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North Bendigo v Elmore

NORTH Bendigo is a genuine premiership threat in the HDFL, according to Elmore skipper Andy Grant.

Grant saw the Bulldogs up close on Saturday as they accounted for his Elmore side by 72 points.

“As far as movement of the ball is concerned, North Bendigo is as good as anyone in the competition,” Grant said.

“With the competition being so even, North has to be a good chance.

“North probably doesn’t have the depth of the top sides at the moment, but they move the ball as well as those sides.”

North Bendigo dismantled Elmore with a nine goal to two first half.

Elmore battled hard to outscore the Dogs in the third term before the home side reposnded with a six-goal to one last quarter.

For North Bendigo, midfield/forwards Aaryn and Ash Craig and Damien Webb feasted on the good work of ruckman Josh Gitsham.

Forwards Michael Spooner and Ryan Alford combined for eight goals between them.

Elmore’s experienced players in Grant, Luke Hartley, Jacob Smythe and Brian Westley did their best to try and keep the Bloods in the game.

“We had Brian Westley and Julian Lake come back into the side on Saturday, but they were underdone,” Grant said.

"Our list is a bit light on, but we’ll continue to battle away.

“We’ll get a few more guys back from injury in the next couple of weeks and that will help.

“Even though we can’t make the finals, if we can get our full side back on the park we’ll help shape the top five.”

Huntly v White Hills

- HUNTLY coach Stacy Fiske led his side to a commanding 98-point win over White Hills.

Fiske was best on ground in the 20.17 (137) to 5.9 (39) victory.

The Hawks rebounded strongly from last week’s five-goal loss to Colbinabbin.

“We were really disappointed with how we played against Colbo, so we were keen to make a bit of a statement against White Hills,” Fiske said.

“We learned from what we did wrong against Colbo, and we got contributions from everyone.

“We wanted to maintain our intensity and it didn't drop off defensively or offensively until the final siren.”

Fiske dominated through the middle of the ground for the Hawks, while Tom Curry proved hard to stop in attack, kicking four goals.

“I was really happy with the way our backline played,” Fiske said.

“To keep White Hills to five goals was a great effort by the likes of Angus McKinley, Ryley Dickens, Nathan Harris and Luke Ross.”

The Demons slumped to their fourth loss in five games.

Matt Lehane, David Wright, Matthew Frecker and Luke Brittain tried hard for White Hills, but too much was left to too few.

Huntly remain in fourth place on the HDFL ladder, with games to come against second-placed LBU and third-placed Heathcote in the next fortnight to determine if the Hawks are pretenders or contenders this season.

Lockington-Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant

- REIGNING premier Lockington-Bamawm United bounced back from its loss to North Bendigo to defeat Mount Pleasant by 44 points at Toolleen.

Only 14 points separated the sides at three quarter-time, but the Cats unleashed a five-goal to none final quarter to win 16.11 (107) to 9.9 (63).

The Cats’ depth proved to the difference.

They had eight individual goalkickers and were best served by skipper Gerard Giddings, Terrence Reeves, in-form rover Adrian Dohnt and Leigh Deledio.

Mounts continue to show plenty against quality opponents, but just lack a touch of class.

Blair Wild, Chris Black, Nick Harris and forward Ken Cummings were the Blues' best.

Heathcote v Leitchville-Gunbower

- Heathcote was made to work hard for its 55-point win over Leitchville-Gunbower.

The Saints looked like having a day out when they led by 45 points at the main break, but Leitchville stuck with its highly-fancied rivals in the second half.

The Bombers outscored Heathcote in the third quarter and weren’t disgarced in the final term.

Heathcote’s class inside forward 50 was the major difference between the two teams.

Premiership players Brent Jacques and Anthony Mellington bagged nine goals between them and Matt Chapman added another four goals.

Luke Carroll was best on ground for the Saints and Daniel Russell and Michael Hare were solid.

Lachlan Embleton, Ben Welch, Tyler Jones, Dylan Friedberger and Matthew Hawken were best for Leitchville-Gunbower.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Bombers. Next week they travel to Lockington to tackle the Cats.

Heathcote hosts Huntly in the match of the round.