BY NATHAN DOLE
Fight to decide fourth place goes to last round
JUST who holds or grabs fourth place on the Goldacres North Central senior footy ladder will not be decided until this Saturday’s 18th and final round.
Matches at Donald and Nullawil will determine who takes on Donald in the first semi-final.
Third on the ladder, Donald takes on a Wedderburn team desperate for victory and to retain fourth place and spot in the first semi.
When these clubs met in round nine it was the Josh Potter-coached Donald which won 99-52 at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
The Royals will be fired up after a 71-point loss at Boort Park last Saturday.
Key players in Donald’s run of nine wins, five defeats and a draw include Andrew Browne, Ryley Barrack, Hayden Geddes, Blake Grant, Ryan Hards and Jamie Papalia.
The Royals also have Feeny medallist Ross Young in an on-ball role or closer to goal.
Wedderburn’s two-goal win at home against Nullawil last round put the Redbacks back on the fourth rung.
Defeat Donald and the red and black is through to the finals.
Players to watch for Wedderburn include Tom Campbell, Oscar Holt, Joe and Sam Lockhart, Junior Miller, coach Tom Metherell, Jordan Hargreaves, and Jackson McEwen.
Nullawil must beat Wycheproof-Narraport and also rely on Wedderburn being defeated to climb to the fourth rung.
The Darryl Wilson-coached Nullawil was on the end of a 121-63 defeat at Wycheproof in round nine.
Best for the Maroons at Wedderburn last round were Matt Wade, Jordan Humphreys, Daniel Watts, Zach Caccaviello, Andrew Oberdorfer and Billy Forrester.
It’s the final hit-out for Wycheproof-Narraport become it joins Nullawil next season to become Calder United Lions.
The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Demons have played great footy at times, but also struggled for consistency this season.
Wycheproof-Narraport’s team to tackle Nullawil includes Rick and Spencer Allan, Boe and Jed Bish, Cody Green, Koby Hommelhoff, George Turner, Josh Walsh, and Wayne Mitrovic.
St Arnaud takes on Boort in the Saints’ home at Lord Nelson Park.
Massive challenge for the Scott Driscoll-coached Saints against a Boort line-up which thrashed Donald by 77 points last round.
St Arnaud goes into this contest following an 11-point win at Charlton.
Best for the Saints against the Navies were Ryan Lempa, Thomas Bertalli, Daniel Gifford, Sam Male, Bailey Nicholas and Simon Elliott.
A seven-goal blitz in the opening term set up Boort’s victory against Donald.
The Dale Cameron-coached Magpies will be determined to repeat the feat.
Best in Boort’s latest victory were Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Jarrod Fitzpatrick, James Byrne, Natnael McLaren, Jack Smith and James Keeble.
Reigning premier, Sea Lake Nandaly warms up for another finals campaign by taking on Charlton at Sea Lake Oval.
The SLN Tigers had the bye last round.
A strong team jointly coached by Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes includes captain Ryan O’Sullivan; Kane, Trent and Wade Donnan; Will Simpson, Brody Weir and Max Cahoon.
Although he has played just eight games, former Adelaide and Geelong forward Josh Jenkins has kicked 46 goals and been in the Tigers’ best five times.
Charlton’s team to tackle the Tigers includes coach Mitch Collins, Bailey Kemp, Patrick Soulsby, , Ben Lanyon, Elliott Fitzpatrick, Kade Blow, and captain Jed Thompson.
Birchip-Watchem has the bye.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 198 per cent, 54 points; Sea Lake Nandaly 211, 52; Donald 108, 38; Wedderburn 119, 34; Nullawil 111, 32; Boort 90, 26; Wycheproof-Narraport 88, 26; St Arnaud 40, 8; Charlton 40, 2.
Leading goalkickers, pending update from Boort v Donald, round 17:
97 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
46 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
44 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
41 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
32 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
30 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
29 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
27 James Keeble, Boort.
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, Weddeburn.
18 Rylee Smith, Nullawil.
17 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
17 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
16 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 Junior Miller, Wedderburn.
13 Torin Petrie, St Arnaud.
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 Cody Green, Wycheproof-Narraport.
12 Jamie Papalia, Donald.
12 Will Perryman, Boort.
11 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
11 Matthew Wade, Nullawil.
10 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
10 Andrew Casey, Nullawil.
10 Natnael McLaren, Boort.