NORTH CENTRAL SEASON REVIEW

BENDIGO LEAGUE - DECADE THAT WAS: 2019

Record - 17-2

Percentage - 191.8%

Average for - 114

Average against - 59

Attack rank - 1st

Defence rank - 1st

Quarters won - 57 of 76

Avg. player points - 37.3

Players used - 31

Played every game - 5

Club best top five:

(6 for being named best; 5 for second and so on)

Joel Helman - 57

Zach Alford - 45

Jordan Ford - 31

Brady Herdman - 30

Aarryn Craig - 26

Top goalkickers:

Brady Herdman - 67

Zach Alford - 37

Darcy Richards - 36

Ben Knight - 27

Jarrod Findlay - 24

Unlike the previous two years when the Bulldogs had finished on top of the ladder, but were unable to convert their strong home and away season into a flag, this time North Bendigo was also the best team when it mattered most - grand final day.

Playing in their sixth-consecutive grand final, the Bulldogs proved too strong for Colbinabbin by 36 points.

Only lost two games for the season - a 15-point defeat to Mount Pleasant in round four and 26-point loss to Colbinabbin IN the second semi-final.

In his return to the club, gun midfielder Joel Helman became the first player in more than a decade to complete the Cheatley Medal-premiership double, while star forward Brady Herdman came out of retirement, booted 67 goals, finished equal fourth in the Cheatley Medal, won a ninth flag in his career and then hung the boots baCK up.

The Bulldogs also completed a fourth-consecutive unbeaten season at home.

Record - 14-5

Percentage - 137.3%

Average for - 90

Average against - 66

Attack rank - 3rd

Defence rank - 2nd

Quarters won - 51 of 76

Avg. player points - 39.1

Players used - 36

Played every game - 4

Club best top five:

Todd Bryant - 55

Ben Southam - 49

Hadleigh Sirett - 39

Nick Knight - 36

Lachlan Ezard - 35

Top goalkickers:

Matt Riordan - 35

Sam Bowers - 24

Daniel Connors - 21

Stephen Tuohey - 20

Ben Southam - 19

Went one step further than last year, but fell a step short of their ultimate goal of winning the premiership.

The Grasshoppers played in their first grand final since 2009, but a poor second quarter against North Bendigo when they were outscored 33-1 in a game they lost by 36 points cost them dearly.

Overcame a plethora of frustrating injuries in the first half of the season and looked to be timing their run perfectly given their impressive qualifying final and second semi-final victories over Lockington-Bamawm United and North Bendigo.

Yet they barely fired a shot on grand final day, kicking just four goals with a side that - outside of teenage twins Cooper and Hugh Hamilton - had an average age of 29.

Record - 11-8

Percentage - 99.9%

Average for - 89

Average against - 89

Attack rank - 4th

Defence rank - 6th

Quarters won - 32 of 76

Avg. player points - 44.9

Players used - 39

Played every game - 4

Club best top five:

Ben Weightman - 52

Billy Mahony - 48

Mitch Bennett - 43

Nick Edwards - 33

Jesse Tuohey - 24

Top goalkickers:

Ben Weightman - 95

Daniel Davie - 29

Cody Green - 26

Luke Marchesi - 16

Mitch Bennett - 14

Just making the finals this season would have been a pass mark for the Blues given it was only two years ago that they were wooden-spooners, before starting to head back in the right direction in 2018.

But the Blues did better than just make the finals - they won two, ending the seasons of White Hills in the elimination final and LBU in the first semi-final.

Played some scintillating football in both matches, but were shown still how big the gap to the top for them is to bridge when they copped a 90-point preliminary final thrashing off North Bendigo.

Star forward Ben Weightman topped the league goalkicking and ended the season with 95, almost 30 more than any other player.

Record - 13-5

Percentage - 152.7%

Average for - 107

Average against - 70

Attack rank - 2nd

Defence rank - 3rd

Quarters won - 55 of 72

Avg. player points - 27.8

Players used - 31

Played every game - 5

Club best top five:

Jeremy Mundie - 31

Tyler Phillips - 31

Jacob Gardiner - 30

Rhys Woodland - 28

Zeik Johnston - 28

Top goalkickers:

Patrick Gardiner - 45

Lachlan Collins - 44

Thomas Leech - 42

Jarod Bacon - 32

Jacob Gardiner - 29

Coach Kahl Oliver summed it up in the Atkins Street rooms after his side's season had just blown up following a straight sets exit: "I think we've lost a fair bit of respect from this; we're now going to be talked about for the next six months as the team that's bowed out in straight sets, which we've got to cop on the chin."

Finished second on the ladder and looked every bit a genuine premiership outfit, particularly with their arsenal of forward options.

Yet the Cats were unable to win a final - they blew a 33-point lead during the qualifying final against Colbinabbin, and were never in the hunt in the first semi-final against Mount Pleasant after trailing by 40 points at quarter-time in the wet.

Already appointed Brodie Collins as co-coach, and you'd expect the disappointing way the year ended to light a serious fuse over the pre-season for the Cats.

Record - 8-9

Percentage - 103.3%

Average for - 87

Average against - 84

Attack rank - 5th

Defence rank - 5th

Quarters won - 32 of 68

Avg. player points - 42.1

Players used - 36

Played every game - 5

Club best top five:

Kris Bedford - 41

Sam Kerridge - 37

Kaiden Skelton - 33

David Wright - 29

Mitch Dole - 27

Top goalkickers:

Mitch Dole - 55

Jed Lamb - 55

Kris Bedford - 21

William Kain - 16

Gavin Bowles - 10

Were the buzz side of the pre-season given their recruiting splash that was headlined by the signings of Sam Kerridge as coach and Jed Lamb straight from Carlton.

What unfolded was a roller-coaster of a season where the Demons were constantly playing catch-up after a sluggish start, while it essentially took until the last minute of their last home and away game to secure a finals berth.

Edged out their round 18 opponent Leitchville-Gunbower by 0.10 per cent thanks to their four-point win for the last spot in the finals, but fell at the first hurdle when beaten by Mount Pleasant in the elimination final.

Were the only team to have two 50-plus goalkickers in Mitch Dole and Lamb, both with 55, while Kerridge finished runner-up in the Cheatley Medal.

Overall as a club, it was a massive year for the Demons, winning not only the reserves and under-17 premierships, but four netball flags also.

Just got to get that senior team up and firing.

Record - 8-8

Percentage - 104.1%

Average for - 78

Average against - 75

Attack rank - 6th

Defence rank - 4th

Quarters won - 25 of 64

Avg. player points - 36.4

Players used - 38

Played every game - 10

Club best top five:

Logan Prout - 52

Brady Hore - 45

Matthew Pollock - 37

Lee Pollock - 26

Jack Dye - 25

Top goalkickers:

Jack Dye - 43

Tyler Jones - 37

Jake Vandongen - 28

Daniel Coates - 18

Logan Prout - 14

After playing in four-straight grand finals, the Bombers slid back to the pack and out of the top five in what was an interesting year.

Were 1-3 after four rounds, built momentum to get themselves back into the finals picture, on the eve of round 16 removed coach Danny Teskera due to a "lack of support from the playing group due to personal circumstances", and then missed out on finals by a mere 0.10 per cent.

Were involved in plenty of cracking contests throughout, including five games decided by a kick or less, while the Bombers had the league's Rising Star winner in gun half-back Logan Prout.

Record - 5-11

Percentage - 68.2%

Average for - 70

Average against - 103

Attack rank - 7th

Defence rank - 7th

Quarters won - 20 of 64

Avg. player points - 43.7

Players used - 35

Played every game - 9

Club best top five:

Bailey Boyack - 52

Romain Grenville - 36

Rhys Healey - 31

Zac Laffy - 26

Danny Brewster - 26

Top goalkickers:

Romain Grenville - 48

James Harney - 23

Darcy Laffy - 15

Danny Brewster - 15

Jared Laffy - 10

Better signs for the Bloods, who went from just one win in 2018 to five in 2019.

Improved their scoring by 20 points per game (the addition of forward Romain Grenville certainly helped that), while they trimmed 41 points off their average score against from 2018.

The signs of improvement were there from early when they beat reigning premier Leitchville-Gunbower in round three, while the Bloods' development was clearly on display in round 15 when they led North Bendigo the bulk of the day, before going down by just nine points.

Have appointed Dylan Friedberger as their new playing coach, while former coach Danny Brewster is now an assistant with the Narre South Saints.

Record - 1-15

Percentage - 54.5%

Average for - 59

Average against - 109

Attack rank - 8th

Defence rank - 8th

Quarters won - 17 of 64

Avg. player points - 39.1

Players used - 33

Played every game - 7

Club best top five:

Codie Price - 59

Dylan Robinson - 47

Brayden Klemke - 31

Thomas Pain - 29

Louis Piccolo - 24

Top goalkickers:

Jack Brooks - 18

Dylan Robinson - 17

Kai Cavallaro - 13

James Baker - 11

Codie Price - 11

Only win of the season for the Saints was a 34-point victory over Huntly in round 13, but were stiff not to notch three more given they also lost three by single figure margins.

Were able to improve defensively (+5 points per game) and defensively (+11 points per game) from 2018, while the 17 quarters they won were also up from the previous year's 14, which are signs of encouragement the Saints can take out of another season of rebuild.

Record - 1-15

Percentage - 46.6%

Average for - 51

Average against - 110

Attack rank - 9th

Defence rank - 9th

Quarters won - 12 of 64

Avg. player points - 36.7

Players used - 36

Played every game - 8

Club best top five:

Harry Whittle - 46

Jaydon Cowling - 39

Phil Ryan - 27

Stacy Fiske - 27

Jack Daley - 21

Top goalkickers:

Jack Burns - 18

Phil Ryan - 16

Jacob Greenwood - 12

Jack Daley - 12

Harry Whittle - 6

The Hawks were the big sliders of the competition, going from a team that finished top-three last year down to the wooden spoon.

Had a coaching change after round eight when Stacy Fiske took over from Denis Grinton, with the main focus of the year being the blooding of youth after an exodus of their travelling contingent.

While the Hawks were unable to add to their round four win over Huntly, six times in the second half of the season they improved their losing margin against an opponent from the first half as they fought the year right out to the final siren.

1. NORTH BENDIGO

Record - 15-1, 201.3%

2. LBU

Record - 13-3, 169.6%

3. COLBINABBIN

Record - 12-4, 144.6%

4. MOUNT PLEASANT

Record - 9-7, 104.1%

5. WHITE HILLS

Record - 8-8, 104.2%

6. LEITCHVILLE-

GUNBOWER

Record - 8-8, 104.1%

7. ELMORE

Record - 5-11, 68.2%

8. HEATHCOTE

Record - 1-15, 54.4%

9. HUNTLY

Record - 1-15, 46.5%

...........................................

ELIMINATION FINAL:

Mount Pleasant 15.13 (103) def White Hills 14.10 (94)

QUALIFYING FINAL:

Colbinabbin 20.9 (129) def LBU 15.10 (100)

1ST SEMI-FINAL:

Mount Pleasant 15.12 (102) def LBU 11.13 (79)

2ND SEMI-FINAL:

Colbinabbin 16.8 (104) def North Bendigo 11.12 (78)

PRELIMINARY FINAL:

North Bendigo 24.12 (156) def Mount Pleasant 10.6 (66)

GRAND FINAL:

North Bendigo 10.10 (70) def Colbinabbin 4.10 (34)

...........................................

14.13 (97) def Horsham District 8.14 (62)

Best - J. Findlay, A. Craig, R. Irwin, T. Clarke, B. Phillips, D. Richards

...........................................

(includes finals)

95 - Ben Weightman

(Mount Pleasant)

67 - Brady Herdman

(North Bendigo)

55 - Mitch Dole

(White Hills)

55 - Jed Lamb

(White Hills)

...........................................

FOOTBALL:

SENIORS

North Bendigo

RESERVES

White Hills

UNDER-17S

White Hills

.....................

NETBALL:

A GRADE

White Hills

A RESERVE

White Hills

B GRADE

White Hills

B RESERVE

White Hills

UNDER-17

Mount Pleasant

UNDER-15

LBU

LBU 26.12 (168) def Heathcote 4.8 (32)

North Bendigo 30.11 (191) def Huntly 9.7 (61)

Colbinabbin 18.19 (127) def Elmore 12.8 (80)

Leitchville 13.8 (86) def Mount Pleasant 10.12 (72)

White Hills bye

North Bendigo 17.12 (114) def Leitchville 6.8 (44)

Mount Pleasant 18.14 (122) def White Hills 11.6 (72)

LBU 17.11 (113) def Colbinabbin 11.11 (77)

Elmore 14.13 (97) def Huntly 14.10 (94)

Heathcote bye

LBU 17.12 (114) def Huntly 6.8 (44)

North Bendigo 14.12 (96) def White Hills 8.8 (56)

Colbinabbin 10.18 (78) def Heathcote 7.10 (52)

Elmore 10.12 (72) def Leitchville 8.19 (67)

Mount Pleasant bye

White Hills 22.12 (144) def Elmore 6.13 (49)

LBU 8.9 (57) def Leitchville 6.5 (41)

Mount Pleasant 14.12 (96) def North Bendigo 11.15 (81)

Huntly 10.14 (74) def Heathcote 9.12 (66)

Colbinabbin bye

Colbinabbin 25.4 (154) def Huntly 7.5 (47)

Mount Pleasant 17.15 (117) def Elmore 8.4 (52)

Leitchville 12.13 (85) def Heathcote 12.7 (79)

LBU 14.5 (89) def White Hills 13.7 (85)

North Bendigo bye

North Bendigo 27.15 (177) def Elmore 9.11 (65)

White Hills 22.13 (145) def Heathcote 12.6 (78)

Colbinabbin 9.10 (64) def Leitchville 6.12 (48)

Mount Pleasant 15.16 (106) def LBU 15.11 (101)

Huntly bye

Leitchville 26.10 (166) def Huntly 6.6 (42)

North Bendigo 11.13 (79) def LBU 8.7 (55)

Mount Pleasant 14.11 (95) def Heathcote 10.18 (78)

Colbinabbin 8.20 (68) def White Hills 9.12 (66)

Elmore bye

North Bendigo 23.26 (164) def Heathcote 6.3 (39)

LBU 20.12 (132) def Elmore 5.8 (38)

White Hills 16.14 (110) def Huntly 7.10 (52)

Colbinabbin 16.6 (102) def Mount Pleasant 8.9 (57)

Leitchville-Gunbower bye

Elmore 21.20 (146) def Heathcote 7.10 (52)

Mount Pleasant 23.6 (144) def Huntly 8.8 (56)

North Bendigo 8.12 (60) def Colbinabbin 6.11 (47)

Leitchville 14.6 (90) def White Hills 12.8 (80)

LBU bye

Colbinabbin 21.19 (145) def Elmore 9.8 (62)

North Bendigo 15.16 (106) def Huntly 2.11 (23)

LBU 16.13 (109) def Heathcote 5.9 (39)

Leitchville 12.14 (86) def Mount Pleasant 12.8 (80)

White Hills bye

North Bendigo 12.11 (83) def Leitchville 3.7 (25)

White Hills 11.11 (77) def Mount Pleasant 5.9 (39)

Elmore 7.14 (56) def Huntly 4.13 (37)

LBU 11.3 (69) def Colbinabbin 8.8 (56)

Heathcote bye

North Bendigo 19.15 (129) def White Hills 9.11 (65)

Leitchville 16.13 (109) def Elmore 8.8 (56)

LBU 13.12 (90) def Huntly 7.7 (49)

Colbinabbin 15.9 (99) def Heathcote 9.6 (60)

Mount Pleasant bye

North Bendigo 22.13 (145) def Mount Pleasant 5.7 (37)

LBU 20.7 (127) def Leitchville 7.10 (52)

Heathcote 7.21 (63) def Huntly 3.11 (29)

White Hills 8.11 (59) def Elmore 4.9 (33)

Colbinabbin bye

LBU 25.11 (161) def White Hills 10.7 (67) - season opener

Colbinabbin 12.17 (89) def Huntly 5.5 (35)

Leitchville 14.14 (98) def Heathcote 10.9 (69)

Mount Pleasant 14.11 (95) def Elmore 11.20 (86)

North Bendigo bye

LBU 17.13 (115) def Mount Pleasant 11.7 (73)

White Hills 14.9 (93) def Heathcote 9.6 (60)

North Bendigo 12.19 (91) def Elmore 12.10 (82)

Colbinabbin 8.8 (56) def Leitchville 8.4 (52)

Huntly bye

Mount Pleasant 21.16 (142) def Heathcote 10.8 (68)

Leitchville 17.5 (107) def Huntly 7.10 (52)

Colbinabbin 16.12 (108) def White Hills 11.11 (77)

North Bendigo 20.7 (127) def LBU 19.12 (126)

Elmore bye

North Bendigo 17.21 (123) def Heathcote 3.5 (23)

Colbinabbin 14.17 (101) def Mount Pleasant 4.11 (35)

LBU 17.11 (113) def Elmore 9.6 (60)

White Hills 16.5 (101) def Huntly 10.11 (71)

Leitchville-Gunbower bye

Mount Pleasant 16.11 (107) def Huntly 7.12 (54)

North Bendigo 13.10 (88) def Colbinabbin 11.11 (77)

White Hills 12.18 (90) def Leitchville 11.20 (86)

Elmore 13.12 (90) def Heathcote 13.11 (89)

LBU bye

Elimination final:

Mount Pleasant 15.13 (103) def White Hills 14.10 (94)

Qualifying final:

Colbinabbin 20.9 (129) def LBU 15.10 (100)

1st semi-final:

Mount Pleasant 15.12 (102) def LBU 11.13 (79)

2nd semi-final:

Colbinabbin 16.8 (104) def North Bendigo 11.12 (78)

Preliminary final:

North Bendigo 24.12 (156) def Mount Pleasant 10.6 (66)

Grand final:

North Bendigo 10.10 (70) def Colbinabbin 4.10 (34)

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