Finals time: Joe Barlow in action for Colbinabbin earlier this season. Photo: Colbinabbin Football Netball Club
It has been a long time coming, but after a three-year absence, finals action is set to kick off in the Heathcote District Football Netball League this weekend for the first time since 2019.
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After three years, five teams in both the netball and football will begin a journey they hope will end with a premiership.
In the football, Lockington-Bamawm United’s quest for its first premiership since 2014 will begin with a week off.
The Cats ended up on top of the ladder for the second year running, with their first-place finish earning them a first-round bye.
LBU will await the winner of the first qualifying final between second-placed Mount Pleasant and third-placed Colbinabbin, with those two sides set to do battle at Lockington Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The two sides should be familiar opponents after meeting in the final round of the season, with Mounts edging out the Hoppers by two points, 74-72.
The league’s other football clash will see North Bendigo face off against White Hills in a win-or-go-home elimination final on Sunday at Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve.
The winner between the Bulldogs and Demons will then take on the loser of Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin.
In action: Mount Pleasant's Olivia Slattery looks to pass to a teammate. Photo: Steve Huntley
On the netball court, White Hills earned itself an opening-round bye after claiming the minor premiership.
The Demons are also back-to-back reigning premiers, having defeated Colbinabbin in the grand finals in both 2018 and 2019.
White Hills will be hoping to reach its fifth grand final in a row, while the Hoppers have made the big dance each season since 2014.
The Dees’ nearest challengers Elmore, who finished second, will take on third-placed Mount Pleasant at Lockington Recreation Reserve on Saturday, with the winner going on to face the Demons for a place in the grand final.
The loser will get a second chance, facing off against the winner of Sunday’s elimination final between Colbinabbin and Huntly at Colbinabbin.
The Hawks survived a four-team battle for the last finals spot that went down to the final round, narrowly beating out Heathcote, LBU and Leitchville-Gunbower to finish fifth.
HDFNL finals fixtures
Football
Qualifying final - Mount Pleasant vs Colbinabbin. 2.15pm on Saturday, August 13 at Lockington Recreation Reserve.
Elimination final - North Bendigo vs White Hills. 2.15pm on Sunday, August 14 at Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve.
Netball
Qualifying final - Elmore vs Mount Pleasant. 2.30pm on Saturday, August 13 at Lockington Recreation Reserve.
Elimination final - Colbinabbin vs Huntly. 2pm on Sunday, August 14 at Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve.
