The latest round of Heathcote District Football League action saw several one-sided encounters alongside one stunning result.

Lockington-Bamawm United picked up its second straight win against Leitchville-Gunbower, Mount Pleasant continued to beat all-comers, with Elmore its latest victim, while contender Colbinabbin lost to Heathcote at home in the most eye-catching result from the weekend.

After returning to winning ways against Heathcote in round four, LBU was bolstered by the inclusion of former Essendon star Dyson Heppell for its meeting with Leitchville-Gunbower, the match headlining the club’s Mates for Men’s Health Day.

The Bombers started stronger at Lockington Recreation Reserve, booting three majors to Locky’s one to take an 11-point cushion into the first change.

But the Cats rebounded from a slow start in devastating fashion, starting in the second quarter when they kicked five goals to Leitchville’s one, suddenly having a 6.9 (45) to 4.2 (26) lead at half-time.

Locky’s defensive solidity has stood out in its wins so far and Jayden Howe’s team further tightened the screws on the Bombers at that end after the main break, only conceding four behinds in the third term while adding another two majors of its own to lead by 28 heading into the fourth.

Lockington ended up kicking 10 goals to Leitchville’s two after the quarter-time break, booting another three to the Bombers’ one in the final term to run out an 11.14 (80) to 5.10 (40) winner.

Despite being very much a midfielder during his AFL career, Locky was able to juice three goals from Heppell in his one-off appearance for the club, while the Cats’ best included Tyler Phillips, Brayden Hull, Nick Smart, Jack O’Callaghan, Bowden Stone and Joseph Wolfe.

Next up, Lockington travels to take on winless Huntly, aiming for three wins in a row as it has now climbed up to third on the ladder.

Elmore vs Mount Pleasant

Elmore headed into its meeting with Mount Pleasant in good spirits after picking up a first win of the season last time out, although the reigning premier presented the Bloods’ toughest challenge so far.

Luke Freeman’s less-fancied side made an excellent start at Elmore Recreation Reserve, with Elmore taking a slender lead into quarter-time after booting three majors to Mount Pleasant’s two in the first term.

The second quarter was also tightly contested, Elmore kicking one goal while Mounts booted two, with some inaccuracy from the Mounts preventing them from pulling away. However, the visitors still took a 4.10 (34) to 4.4 (28) lead into half-time.

Mount Pleasant took a half to find its best form against Lockington back in round three, when it eventually ran out a 59-point winner, and a similar scenario played out against Elmore.

Cam Carter’s team flexed its muscles in the third quarter, booting six majors to two to lead by 32 points at three-quarter time.

The final term was even more dominant, the Bloods held goalless as Mount Pleasant piled on another four goals to win 14.15 (99) to 6.6 (42).

The result marks a 5-0 start to 2026 and underlines the Mounts as undoubtedly the benchmark in the competition at the moment.

The visitors’ 57-point win was built off three majors for Ben Weightman, while Edward Harrop, Jaxson Nihill and Adam Triplett all contributed a pair of goals. Elmore’s leading goal-kicker on the day was Ashton Sinn with two.

The Bloods named Charlie O’Toole, Matthew Filo, Peter Rothacker, Lachie Munro, Rhys Holmberg and Matthew O’Dwyer in their best, with the Mounts’ list including Nihill, Jett Nicholas, Brodie Montague, Xavier Carter, William Wallace and Jack Hickman.

Given its perfect record, Mount Pleasant sits on top of the ladder, now with a two-game lead on second and third, which it will look to maintain against North Bendigo in round six, while Elmore travels to face a resurgent Heathcote outfit.

Colbinabbin vs Heathcote

Colbinabbin had a perfect record three rounds into the new season before it met its match in Mount Pleasant last time out, which inflicted a first defeat on the Grasshoppers, who were expected to bounce back against Heathcote in round five.

The Saints had already matched their wins total from 2025 so far this season and proved early on they would be no easy beat for Colbo, the two sides exchanging four goals each in the first quarter.

Nothing could separate the sides in the second term either, once again trading the same number of majors with three each and setting up an anticipated second half as they went into half-time locked at 7.5 (47) on the scoreboard.

Onlookers may have expected the favoured Grasshoppers to find their feet after regrouping at the main break. However, the opposite was true as Heathcote held Colbo to just 1.3 in the third quarter, adding two more of its own to lead by a goal heading into the fourth.

The final quarter did not see much goalmouth action at either end as the sides continued what was a game-long arm-wrestle, one that the visiting Saints would win thanks to one more major, Colbo shockingly goalless in the fourth and losing at home 8.9 (57) to 10.10 (70).

Laine Fitzgerald contributed the most of Colbo’s eight majors across the first three quarters with two, while Jude Ryan, Tanner Nally, Toby Howlett, Nathan Basile, Angus Martin and Charlie Ryan were named the Hoppers’ best.

Successive defeats means second-placed Colbinabbin has now fallen two wins behind league-leader Mount Pleasant on the ladder, with a surging Lockington also now level on points. The Grasshoppers will look to break their mini rut against Leitchville-Gunbower in round six.

In round five’s other game, North Bendigo moved up to fourth on the ladder with a huge percentage boost after thrashing White Hills by 113 points.

The two sides were level at quarter-time before the Bulldogs clicked into gear, kicking 21 majors to four across the final three quarters to win 24.16 (160) to 7.5 (47).

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Wednesday, 31st January 2029

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