Mounts fall to North Bendigo in thrilling decider

Goals from the likes of Mitchell Bennett, Brodie Leonard-Shannon and Ben Weightman in the opening quarter had Pleasant up 25-11 at quarter-time, with its composure in lowering the eyes going inside 50 key to the good start.

The Mounts continued to look the more connected unit at the start of the second term, with their work rate — particularly being exemplified by Alex Wharton — key as the margin was pushed out to 29.

But North Bendigo finally started to work itself into the contest from the midway point of the quarter, finishing the first half by booting three of its last four majors.

The Bulldogs began to find midfield options with more ease and their forwards started to create more separation on the lead, with Pleasant also slowly allowing unforced errors to creep into its game.

The Mounts still took a 7.4 (46) to 4.6 (30) lead into half-time and maintained the three-goal advantage early in the third term, before a big downpour came — both in the conditions and a Bulldogs avalanche.

North Bendigo adjusted quicker to the sudden heavy rain, kicking four straight goals to suddenly hold a 10-point lead heading towards three-quarter time.

Bulldogs forward Dylan Klemm was dominant, displaying strong marking ability as he booted three majors in the term and helped his side swing the game back in its favour.

Pleasant had started to lose the clearance battle and was taken aback by the North Bendigo intensity, but Cam Carter’s side did release the pressure valve right before the final change.

William Wallace first goaled and the Mounts then booted another one immediately out of the resulting centre clearance, as Xavier Carter executed from a set-shot to put his side back in front by two points ahead of the final quarter.

At three-quarter time, coach Carter emphasised to his side that just one more strong term was all that was required for consecutive flags, but also expressed his pride in the Mounts’ players during the year, regardless of the outcome.

After North Bendigo retook the lead to open the fourth, Pleasant kicked two straight, opening up an eight-point lead as Carter’s team talk had seemingly spurred the side into an extra gear.

But the Bulldogs, desperate to make amends after losing the 2025 decider to the same opposition by five points, found another timely momentum shift, one that would secure them the premiership.

North Bendigo showed more composure with ball in hand down the stretch as a goal for Harrison Jarvie and two more for Klemm saw Pleasant relinquish its advantage and fall to a 12.9 (81) to 13.14 (92) defeat.