HDFNL | Bloods run cold after hot start, LBU aiming to banish the Demons in round one

By Josh Huntly

Apr 4, 2022

Ready to pounce: Nathan Bacon (pictured) and LBU get their season under way on Saturday. Photo: Steve Huntley. Photo by steve Huntley

Elmore Football Club sprung a first-quarter surprise against Colbinabbin in its first game of the Heathcote and District football league, but the Hoppers rebounded strongly to claim a strong first-up win.

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In front of a bumper Saturday night crowd at MJ Morgan Reserve — one of two fixtures for the weekend alongside North Bendigo vs Heathcote — the Bloods’ five-goal to three first-quarter laid an exciting platform against the highly touted Colbinabbin.

But the Bloods ran cold after quarter time as the Hoppers blitzed the visitors on the back of six goals to Laine Fitzgerald.

In a tale of two quarters, Elmore went goalless in the second while Colbo piled on seven, as Fitzgerald and the Hoppers’ forward line ran rampant.

Sam McHale toiled hard as Elmore’s best player on the day but Colbinabbin, which finished second in 2021, showed its class through the middle and down forward, booting 12 goals to four in the second half to run away a comfortable victor.

Bloods co-coaches Dylan Gordon and Dylan Friedberger booted two goals apiece for Elmore, while Sebastian De Napoli added two of his own.

Tannar Cerrone, Bailey Sawyer and Matt Gilmour worked hard for Elmore amid the Hoppers’ onslaught.

While the result didn’t play to the Bloods’ expectations, the club saw a trio of Holmbergs suit up together in the senior squad, with Max, Zac and Rhys donning the red and white together.

Elmore will play its first home game of the season at Elmore Recreation Reserve this Saturday, April 9, against Mount Pleasant.

In last season’s corresponding fixture against the Mounts, Elmore succumbed to a 42-point defeat, but if the Bloods can carry their first quarter form into next week it will shape as a fascinating contest.

Meanwhile Lockington-Bamawm United will suit up for its first encounter since its barnstorming 2021 season, one where it was undefeated until the HDFNL season was cancelled.

LBU travels to White Hills to face the Demons, a side Brodie Collin’s squad conquered by more than 100 points in both encounters.

The Cats have waved goodbye to a quartet of senior players in the off-season, with Tom Holman (Kyabram) and James McPhee (Rochester) returning to the Goulburn Valley League, while Pat Gardiner and Ben McPhee have relocated.

LBU finished the 2021 season as minor premier, undefeated after 12 games.

Matt and Charlie Hinks return to the Cats, however, while the experienced Riley McIvor joins from Bendigo League club Eaglehawk.

In the other standalone HDFNL fixture of the weekend, North Bendigo overcame a plucky Heathcote by 10 points in club stalwart Jordan Ford’s 150th game.

Trailing by 34 points heading into the last quarter, the Saints kicked seven goals in the final term to draw within range of the Bulldogs but left their run too late to fall 17.6-108 to 18.10-118.

On the court, the Heathcote District netball league’s top two sides of 2021 went head-to-head in a round one battle of the heavyweights.

Elmore, undefeated last season, picked up where it left off with a 14-goal win over rival Colbinabbin.

The Gabe Richards and Allira Holmes-led Bloods traded blows with the Hoppers for much of the game before pulling away late to get their A-grade season off to the perfect start, 55 goals to 41.