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WITH its premiership drought broken last year, North Bendigo will now chase back-to-back flags against Leitchville-Gunbower in Saturday’s Heathcote District Football-Netball League grand final at Huntly.
The Bulldogs defeated the Bombers by 10 points in last year’s grand to win their first premiership since 1977.
North Bendigo supporters have felt the agony and ecstasy of grand final day the previous two seasons, with last year’s win coming 12 months after losing to Lockington-Bamawm United.
For the second year in a row the Bulldogs have advanced to the grand final on the back of losing the qualifying final in week one.
After being upstaged by Huntly in the qualifying final by nine points, the Bulldogs have bounced back with consecutive cut-throat finals wins against Colbinabbin and the Hawks in last week’s preliminary final to earn a shot at the Bombers.
The two headline acts have been the dynamic duo of star forwards Brady Herdman and Sam Barnes, who are both gunning for their sixth premiership in a row, having previously won four on the trot with Wedderburn before joining North Bendigo last year.
The pair now have 164 goals between them – Barnes with 85, including 10 in last week’s preliminary final, and Herdman 79.
Containing both is going to be a mighty tough job for the Bomber defence.
Tyson Findlay, Jarrod Findlay, Blayne Ryan-Storey, Aarryn Craig, Sean Morris and Ryan Alford have all been part of a consistent midfield that has fed off the work of ruckmen Brett Strange and Ryan Gow and helped the Bulldogs to a 16-3 record, while the side also has Aiden Metcalf and the reliable Alex Shipard who can lock-down.
Darcy Richards and Dan Morris provide plenty of rebound out of the back half, while Will Gunter, Daniel Reid and Sam Demeo are key members of the defence.
The Bulldogs are skippered by Jordan Ford – a consistent defender who has become a forward target.