BY NATHAN DOLE
Crucial match for Blues, Roos at Kerang
IT’S A crucial contest as Kerang and Balranald meet in the clash of second and fourth in Saturday’s round 13 action in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy action.
Plenty at stake for both clubs who met in last year’s grand final.
This match at Kerang’s Riverside Park will start at 2.30pm.
Chasing a hat-trick of premiership wins, the Troy Coates-coached Kerang will be determined to take the points against Balranald.
Although he called time on playing days after last September’s grand final, Coates is back on the field.
He was named on the ‘bench’ for what will be his fourth senior game this season.
In round one it was the Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos who beat the Blues, 109-105.
Key match-ups include the centre where Kerang has Josh Hann to take on Harrison Soraggi, and the ruck duels between the Roos’ Jordan Wilkins and the Blues’ Nick Lang.
A talented Kerang line-up includes ruck-rover Martin Kelly, the hard-running Sam Heavyside, Lachlan Ross, Josh and Sean Hunter, Bradlee Pay and Thomas Hetherington.
Balranald will look to Drew and Kobe Lloyd, Jaxon Neagle, Ian Fuller, Colin Andrews, Jackson Ferguson and Rory Fitzgerald to lead the way to victory.
The Cohuna Kangas must win their home game against Tyntynder to stay in contention for a finals berth.
Just two points separated the Bulldogs and Kangas when Tyntynder won at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve in round one.
After 12 rounds Cohuna and Tyntynder have identical win-loss tallies of five-six.
Cohuna won its latest hit-out with Kooondrook Barham by 63 points as Chris Anderson, Jack Geary, Joel Helman and Jack Williams were best.
The Kangas’ line-up to take on Tyntynder includes Will Lee at full-back, Sam McGlone and Sam Leitch in defence, Rhys Thrum on a wing, Riley Hird, Jarrod Findlay, and rover Jack Donat.
Key players for the Jack O’Rourke-coached Tyntynder include Matt Gilbee, Jayden Magro, Roy George, ruckman Elia Ware, Justin Ellis, Isaiah Bull, and centreman Darcy Bibby.
After consecutive victories, Swan Hill takes on Woorinen at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans have lifted their play dramatically the past two rounds.
A 40-point win against Koondrook Barham in round 11 was followed by a 37-point victory at Manangatang last Saturday.
Massive test for the Swans against the fifth-placed Tigers who beat Nyah Nyah West United in the 12th round.
The margin may be a lot closer than the 40 points Woorinen won by in round one.
Huge challenge for Swans defenders Thomas Corridan, Jarvis Keogh and Anthony Lewin against Will Collicoat, Lachlan Gardner and Brock McLean.
A highlight will be the centre duel between Thomas Isma and Henry Thompson.
Players to watch for Swan Hill include ruckman Toby Thoolen, Elijah and Jose Miliado, and key forward Ned McKeown.
Tigers’ ruckman Arnold Kirby has had an outstanding season.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen also has Doug Beames and Matt Gardner in defence, ruck-rover Ryan Vesty, Josh Domaille and Tim Gammon in midfield.
Another big match will be at Lalbert where Mallee Eagles take on Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Brent Macleod-coached Eagles had the bye after a 69-44 win against Woorinen in the 11th round at Lalbert.
Tooleybuc Manangatang will be desperate to bounce back from last week’s loss to Swan Hill.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints start the round in sixth place, a win and sizeable percentage behind Balranald and Woorinen.
The Saints kicked off their season by scoring a nine-point win against the Eagles in round one at Tooleybuc.
Mallee’s confidence and form has lifted dramatically since then.
Key players for the Eagles include Darcy Hourigan and Andrew Mead-Harding in attack, ruckman Jai Middleton, Nathan Bisset in the centre, Jayden Post, and Jacob O’Meara and Zac O’Meara.
The Saints will need big games from centreman Johnathan Marsden, Blake Grant, Connor Nutting, full-forward Josh Williams, Connor Hazlett and Jaicob Kenny to stop Mallee’s run to win number eight.
Nyah Nyah West United will aim to rebound from defeat in a big way when it plays Koondrook Barham at Nyah.
The Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill-coached Demons could not stop Woorinen’s charge to an 88-59 victory last Saturday.
After being held to a goal, expect NNWU star Brandyn Grenfell to respond with a big haul.
Other players to watch for the Demons include Jordan Iudica in the centre, Riley Daniels and Dominic Gallo in attack, rover Brayden Bigham, and defenders Joel Campbell and Joel Walsh.
The Will Callow-coached Koondrook Barham will be tested in trying to match NNWU’s scoring power.
Co-captain Jack Shannon was named in the centre, while the River Raiders have Patrick Goble, Cambell Davison, Jack Thrum, Jordan Bassett and Billy Driscoll capable of winning plenty of the footy.
Lake Boga has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 131 per cent, 36 points; Kerang 166, 34; Mallee Eagles 112, 30; Balranald 134, 28; Woorinen 119, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 103, 24; Cohuna Kangas 110, 20; Tyntynder 99, 20; Swan Hill 79, 8; Lake Boga 50, 8; Koondrook Barham 54, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
48 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
40 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
32 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
30 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
29 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
24 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
21 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
21 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
20 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
18 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
16 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
16 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
16 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
15 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
14 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
14 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
14 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
13 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Lachlan Lellmann, Balranald.
13 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
13 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
12 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
12 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
12 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
12 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
11 Seth Connell, Balranald.
11 Brett Kennedy, Kerang.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
10 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
10 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
10 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Koben Ryan, Lake Boga.