IT hasn’t taken Heathcote coach Paul Kennedy long to understand just what the Peter and Cliff White Memorial Shield means to both the Saints and Mount Pleasant.
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The two clubs vie for the shield in their first encounter each season in the Heathcote District Football League.
The shield has been played for since 1997 in honour of Peter and Cliff White – two of the most respected figures at Mount Pleasant – who died in a boating accident, along with Mark Bell, at Port Campbell on November 2, 1996.
Since its inception the shield has been won 13 times by Mount Pleasant and six by Heathcote, with it again up for grabs on Saturday when they clash at Pigeon Park.
“Being involved in it for the first time last year, you could see that both sides were very keen to get their hands on the shield and it obviously holds a lot of importance,” Kennedy said on Friday.
“We’d love to win it and get it back into the Heathcote rooms.”
As much as a win would deliver the shield back to Heathcote for the first time since 2013, the 1-4 Saints are determined to bounce back from a 15-point loss to White Hills last week.
“We were bitterly disappointed last week… we think we were probably the better side for three quarters,” Kennedy said.
“We need to start well on Saturday and keep the momentum going for four quarters.”
The Saints have lost Daniel Carroll to a shoulder injury.
Saturday’s games – Elmore v White Hills, Leitchville-Gunbower v Huntly, Heathcote v Mount Pleasant, North Bendigo v LBU. Colbinabbin bye.