The Heathcote District Football Netball League finals got under way for the first time in three years last weekend, with a plethora of post-season action on Saturday and Sunday.
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Mount Pleasant and White Hills both had wins on the football field, while Elmore and Colbinabin took the next step in their finals journey with victories on the netball court.
Starting off four weeks of finals football, Mount Pleasant booked its ticket to the semi-final with a 26-point win over Colbinabbin on Saturday.
A strong start saw the Mounts get the jump on Colbinabbin and they never looked back as they pulled away to claim a 14.10 (94) to 10.8 (68) victory.
It was Mount Pleasant’s third win over Colbinabbin this season and it will now go on to face minor premier Lockington-Bamawm United this weekend for a spot in the grand final.
It was the second week in a row the Mounts and Hoppers had faced off, after the two sides met in the final game of the regular season.
After a narrow two-point win to close out the season, the boys in blue put in a strong performance to claim a four-goal victory.
Mounts came out firing at Lockington Recreation Reserve, booting five goals to Colbinabbin’s one behind in the opening term. They led by 33 points at half-time and 46 points at the final change, having kicked 11 goals to Colbo’s four through the first three quarters.
The Hoppers did their best to stage a comeback in the final term, but despite kicking six goals in the fourth quarter — more than they had in the rest of the game combined — it wasn’t enough.
Travis Baird and Jesse Tuohey were the Mounts’ leading goal-kickers with three apiece, while Jed Brain had two goals for Colbinabbin.
Fortunately for Colbo, its third-place finish earned it a second chance in the finals, although it won’t be able to slip up again.
The Hoppers will face White Hills this weekend, after the Demons pulled off an upset 16-point win over North Bendigo on Sunday.
The Bulldogs topped White Hills the last time the two sides met back in round 12, but it was the Demons who won when it mattered most, defeating North Bendigo 13.13 (91) to 11.9 (75).
White Hills trailed by 14 points at half time, but four goals to North Bendigo’s one in the third term saw the Dees lead at the final change, with five goals to three in the final term securing victory.
James Davies booted six goals for the Demons, cancelling out Aarryn Craig’s five goals for the Bulldogs.
Davies, Jack Fallon, Bayden Fallon and Blake Hogan were the main movers and shakers for White Hills.
On the netball court, Elmore had the joy of being the first netball side to win a final since 2019 after it defeated Mount Pleasant 71-42 on Saturday.
It was the Bloods’ third win of the year over the Mounts, with Elmore claiming its biggest win of the three in their most important meeting.
The Bloods won 59-33 in the opening round of the season and 76-41 in round 10.
They will now take on White Hills in the semi-final, with a trip to the grand final on the line.
The Demons and Bloods finished first and second on the ladder, and they have claimed one win each in their two previous encounters, the only on-court losses for each side.
Elmore was victorious 62-55 back in round five, with White Hills avenging that defeat with a nine-goal triumph in round 14.
Mount Pleasant will now take on Colbinabbin in a win-or-go-home semi-final after the Hoppers claimed a 41-35 win in their elimination final against Huntly on Sunday.
The Hawks came out hot early, but Colbo was able to withstand the pressure and built a four-goal lead at half time.
The Hoppers extended their advantage to nine goals by the final change, and withstood a Hawks comeback in the final term to win by six goals.
Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant met twice this season, with the Mounts emerging victorious on both occassions.
HDFL qualifying final
Mount Pleasant: 5.3, 8.6, 11.9, 14.10 (94)
Colbinabbin: 0.1, 3.3, 4.5, 10.8 (68)
Goals
Mount Pleasant: Travis Baird, Jesse Tuohey 3, Ben Weightman 2, Adam Baird, Billy Mahony, Luke Marchesi, Riley Mcnamara, Dean Tydell, Bailey White
Colbinabbin: Jed Brain 2, Michael Battista, Todd Clarke, Logan Fitzgerald, Hugh McMurtrie, Sam Ryan, Stephen Tuohey (unknown 2)
Best
Mount Pleasant: Chris Down, Billy Mahony, Jesse Tuohey, Bryce Hinneberg, Ben Weightman, Daniel Whiting
Colbinabbin: Benjamin Barton, Todd Clarke, Thomas Hill, David Price, William Lowe, Sam Ryan
HDFL elimination final
North Bendigo: 4.0, 7.3, 8.4, 11.9 (75)
White Hills: 2.3, 4.7, 8.11,13.13 (91)
Goals
North Bendigo: Aarryn Craig 5, Jordan Ford 3, Hakeem Johnson 2, Dylan Klemm
White Hills: James Davies 6, Matt Sawyer 3, Liam Bartels, Gavin Bowles, Bayden Fallon, Nathan Moffat
Best
North Bendigo: Manny Thalasinos, Aarryn Craig, Sam Demeo, Riley Paetow, Nicholas Waterson, Ryan Alford
White Hills: Jack Fallon, James Davies, Bayden Fallon, Blake Hogan, Mitchell Dole, Nicholas Wallace