Round 11 of the Heathcote District Football League delivered a result that sent shock waves around the competition.

Reigning premier Mount Pleasant is invincible no more after a loss to Huntly, while Colbinabbin missed a big opportunity in defeat to North Bendigo and Lockington-Bamawm United returned to form against White Hills.

Lockington-Bamawm United kept White Hills at arm’s-length, beating the Demons by 33 points.

The Cats progressively built their lead at Lockington Recreation Reserve, winning each of the first three quarters, with their defensive effort notable as they held White Hills to one goal in both the first and third terms.

Lockington kicked six majors to four in the first half to take a 6.7 (43) to 4.2 (26) advantage into half-time, before producing its best football in the third quarter, booting four goals to one.

Up by 34 points, the Cats took their foot off the gas in the fourth term as White Hills narrowly won the quarter, but it was redundant in the overall picture as favoured Lockington met expectations in a solid 13.9 (87) to 8.6 (54) win.

Cat Campbell Keele led all goal-kickers on the day with three, and was named on the best players list alongside Bowden Stone, Marcus Angove, Patrick Keele, William Walshe, and Nick Smart.

The Demons did win the previous meeting between the two sides in round two, which was their last victory in the competition.

Lockington was able to avenge that defeat while returning to the winners’ list after the previous week’s heavy loss at North Bendigo.

The Cats moved up a place on the ladder into fourth after fifth-placed Heathcote defeated sixth-placed Leitchville-Gunbower.

Next up Lockington faces reigning premier and league leader Mount Pleasant away from home.

Huntly v Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant were shocked at the weekend, losing its first game of 2026 to lowly Huntly as the Hawks ran out 42-point winners at Strauch Reserve.

Both sides suffered from accuracy issues in front of goal throughout the clash, which severely impacted the Mounts, who went goalless in the first, third, and fourth quarters.

The third term was when Huntly stamped its authority on the match, kicking four majors to boost its lead to 29 at three-quarter time, after holding a 4.7 (31) to 3.6 (24) advantage at the main break.

Pleasant ended up only scoring seven behinds for the entire second half, culminating in its lowest score in a match since it kicked 5.2 (32) against Leitchville-Gunbower back in June 2024.

The 3.13 (31) to 10.13 (73) loss also brought the top four sides on the ladder closer together, as the Mounts — still first — are now only two games clear of fourth-placed Lockington, who they host this weekend.

Cam Carter’s team was unable to slow down Hawk Abe Sladden, who dominated with a five-goal haul.

Pleasant spread its goals across three separate players while naming Jett Nicholas, William Wallace, Joel Wharton, Caelan Smith, Brodie Montague and Joey Bell in its best.

Colbinabbin v North Bendigo

In arguably the round’s most anticipated clash, North Bendigo continued its strong form with a 31-point victory at Colbinabbin.

Colbo were up against it throughout the first half, as, although it kicked two goals in both the first and second quarters, the Bulldogs were a touch better with three majors in each period, taking a 6.5 (41) to 4.2 (26) lead into half-time.

The Grasshoppers came out a different side in the second half, a strong third period — where they booted five majors to three — seeing them suddenly trail by only a point at three-quarter time.

But the visitors stormed home in the fourth, kicking six goals to one in the period to run out a 15.7 (97) to 10.6 (66) winner, registering a third straight win and now being only two points off Colbo on the ladder.

Alex Carr was the home side’s leading goal-kicker on the day with four, the Hopper now having booted three or more majors in each of his last three outings.

Meanwhile, Angus Martin, Benjamin Barton, Jude Ryan, Tanner Nally, Josh Smithson and Sam Ryan were named in Colbo’s best.

The loss brought an end to a four-game winning streak for Linton Jacobs’ team, which was also unable to capitalise on Mount Pleasant’s surprise defeat, as a win for Colbo would have put it into first on the ladder via percentage.

The Hoppers will travel to White Hills this Saturday for their next fixture.

In round 11’s only other game, Heathcote returned from a week off by clinching a narrow 13-point win over Leitchville-Gunbower.

The Saints were able to keep the Bombers at arms-length throughout the match despite attacking struggles in the second and fourth quarters, Heathcote prevailing 10.13 (73) to 9.6 (60).

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Sunday, 22nd June 2031

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