Bendigo Advertiser |Review of round nine of the Heathcote District Football League season, including Leitchville-Gunbower's blockbuster win over North Bendigo.
LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower sits at the top of the Heathcote District Football League ladder as the only unbeaten team at the halfway mark of the season after soaring past North Bendigo on Saturday.
It was a promoter’s dream at Superior Roofing Oval - two teams entering the clash with 7-0 records.
And it lived up to the blockbuster hype, with only one point separating the sides at both half-time and three quarter-time, before the Bombers kicked seven goals to four in the final term to win 18.15 (123) to 16.4 (100).
It was a win of plenty of substance for the Bombers to not only beat the Bulldogs at North Bendigo, but to do it after losing Will Brereton (broken leg) in the first quarter, Jackson McEwen’s game ended in the third term (corkie), plus they were one player down for 15 minutes in the third quarter after co-captain Jarrad Nuttall was yellow-carded.
“It was a good win considering a few things went against us today,” Bombers coach Matt Hawken said.
“We started to work our way into the game from midway through the first quarter and I thought from then we were sensational for the rest of the day.”
One of the strengths of the Bombers’ season has been their ability to run games out strongly, and it was again to the fore on Saturday after they had led by one point at the final change.
The Bombers’ last quarter return of 7.5 to 4.1 was the fifth consecutive game they have outscored the opposition by at least 22 points in the final term.
“Even with a couple of our best runners (Brereton and McEwen) down, I was really confident at three quarter-time we’d be able to run the game out,” Hawken said.
“A couple of players who had been tagged all day broke their tags in the last quarter and played really well... Tim Lincoln was outstanding on a wing, Jye Keath in the middle, Matt Perri and Joel Helman were all really good.”
Wingman Tim Lincoln, backmen Steve Pretty, Tom Shepherd and Hoby Bussey, who had the job on Brady Herdman, and forward Helman were the best for the Bombers.
Matt Perri (four), Lincoln (three) and Helman (three) combined for 10 goals.
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The Bulldogs had 13 less scoring shots than the Bombers, but their accurate return of 16.4 kept them in the contest after they had earlier led by 16 points at quarter-time.
“Other than the first quarter, they outplayed us,” North Bendigo co-coach Rob Bennett said.
“Their willingness to work as a team... they worked for each other and our blokes were selfish at times.
“We’ve probably only been just going along the past few weeks and just doing enough, but today we came up against a side that was willing to work both ways and do all the team things.
“We found out where we are at today and if anything, the scoreboard flattered us.”
Star forward duo Sam Barnes (five) and Herdman (four) kicked nine goals between them, with both at their best early in the game.
Darcy Richards, Aarryn Craig and Elliott Massina (two goals) were named the best for the Bulldogs.
• White Hills recorded its biggest ever win over Lockington-Bamawm United, defeating the Cats by 96 points at Tint-a-Car Oval.
The Cats were unable to curtail the forward line power of the Demons, who had Victor Caristo (seven), Kris Lea (six) and Sam Kerr (four) combine for 17 goals.
“They were good targets for us today, but the work done up the ground was really good and the delivery inside 50 today was what we wanted,” Demons coach Shaun Makepeace said.
“We’ve been working really hard on getting quality entries inside 50 and it paid off today.”
The Demons’ superb accuracy inside 50 to kick 25 goals from 32 scoring shots featured 6.2 in the first quarter, 7.2 in the second, 7.1 in the third and 5.2 in the last - this from a side that couldn’t hit the proverbial side of a barn when it came to its goalkicking earlier in the year.
As well as the forwards impressing, Hayden Wright, Malcolm Douglas and Mitchell Curtis were driving forces though the midfield, while Rhys Irwin was good off half-back for the Demons, who are now two games safely inside the top five at the halfway mark.
Better players for the Cats - who had gone into the game off back-to-back wins - included Jeremy Mundie (four goals) and the experienced Mick Dobson.
The Cats kicked seven of their nine goals in the first half.
• Colbinabbin recorded its biggest win since 2009 with a 20.12 (132) to 3.9 (27) victory over Heathcote at Pigeon Park.
The 105-point margin was the Grasshoppers’ biggest since they beat North Bendigo by 111 points in round 15 of the 2009 season.
Superboot Grant Weeks kicked seven goals for the Grasshoppers, with other strong performers for the side including onballers Russell Douglas (three goals) and Sam Vale and Linton Jacobs in a back pocket.
“It broke open in the second half for us, but full credit to Heathcote... they were a very young side, but had a real crack and the score probably wasn’t a true reflection on the game,” Colbinabbin coach Phil Morgan said.
“After last week’s big weekend for the centenary, we didn’t want a let-down today, so we were pleased to get the result we did.”
The loss leaves Heathcote winless at the halfway mark of the season, with better players for the young Saints including ruckman Dylan Brooks, Jake Condon and Kyle Seidel.
Marc Millard kicked two of the Saints’ three goals.
• Huntly led at every change in its 22-point win over Elmore.
In what was an entertaining contest, the Hawks staved off a challenge in the final term from the Bloods to prevail 17.9 (111) to 13.11 (89) at Elmore to win their third in a row and remain a game clear in third spot.
“Elmore kept at us all day... they were within 10 points during the last quarter and we were one player down (Matt Jeffries, yellow card), but the boys dug deep to find a way to win,” Hawks coach Jamie Hogan said.
“There was pressure all day and Elmore really made us earn it.”
Midfielder Ryan Semmel starred for the Hawks to be their best player, also having an impact inside 50 with three goals.
“He was great today... when you need something to happen, he makes it happen,” Hogan said.
Braidy Dickens played a fine captain’s game through the midfield and off half-back, centre half-back Kyle Shepherd and Stacy Fiske were also pivotal players for the Hawks, who had Lachlan O’Toole boot five goals.
Midfielder Alex Gleeson continued his fine patch of form to be the best player for Elmore.
The Bloods also had good players in ruckman Jack Hayes, Troy Banfield and Nicholas Kellow (three goals).
James Harney was the Bloods’ leading goalkicker with four.
