The Addy's top 50 ranked HDFNL players of season 2021 - consistent Craig takes out No.1 spot

"EVEN if there's only a one per cent chance we'll get to play, keep yourself ready."

That has been the key message Colbinabbin coach Julian Bull has drilled into his players in recent weeks as the fate of the Heathcote District Football-Netball League season hangs by a thread through another COVID lockdown standstill.

Like all winter sporting competitions, the HDFNL season has been shrouded by constant uncertainty with the threat of snap Victorian lockdowns that brought games to a halt always lurking in the background.

Having had to abandon four of its 16 home and away rounds, the HDFNL finals series has been derailed following this latest regional Victorian lockdown that was evoked on Saturday, August 21.

While three of the senior finalists - North Bendigo, White Hills and Mount Pleasant - have been eliminated without having had the chance to play a final, the HDFNL has kept the door ajar for a grand final day at Huntly on September 18.

Provided premier Daniel Andrews announces by midday this Thursday an easing of regional Victorian restrictions that would allow for teams to get a week of training in before September 18 and that some spectators would be permitted to attend the premiership battles, the HDFNL will play grand finals for its nine grades of football and netball between the top two teams.

While it appears a long-shot at best - particularly given the league's caveat of having a crowd - the senior clash would feature top side Lockington-Bamawm United taking on second-placed Colbinabbin.

The decision to try to forge ahead with a grand final day on September 18 followed a meeting on Thursday night where the majority of clubs voted to keep the season alive ahead of what has been a forecast easing of regional Victorian restrictions at some stage next week.

"We've always known there could be a chance of a shorter finals series and that we could potentially be going straight in (to the grand final) if that's how it played out," Bull said at the weekend.

"This has been our message to all the boys... even if there's only a one per cent chance we'll get to play, keep yourself ready.

"Until we know any different that will continue to be the message.

"I suppose you can be a bit torn in that would it have just been easier to call it all off a couple of weeks ago?

"Or the fact that you've now done 10 months worth of work, to hold out for these last couple of weeks in the hope, no matter how slight the chance, that you could get back and have a conclusion to the year would be the preferred option.

"Whether you're in it (grand final) or not, it would be nice to see the year concluded on the field rather than incomplete."

Should the grand final go ahead Colbinabbin will field a severely undermanned side given the Grasshoppers would be without their Melbourne cohort that includes players of the calibre of ball magnet Ben Southam, gun half-back Ben Barton, midfield workhorse Lachlan Ezard, Dan Hill, Nat Nixon, Hugh McMurtrie, and Geordie McMurtrie.

The Grasshoppers also have ruckman Hadleigh Sirett based in regional Victoria's biggest COVID hot spot, Shepparton.

"In saying that, we played a really good game of football against Elmore (won by 91 points in round 17) without our Melbourne players and we still feel we've got a deep list we'd have to pick from," Bull said.

"Yes, we would be compromised, but it's not as though we wouldn't still give ourselves a chance."

Lockington-Bamawm United has been the clear standout team of the season; the Cats are undefeated with a 12-0 record and monster percentage of 339.0.

In their only meeting so far the Cats belted the Grasshoppers by 92 points in round two.

Only Huntly (23 points in round six) has got within seven goals of the powerful Cats, who if there is no grand final played will be recognised as "minor premiers" in the league's 2021 history records.

While the league had earlier indicated that if no grand finals are played the teams which finished on top of the ladder would be awarded premierships, that was rescinded to the "minor premier" tag at Thursday night's meeting.

"We'll roll with the punches... we've done that all season with the challenges that have been thrown up and I don't see why a one-off grand final like this would be any different," LBU coach Brodie Collins said.

"Any grand final you get to play in is obviously exciting, so we'll see how it plays out if we get the opportunity. The boys are all still really keen."

Should grand final day go ahead, eight of the league's nine clubs would have representation, including Colbinabbin in both the senior football and A Grade netball.

Colbinabbin would play unbeaten Elmore in the A Grade netball.

LBU:

Played - 12

Record - 12-0, 339.9%

Average for - 131

Average against - 39

Quarters won - 44 of 48

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COLBINABBIN:

Played - 12

Record - 9-3, 184.7%

Average for - 100

Average against - 54

Quarters won - 36 of 48

FOOTBALL:

Seniors: LBU v Colbinabbin.

Reserves: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.

U-18: Huntly v White Hills.

NETBALL:

A Grade: Elmore v Colbinabbin.

A Reserve: Mount Pleasant v North Bendigo.

B Grade: North Bendigo v Huntly.

B Reserve: Elmore v Mount Pleasant.

U-17: Elmore v Leitchville-Gunbower.

U-15: Elmore v Leitchville-Gunbower.

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