HUNTLY has shut the door to the Heathcote District league top three and guranteed itself a double chance after beating Elmore on Saturday.
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The Hawks soaked up a first-half challenge from the Bloods at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval, before kicking away to a 46-point win.
The 17.10 (112) to 10.6 (66) victory keeps the third-placed Hawks one game, plus 55 per cent, clear of the chasing Colbinabbin with one round remaining.
“It wasn’t easy today… Elmore made us work for it and it was a very physical contest, but we lifted after half-time and got the result,” Huntly coach Jamie Hogan said.
“It was a good game leading into next week (against North Bendigo) and then the finals.”
The Bloods didn’t allow the Hawks to get away to the flying first-half start that has been one of Huntly’s modus operandi this season.
The Hawks did lead at half-time, but only by five points – 7.3 to 6.4.
However, the Bloods were unable to match it in the second half with the Hawks, who broke away with 10 goals to four after the main break.
“Third quarters have been a bit of a problem at times this year, so it was really pleasing the way the boys were able to respond today (6.3 to 3.0),” Hogan said.
“The boys’ energy and intensity lifted in the third quarter and that opened the game up.”
Defender Josh Harris was named the best for the Hawks, while the star duo of Ryan Semmel (four goals) and Harry Whittle (three goals) were again influential and key forward Chris Gleeson kicked five goals.
Elmore had good contributors in Luke Ryan – named in the best for the fifth game in a row – David Price, Trent Lang and Kirk Lang.
Star forward Danny Brewster kicked five of the Bloods’ 10 goals for a season tally now of 82.
• Reigning premier North Bendigo has edged in front of Leitchville-Gunbower to grab top spot on the ladder.
For the third game in a row the Bulldogs won by more than 100 points.
This time the margin was 126 points against Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.
The Bulldogs continued what’s currently the HDFL’s longest reign of dominance of one team over another with their 16th-straight win over the Blues – 24.17 (161) to 4.11 (35).
North Bendigo’s percentage increased to 217.4, narrowly ahead of Leitchville-Gunbower’s 216.5, with both teams 13-2 heading into the last round.
Returning to the side, North Bendigo full-forward Sam Barnes kicked the region’s biggest senior bag of goals for the season with a superb haul of 13.
Barnes was the Bulldogs’ best, while Ryan Alford, Aiden Metcalf and Callum Tardrew were also among their better players.
Of the Bulldogs’ 24 goals, half came in the final term when they slammed on 12 after having kicked 12 up until three quarter-time.
“It’s probably the tale of our season; for three quarters we had a real crack and then in the last quarter we dropped right away with our effort and they just cashed in,” Mount Pleasant coach Derrick Filo said.
“We just seemed to find new ways to give the ball back to the opposition in that last quarter.
“I was happy enough for three quarters, but it was very disappointing in the last.”
Patrick O’Brien, Jesse Tuohey and Jeremy Blencowe led the better players for the Blues, who haven’t beaten the Bulldogs since 2008.
• Colbinabbin defeated White Hills by 45 points, with the win spearheaded by 10 goals from Grant Weeks.
The Grasshoppers beat the Demons for the 10th time in a row with their 19.10 (124) to 11.13 (79) victory at Tint-a-Car Oval.
As well as Weeks’ haul of 10 goals, fellow forward Ryan Hon also caused the Demons plenty of headaches by kicking five.
Hon and Weeks were the two best for the Grasshoppers, who were also well served by Tom Hill, Sam Vale and Tim O’Dwyer.
White Hills coach Carl Hardingham was pleased with the effort of the Demons, but said the Grasshoppers’ polish was a clear difference.
“I felt we were really competitive today, but just lacked that polish of Colbinabbin,” Hardingham said.
“We tried to be attacking and take the game on, but when we turned it over Colbinabbin was able to get us on the rebound.
“We played good footy in each quarter, but weren’t able to sustain for all of a quarter, which allowed Colbinabbin those extra opportunities to kick goals.”
The Demons’ tally of 11 goals was a much improved effort on their 87-point loss to the Grasshoppers in round eight when they kicked just two.
The silky Gavin Bowles through the midfield and consistent David Wright across half-back headed the better player for the Demons, who had Sam Frawley kick four goals.
• Heathcote’s season came to an end with a 12th loss in a row in a one-sided result not unexpected given the team that beat the Saints – Leitchville-Gunbower – has now won 13 on the trot.
The Bombers won for the eighth time this season by more than 100 points with their 27.15 (177) to 8.4 (52) victory at Leitchville.
Dynamic forward Matt Perri led the rout for the Bombers, snaring 10 goals for the second time in the past three games.
The Bombers were already 86 points up at half-time.
Key onballer Tom German (two goals), Perri, young gun Adam Decicco (three goals) and Daniel Coates (five goals) were all standouts for the Bombers.
For the Saints – who end the season with just one win and 15 losses by exactly 1000 points – they were best served again by Jake Condon (two goals), while Darcy McLean and Jack Paisley also worked hard.
Rikki Stephens kicked four of their eight goals.