the match at Huntly\u2019s Strauch Reserve into a 19-point lead by the final siren of the clash with Heathcote.<\/p>\n
From a tally of 10 senior grand finals, Baird\u2019s record is now six and four.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis premiership rates right up there,\u201d said Baird who is best-known as \u2018Skinny\u2019 to team-mates, opponents, fans and had previously starred with Golden Square.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lost my Dad (Bill) earlier in the year, so that was a tough time for the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among those watching on Saturday were wife Shannon, their 14-month-old son Hugo, and Adam\u2019s mum, Julie.<\/p>\n
A key factor in the coach\u2019s move from Golden Square to be with the Toolleen-based Blues was older brother Travis where they both played in the 2022 grand final.<\/p>\n
Now a premiership coach, Baird said the belief and work ethic of the Blues was superb in all four finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was confident we could overrun and outwork Heathcote in the final quarter, and we did,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact was we had done so in the previous three finals.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the netball court, Mount Pleasant won the 17 and Under and 15 and Under grand finals.<\/p>\n
A big day for White Hills included another victory in A Grade netball against Colbinabbin and the reserves football.<\/p>\n
North Bendigo won the under-18s footy grand final against Huntly and was runner-up in the reserves.<\/p>\n
Elmore took out A Reserve and B Grade netball, and the Harlowe Huntly Hawks won B Reserve on their court.<\/p>\n
Lockington Bamawm United Cats captured the 13 and Under netball premiership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A JOURNEY to reach the summit as the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL\u2019s senior footy champion was achieved by Mount Pleasant on Saturday. Mounts\u2019 co-coaches Adam Baird and Ben Weightman, director of coaching Darren Walsh, players, committee members and fans basked in the glory of a 20th premiership victory. The Blues turned a one-point deficit at […]<\/p>\n