Saints break drought in emotional HDFL triumph

HEATHCOTE won its first game in the Heathcote District Football League for more than a year with an emotional one-point victory over Mount Pleasant at home on Saturday.

The Saints almost gave up a 40-point advantage at three quarter-time, but despite not scoring in the final term, held on to beat the Blues 15.7 (97) to 14.12 (96).

The victory came in the wake of the tragic death of Heathcote under-17 netballer Georgia Edsall-French, who was killed in a car crash in Queensland on Friday.

A minute’s silence was observed before Saturday’s senior game in memory of Georgia.

“It has been a tough and emotional day, but I’m just so proud of the way the club conducted itself today, especially the young guys in the under-17s, who grew up with Georgia,” Heathcote coach Paul Kennedy said.

“It was like the whole community got behind the club today and I really believe the club did itself proud.”

Heathcote’s win was its first since it defeated Elmore by 19 points in round 10, last season.

In between the Saints lost 19 games in a row by an average of 88 points.

After a tight opening, the Saints took control of the game during the second and third quarters when they booted 12 goals to five to lead by 40 points at the final change, 15.7 to 8.9.

However, the Blues stormed home with the wind in the final quarter, kicking 6.3 to no score to fall one point short.

“We’re a very young group and the boys may have thought they had done enough at three quarter-time,” Kennedy said.

“To Mounts’ credit they kept coming, started to win the clearances and there’s no doubt we panicked.

“We put Marc Millard behind the footy late in the game and he really steadied us and we were able to hang on and get the win, which was fantastic for the club.”

Millard showed his versatility by not only playing a pivotal role in the defensive 50 late in the game, but down the other end also kicking four goals. 

Dylan McCutcheon (two goals) was also superb through the midfield for Saints, Jake Condon kicked three goals and took on the unfamiliar role of playing in the ruck following the late withdrawal of Dylan Brooks, while Kyle Seidel (two goals), Daniel Carroll and Darcy McLean were also standouts for Heathcote.

Key forward Nicholas Grigg kicked seven of Mount Pleasant’s 14 goals to be the Blues’ best, while gun onballer Simon Seddon, Taig Griffin and defender Chris Black were also good players.

Huntly 21.11 (137) d LBU 9.8 (62).

HUNTLY survived a first-half scare from Lockington-Bamawm United to run away with a 75-point victory over the Cats.

The Hawks had gone into the game at Huntly red-hot favourites, but trailed the Cats by nine points at half-time.

However, the Hawks responded to the challenge with a barnstorming second half in which they kicked 13.5 while holding the Cats to one point to win 21.11 (137) to 9.8 (62) and move back within percentage of the top three.

“We didn’t pay Lockington enough respect early, so we addressed that at half-time and really focused on playing a man-on-man accountable game,” Hawks coach Jamie Hogan said.

“I was very happy with the second half… the boys responded well.”

Huntly forward Chris Gleeson starred in attack, booting nine goals to take his season tally to 55.

However, the Hawks – who for the first time have beaten the Cats twice in a season - also had 10 other players kick goals.

“Gleeso was fantastic up forward, but we also got a good spread around him and that’s what we need every week,” Hogan said.

Gleeson was Huntly’s best player, with support coming from the midfield brigade of Ryan Semmel, Harry Whittle and Gavin James, who had a run-with role on Cats’ playmaker Matt Bongiovanni, and Stacy Fiske, who is revelling in his role across half-back.

Jacob Gardiner and Jeremy Mundie kicked two goals each for the Cats, who played some of their best football of the season in the second term when they outscored the Hawks 6.4 to 2.2 after earlier trailing by 19 points at quarter-time.

Better players for the Cats included Joseph Wolfe, Gardiner, Sam Wolfe, James Woodland, Rhys Woodland and Carl Treacy.

North Bendigo 22.12 (144) d White Hills 12.14 (86).

NORTH Bendigo dished out a 58-point hiding to neighbours White Hills.

The Bulldogs split the game at White Hills open in the second quarter, booting 7.3 to 2.1 to lead by 35 points at half-time, before saluting 22.12 (144) to 12.14 (86).

Despite Sam Barnes being unavailable, the Bulldogs still had too much firepower for the Demons, with Brady Herdman (six), Jaran McKay (four), Jeremy Mills (three), Paul Prime (three) and Michael Leech (three) all multiple goalkickers.

“We had a lot of play in the first quarter, but let them get some easy goals. But Leechy (Michael Leech) took a good mark in the goalsquare early in the second quarter and that got us going,” Bulldogs co-coach Rob Bennett said.

Aarryn Craig was in everything, racking up close to 40 possessions for the Bulldogs to be their best.

Veteran Matt Sawyer kicked four goals for the Demons, whose better players were led by consistent half-back David Wright.

Leitchville-Gunbower 17.13 (115) d Elmore 7.9 (51).

LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower kept its unbeaten record intact, defeating Elmore by 64 points on Saturday.

The Bombers got the jump on the Bloods, leading by 24 points at quarter-time and 48 at half-time en route to a 17.13 (115) to 7.9 (51) victory.

Tim Lincoln and Matt Perri both kicked four goals for the Bombers, who for the fifth game in a row held their opposition to less than 60.

Young forward Joel Helman (two goals), Adam Decicco, Lincoln, who continues to star on a wing, Steve Pretty and Kieran Treacy were the pick of the players for the Bombers.

In Elmore’s fourth loss in a row, ruckman Jack Hayes, who has had a solid second half of the season, and Andrew Smith were best, while forward James Harney kicked three goals.