READ MORE - BFNL decides against returning to play this weekend

A LOOK at where each of the Heathcote District league's football and netball teams are at heading into the re-start of the season this Saturday.

FOOTBALL (2^nd, 8-3) - had strong momentum with five wins in a row by an average of 64 points before the season was put on pause again. Sitting second on the ladder, but will have to wait an extra week before re-starting their season with the bye this weekend.

NETBALL (2^nd, 10-1) - the perennial power is once again right in the thick of the action at the pointy end of the ladder. After losing their season-opener to Elmore 47-29 have since peeled off 10 wins in a row, nine of which have been by double-figure margins.

REMAINING GAMES - bye, v Mount Pleasant, v Elmore, v LBU.

FOOTBALL (7^th, 3-7) - going to be another year out of the finals for the Bloods. Just the three wins so far and a tough draw ahead with three top-five teams to play in their last four games.

NETBALL (1^st, 10-0) - favourites for the flag in what has so far been an unblemished season with 10 wins from 10 games. Only once has an opposition got within 20 goals of the Bloods, further highlighting their dominance.

REMAINING GAMES - v North Bendigo, v Heathcote, v Colbinabbin, v Mount Pleasant.

FOOTBALL (8^th, 2-9) - their last game was a 115-point defeat to North Bendigo and only two victories for the year - which is an improvement on 2019's one win - in what's going to be a seventh-consecutive season out of the finals.

NETBALL (7^th, 3-8) - like the senior football, have won more games than 2019's tally of two, but victories have again been hard to come by with only three so far, but should get at least one more against LBU in round 17.

REMAINING GAMES - v Mount Pleasant, v Elmore, v LBU, v Huntly.

FOOTBALL (6^th, 4-7) - been a year of solid improvement for the Hawks with four wins bettering their 2019 wooden-spoon season of just one victory. 10 points outside the top five suggests finals are still mathematically possible, but highly doubtful.

NETBALL (6^th, 5-6) - like the senior football team, sitting in sixth position. Are six points outside the top five ahead of a final four games with two opponents below them and two above them.

REMAINING GAMES - v Leitchville-Gunbower, v White Hills, v North Bendigo, v Heathcote.

FOOTBALL (9^th, 0-11) - can the Bombers snare a win among their final three games and avoid a winless season? Their three chances come against Huntly (a), White Hills (h) and North Bendigo (a), all of which they will need plenty to go right to cause an upset.

NETBALL (8^th, 1-10) - similar to the football, it has been a tough year on the netball court for the Bombers. Only win came against LBU in round seven (43-39) and considering they miss out on their return match against the Cats, tough to see them pulling off a second victory from here.

REMAINING GAMES - v Huntly, bye, v White Hills, v North Bendigo.

FOOTBALL (1^st, 10-0) - living up to their pre-season status as the flag favourites. 10-0 and with a percentage of 298.3, look headed for the top-of-the-ladder finish, but do have a challenging run with games against 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th all still to come. Have had an extended break given they had the bye the weekend before lockdown, so haven't played since beating Elmore by 75 points on July 3.

NETBALL (9^th, 0-10) - in stark contrast to the senior football team, the Cats are winless on the netball court, with the team's last victory still round one of 2019 when they beat Heathcote by 2. Can they get the monkey off their back in round 17 when they host the Saints?

REMAINING GAMES - v White Hills, v North Bendigo, v Heathcote, v Colbinabbin.

FOOTBALL (5^th, 6-5) - have a 10-point buffer inside the top five and given still have games to come against lower-placed Heathcote and Elmore, would need to capitulate from here to miss the finals. Had won their previous two games before this latest standstill.

NETBALL (3^rd, 6-4-1) - were riding a three-game winning streak during which they had climbed from sixth to third before their momentum was halted by the lockdown. Should at least bank two more wins against Heathcote and Elmore, but with Colbinabbin still to come as well that could be a major stumbling block towards holding on to the double chance.

REMAINING GAMES - v Heathcote, v Colbinabbin, bye, v Elmore.

FOOTBALL (4^th, 7-3) - certainly not the hype around the Bulldogs of years gone by, but the reigning premiers were starting to have an ominous look about them before the season was paused. They are a game outside the top three and will start favourites in three of their last four matches, so still very much in the double chance equation.

NETBALL (5^th, 6-4) - have a six-point buffer inside the top five, with Huntly - who they play in round 17 - the only side that can knock the Bulldogs out from here.

REMAINING GAMES - v Elmore, v LBU, v Huntly, v Leitchville-Gunbower.

FOOTBALL (3^rd, 8-3) - how will the Demons emerge from lockdown No.2? There was a clear drop-off in form during their five games after the first pause when they went 2-3, and given they have also had their season-opening win over Elmore retracted, they now have a fight on their hands to retain their double chance. Who'd have thought that when they were 7-0?

NETBALL (4^th, 6-4-1) - not the dominant force of years gone by as shown by their four losses. To give that perspective, the Demons had only lost five games in their previous three seasons. Still, they are only percentage off the top three as they hunt the double chance.

REMAINING GAMES - v LBU, v Huntly, v Leitchville-Gunbower, bye.

SENIOR FOOTBALL:

1. LBU - 44

2. Colbinabbin - 36

3. White Hills - 36

4. North Bendigo - 32

5. Mount Pleasant - 28

6. Huntly - 18

7. Elmore - 16

8. Heathcote - 10

9. L'ville-Gunbower - 4

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A GRADE NETBALL:

1. Elmore - 44

2. Colbinabbin - 44

3. Mount Pleasant - 30

4. White Hills - 30

5. North Bendigo - 28

6. Huntly - 22

7. Heathcote - 14

8. L'ville-Gunbower - 8

9. LBU - 4

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