A TEAM missing its three leading goalkickers and No.1 ruckman who also doubles as the reigning best and fairest preparing to play a round 16 game against an opponent that has lost just once would normally be written off without a second thought.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That’s the scenario North Bendigo faces on Saturday when it makes the trip north to take on Leitchville-Gunbower in the Heathcote District league.
But if there’s a team that has the potential to cover so many key omissions, it’s the star-studded Bulldogs.
It will certainly be a different looking North Bendigo forward line, with none of Brady Herdman (hamstring), Sam Barnes (hamstring) or Rhys Ford (knee) – a trio that has combined for 142 of the team’s 287 goals – taking to the field.
“It’s going to be a lot different… we haven’t played without a key forward for a couple of years, but it will give us some unpredictability,” North Bendigo coach Rob Bennett said on Friday.
“We’re confident we’ll still get the ball in our forward line often enough as we do week to week, we’ll just have to make the most of our opportunities.”
Star ruckman Brett Strange (knee), who is shaping as a leading Cheatley Medal contender is also out, while Joel Helman, who kicked six goals last week before rolling an ankle, won’t play either.
For the first time this season the Bulldogs’ unblemished record looks under genuine threat, but Bennett is confident his club’s depth will hold it in good stead against the Bombers in what’s becoming the league’s No.1 rivalry.
“We’re happy with the 22 we will be putting out there on Saturday and there’s definitely no negativity from the playing group leading into this week,” Bennett said.
“The boys are all really upbeat and looking forward to the challenge.”
In their first meeting this season the Bulldogs prevailed by 68 points in what has been the Bombers’ only loss of 2017.
The Bulldogs and Bombers have met in the past two grand finals and look on a collision course to another premiership showdown.
They are the two clear standout sides in the competition – combined their records are 25-1, percentage is 590.2 and they both have average winning margins of more than 100 points.
Gunbower hasn’t proven a happy hunting ground for visiting sides in recent years.
While the Bombers only play four games each season at the ground, they haven’t lost at Gunbower since Huntly beat them in round 18 of 2014.
• How they compare:
North Bendigo:
Record – 13-0
Percentage – 316.9
Average for – 154
Average against – 49
Quarters won – 47/52
Leitchville-Gunbower:
Record – 12-1
Percentage – 273.3
Average for – 147
Average against – 54
Quarters won – 45/52
Saturday’s games – Elmore v Heathcote, Leitchville-Gunbower v North Bendigo, Colbinabbin v White Hills, Mount Pleasant v Huntly. LBU bye.
