BY NATHAN DOLE
Nullawil grabs fourth rung on the ladder
NULLAWIL has grabbed the fourth rung on the senior footy ladder as the Goldacres North Central FNL marked its 16th round on Saturday.
A one-goal victory at home against Boort meant Nullawil moved into the four at the expense of Wedderburn which was beaten at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
It was a terrific contest between Nullawil and Boort at the home of the Maroons.
The Darryl Wilson-coached Nullawil led 32-25 at quarter-time.
Boort’s accuracy was a highlight as it scored 10.1 in the first half as Nullawil racked up a tally of 9.7.
Scores were 61-all at the long break.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort then won the third term, 34-26.
Nullawil faced an eight-point deficit at the start of the final quarter.
The play of Adam Thomson, on-baller Matthew Wade and Daniel Watts was a key factor as Nullawil scored 3.4 in the last and kept the Magpies to a score of 1.2.
At the final siren the Maroons led 109-103.
A six-goal haul by Adam Thomson earned best on ground honours.
Other multiple goalkickers for Nullawil were Mitch Farmer and Daniel Watts with two.
Boort’s attack was led by James Keeble and Tom Potter on three each as Ethan Coleman and Frasier Holland kicked two.
Best for the Maroons included Rylee Smith, Jordan Humphreys and Peter Faulks.
Keiren Wilson, James Keeble, Tom Potter, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Ethan Coleman were Boort’s best.
The ladder-leading Birchip-Watchem turned a one-goal deficit at half-time into a 45-point win at home against Wedderburn.
At the main break it was the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn which led 27-21.
The Bulls charged clear in the third as they scored 4.7 and kept the Redbacks to 1.2.
Four goals as it kept the visitors scoreless in the final term capped an 80-35 victory for the Trevor Ryan-coached Birchip-Watchem.
Brilliant forward Ben Edwards kicked seven goals for the Bulls as Nicholas Rippon added two.
Wedderburn’s attack was led by Noah Furlong with two.
Best for the Bulls were Darcy Reid, Meyrick Buchanan, James Lindeback, Daniel Bell, Patrick Veszpremi and Ben Edwards.
Wedderburn’s best were Corey Lowry, Danny Benaim, Oscar Holt, Noah Furlong, Joe Lockhart and Darcy Jackson.
Donald scored a 58-point win at home against Charlton.
The Royals charged to a 34-6 lead by quarter-time and then added 2.3 to 1.2 in the second.
A tally of 5.4 to 1.1 in the third term blew Donald’s margin to 62 points going into the last.
The Mitch Collins-coached Navies never gave up and worked hard to win the final quarter, 24-20.
Noah Berry capped a great match with seven goals as Donald marked a 103-45 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Royals were coach Josh Potter, three; Blake Grant and Jamie Papalia, two.
Charlton’s attack was led by Chris Gavaghan, Jesse Taylor and Rhyen Woods on two.
Best for Donald were Blake Grant, Noah Berry, Andrew Browne, Jesse Wallin, Logan Geddes and Dale Kerr.
Sam Woods, Mitch Collins, Ben Lanyon, Sean O’Connor, Elliott Fitzpatrick and Kade Blow played well for the Navies.
Although it was at home, St Arnaud faced the might of Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Lord Nelson Oval.
Stung by defeat the previous round, Sea Lake Nandaly charged to a 33-8 lead by quarter-time and then scored six goals as it kept the Saints to a tally of two points in the second.
The Tigers pressure and run did not ease up as they won the third term, 35-1.
The last quarter was to be St Arnaud’s best as it fought on to score three goals and held SLN to a tally of 2.5.
Former Adelaide and Geelong key forward Josh Jenkins kicked a match-high eight goals in a 125-29 victory for the Tigers.
Other multiple goalkickers for the reigning premier were Tyson McKenzie, three; Jackson McMahon and Will Simpson, two.
The Saints had Jake and Josh Hicks, Jackson Needs and Torin Petrie on target.
Best for the Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes-coached Tigers were Wade Donnan, Tyson McKenzie, Josh Jenkins, Brody Weir, Jack Poulton and Brodie Adcock.
Ryan Lempa, Thomas Bertalli, Zac and Brayden Phillips, Bailey Nicholas and Hailey Durward played well for the Scott Driscoll-coached Saints.
Wycheproof-Narraport had the bye.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 209 per cent, 54 points; Sea Lake Nandaly 211, 52; Donald 118, 38; Nullawil 113, 32; Wedderburn 119, 30; Wycheproof-Narraport 86, 22; Boort 83, 22; St Arnaud 37, 4; Charlton 38, 2.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 17th round will be Wedderburn against Nullawil in the clash of fifth and fourth at Donaldson Park.
Charlton tackles St Arnaud in the match to decide the wooden spoon at Charlton Park.
Wycheproof-Narraport takes on Birchip-Watchem at Wycheproof.
Boort tackles Donald at Boort Park.
Sea Lake Nandaly has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
90 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
46 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
42 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
40 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
32 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
28 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
27 James Keeble, Boort.
27 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
25 Trent Grant, Donald.
24 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
23 Noah Berry, Donald.
22 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
22 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
21 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
21 Jack Exell, Nullawil.
21 Nick Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
21 Blake Grant, Donald.
19 Anthony Zelencich, Wedderburn.
18 Rylee Smith, Nullawil.
17 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
17 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
15 Josh Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
14 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
14 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Wayne Mitrovic, Wycheproof-Narraport.
14 Maysen Murgov, Wycheproof-Narraport.
13 Ty Colbert, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Josh Potter, Donald.
13 Tom Potter, Boort.
13 Brody Weir, Sea Lake Nandaly.
12 Wade Donnan, Sea Lake Nandaly.
12 Chris Gavaghan, Charlton.
12 Jamie Papalia, Donald.
12 Will Perryman, Boort.
12 Torin Petrie, St Arnaud.
11 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
11 Junior Miller, Wedderburn.
10 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
10 Andrew Casey, Nullawil.
10 Cody Green, Wycheproof-Narraport.
10 Natnael McLaren, Boort.
10 Matt Wade, Nullawil.