Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MOUNT Pleasant made more of its opportunities inside 50 to beat Elmore by nine points in the Heathcote District league and halt its three-game losing streak on Saturday.
The Blues had six less scoring shots than the Bloods at home, but emerged victorious 14.11 (95) to 11.20 (86).
The bounce back win for Mount Pleasant now gives the Blues a two-game buffer inside the top five as they continue to hunt their first finals berth since 2014.
"We were really good with our ball movement early and created a lot of shots on goal, but kicked 2.6 in the first quarter... a few of those misses were shots you'd normally just mark down," Blues coach Darren Walsh said.
"We dropped off a bit in the second quarter in terms of our mindset of what we wanted to do before the game, but we addressed that at half-time and came out and had a fantastic third quarter."
The Blues produced their highest scoring quarter of the season in the third term, adding 7.3 as they erased a 13-point deficit at half-time and turned it into a nine-point lead at three quarter-time - a margin that would remain the same at the final siren.
Following their 2.6 opening term, the Blues were more efficient inside 50, kicking 12.5 for the remainder of the match.
Ruckman/forward Mitch Bennett (two goals) was the Blues' best, while in his second senior game teenager Jackson Hufer impressed.
"Jackson got a lot of the ball today... when the ball was there to be won he was first in," Walsh said.
"He stood up really well and had a more enjoyable week than last week (108-point loss to North Bendigo) that's for sure."
Blues' forward Ben Weightman showed his class again with a haul of six goals and has now booted 14 in his two games against the Bloods this season.
Given their 31 scoring shots to 25, the Bloods were left to rue one that got away, with their tally of 11.20 including a costly 1.7 in the final quarter.
"I felt we dominated a lot of periods of the game, but we just couldn't put it on the scoreboard," Elmore coach Danny Brewster said.
"We kicked 1.7 in the last quarter, but we were having a lot of shots from bad positions. We just couldn't get the ball into dangerous enough areas."
Romain Grenville (five) and Darcy Laffy (three) combined for eight of Elmore's 11 goals, while the best for the Bloods was Bailey Boyack, who continues to be a shining light this season.
"Bailey is playing some really good consistent footy at the moment. He cracks in and controls the ball really well when he has it in his hands," Brewster said.
LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER v HEATHCOTE
Leitchville-Gunbower took control of its game against Heathcote in the third quarter on the way to a 29-point victory.
The Bombers won 14.14 (98) to 10.9 (69) at Gunbower to increase their break on the sixth-placed White Hills to two games.
"Heathcote certainly came to play today and gave us a challenge, but we stuck to our structures well and played the way we wanted to," Bombers coach Danny Teskera said.
"We could have been a bit more accurate in front of goal, but overall we were pleased with the effort with what was a fairly young side.
"We've got quite a few key players out at the moment, but our young group committed themselves really well to the contest all game."
One of those impressive youngsters in the Bombers' side was Logan Prout, who again showed why he's one of the competition's up-and-coming star talents.
"Logan is having a ripper of a year; you know with every contest he goes to that he's going to give his all," Teskera said.
"I don't know how many intercept marks he took today, but he was just brilliant."
Jack Dye (three), Tyler Jones (three), Jake Vandongen (two) and Matt Pollock (two), who was also one of the side's standouts, were all multiple goalkickers for the Bombers.
The Bombers had led by 10 points at half-time before a five-goal to two third term pushed their advantage at the final change to 29 points.
For the Saints, it was another case of competing strongly with a top-five side for the first half, but unable to go the distance.
Heathcote has now been within 10 points of the Bombers (5th), 12 points against Colbinabbin (3rd) and one point against Lockington-Bamawm United (2nd) at half-time among their past four matches.
"They had a 10-minute patch in that third quarter where they were able to get away from us," Heathcote coach Wayne Primmer said.
"They are a highly-skilled team and use the ball well; overall on the day they were neater than us.
"We fought the game out until the end and we're getting better, but we just need a bit more polish."
The Saints have lost their two matches against the Bombers by margins of 29 and six points this season - a major improvement on their 10 encounters between 2014 and 2018 when Leitchville-Gunbower's average winning margin was 112 points.
Strong midfielder Dylan Robinson (two goals) was again the Saints' best player, while Jack Brooks also chipped in with two goals.
HUNTLY v COLBINABBIN
Colbinabbin accounted for Huntly by 54 points, winning 12.17 (89) to 5.5 (35).
Nick Knight (33 possessions, two goals) again starred for the Grasshoppers off half-back, while Todd Bryant racked up 43 disposals. Sam Bowers could have kicked eight goals, but finished with 2.6.
The Grasshoppers were boosted by the inclusions of twins Cooper and Hugh Hamilton, with the pair having recently represented Victoria Country at the Under-16 National Championships where Cooper was named in the All-Australian team.
"I haven't seen much of Cooper at senior level given he's only played one game, so I was really keen to get him straight in... both Cooper and Hugh played really well," Colbinabbin coach Julian Bull said.
"Cooper gave us some really good drive off the wing and played with a lot of composure."
The defeat was the ninth in a row for the Hawks, who were able to shave 53 points off their 107-point losing margin to the Grasshoppers from earlier in the year.
On-ballers Jack Daley and 100-gamer Harry Whittle both battled hard for the Hawks, who had Jack Burns kick three of their five goals.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
