3rd - North Bendigo, 10-9.

The season was one of two halves for North Bendigo. It promised plenty after 11 games when the Bulldogs sat second on the ladder with a 9-2 record, which set them up for a top-three finish.

But it all went pear shaped from round 13 onwards as their form dropped dramatically, and with it their hopes of ending a premiership drought that dates back to 1977.

Despite losing their last five games of the home and away season, plus the qualifying final to Huntly, they fought through to the preliminary final, but much like last year on grand final day, had nothing left in the tank and were beaten by 11 goals by the Hawks last Saturday.

Finished higher than six other clubs, but on the back of their strong start and pre-season expectations, they’d be disappointed they didn’t at least get through to the grand final and earn a shot at redemption for last year.

4th – Heathcote, 10-8.

Defied many of the pre-season predictions of being the competition-slider to remain a finals-quality team.

The season got off to a shaky start when they won just one of their first five games, but the Saints built strongly to finish fourth and keep intact an unbroken finals streak that started in 2005.

Played with plenty of grit and determination, or as coach Grant Ford often said, “the Saints spirit”.

That spirit was never more evident than the elimination final when they came from three goals down in the last quarter to defeat Leitchville-Gunbower by two points.

5th – Leitchville-Gunbower, 8-9.

Followed the same path as Huntly a year earlier when they climbed the ladder from wooden spooners to finalists in the space of 12 months.

Coming from such a low base to make their first finals series in the HDFL was a major step forward, but so they should have on the back of their strong recruiting.

They were good enough to beat every side during the home and away season, expect for Lockington-Bamawm United, and loomed as a September smoky, so they’d be disappointed they couldn’t get past the first week of the finals.

The challenge now is to build on the foundations of this year and take the next step in 2014 - again, like Huntly has this season.

6th – Colbinabbin, 8-8.

The Grasshoppers entered the season as one of the great unknowns, and in the end missed the finals by percentage.

Apart from a three-game winning streak between rounds 11 and 13, the Grasshoppers never really got going with any consistency.

The three wins in a row over White Hills, Mount Pleasant and Elmore was the only time the Grasshoppers strung together consecutive victories.

They’ll have club legend Phil “Toot” Morgan back for a second season at the helm next year, with the coach confident they have the makings of a side that will get the Grasshoppers back in their familiar position of playing finals sooner rather than later.

7th – White Hills, 5-11.

Missed the finals, but the Demons stuck it up all those who predicted pre-season they would claim the wooden spoon.

Started the season as one of the form teams of the competition winning four of their first six games, with their two early losses by margins of just nine and six points.

However, the season petered out with just one win in their last 10 games as their finals hopes frittered away.

Lack of consistency was shown in the fact they were good enough to beat third-placed North Bendigo, but also lost to eighth-placed Mount Pleasant, while in their two games against LBU, they lost the first by just nine points before the second blew out to 114 points.

8th – Mount Pleasant, 4-12.

Fifth year in a row out of the finals for Mount Pleasant, which is now just a shadow of the former senior football power the HDFL has been accustomed to.

Were arguably the most frustrating side in the competition with their ability to get in winning positions, but inability to finish the job.

Only won the four games – one of those against finalist Leitchville-Gunbower in round 17 - but lost six by less than four goals

Full-forward Matt Gilmore kicked 59 goals to win the HDFL goalkicking, but no other player kicked more than 19.

9th – Elmore, 1-15.

A season to forget for Elmore, which won just one game and claimed its first wooden spoon since 2001.

The Bloods had an ordinary pre-season and the effects were felt all year with their inability to run out games.

Scored OK for a bottom side, averaging 65 points per game, but couldn’t halt the damage down the other end, conceding an average of 126 points a game.

Season could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for the efforts of James Drake and Danny Bateman, who were their two standouts.

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