THE fight for a place in the Golden Rivers senior footy first semi-final has rolled into this Saturday’s round 15 action.
Murrabit and Wandella are locked on 24 points as they start the day’s play on the fourth and fifth rungs.
Adding to the intrigue is the Blues and Bombers are separated by less than three per cent.
Huge task for Murrabit as it hosts the second-placed and reigning premier Ultima at Murrabit Recreation Reserve from 2.25pm.
When they met in round 10 it was the Kangaroos who beat Murrabit by 68 points on the Ultima ground.
The Jack Shannahan-coached Murrabit has a one-four record across its past five matches.
Last Saturday the Blues were beaten by 55 points at Moulamein.
Ultima bounds into this match following a 155-11 win at home against Macorna.
Key players for Murrabit include captain Ben Gillingham, Austin McKerrow, Matt Moon, Bryden Morison, James Stewart and Adam Thomson.
Best for Murrabit last Saturday included Rhys Carmichael, Riley Carse, Bailey Pengelly and Jacob Wade.
In-form players for Ultima include Lachlan Burns, Josh Dwyer, Jake Foster and Jye Purtill.
Players to watch in the Kangaroos’ attack include Ryan Devereux, Corey Grey and Matt Taverna.
The Kangaroos are jointly coached by Mitch Seton-Stewart and Kyle Symons.
Wandella Bombers will be in their hangar to play third-placed Moulamein.
The Justin Robinson-coached Wandella teamed superbly to beat Hay by a goal in the hangar last Saturday.
In round 10 it was Moulamein which won on Wandella’s turf by 16 points.
Best for Wandella in the win against the ladder-leading Lions included Seth Hall, Archer Lancaster, Darcy Ramage and Adam Ward.
Crucial match-ups for Wandella include Jonty Taylor at full-back against Brett Kennedy, and Darcy Ramage in the ruck against Heath Moloney.
The Bombers have Gregor Knight, Jack Radcliffe and Tim Robinson in attack.
Key players for the Swans include ruck-rover Trae Atkinson, George Austin and Tobie Richardson in attack, , Jayden Hausler and Ely Miller in defence.
Moulamein is jointly coached by Brodie Tonkin who will start in the centre and Hayden Dalitz.
The 15th and final round in the home-and-away series features the battle of the Big Cats as Macorna Tigers will be in their den to play Hay Lions.
In round 10 the Lions beat the Tigers in Hay by 184 points.
It’s been a tough season for Macorna which broke its winless streak in a 28-26 victory against Murrabit in the 12th round.
The yellow and black has faced Moulamein and Ultima the past two rounds.
Best for Macorna at Ultima last Saturday included Tori Ferguson, Harley Somerville, Blake Forster and Conner Burge.
Macorna has Llewellyn Kane and Lachlan Thompson in the key defensive posts.
The yellow and black has Reece Wissell in the centre, Kurt Forder and Josh Walters in attack.
The Tigers are jointly coached by Paul Longstaff and Shaun Haffenden.
Hay will be fired up after its loss to Wandella.
A powerful attack for the Lions includes Jack Headon, Declan Watson, Dean Aylett and Dylan Collis.
Hay’s best against the Bombers included Simon Bunyan, Jack Cattanach, Brad Pocock and Tom McGufficke.
A strong midfield for Hay is Fergus Cattanach flanked by Harry Loughnan and Cooper Scott.
The Lions are jointly coached by Jason Aylett and James Moran.
Golden Rivers senior footy ladder:
Hay 194 per cent, 48 points; Ultima 162, 40; Moulamein 89, 28; Murrabit 86, 24; Wandella 83, 24; Macorna 46, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
58 Jack Headon, Hay.
43 Adam Thomson, Murrabit.
41 Declan Watson, Hay.
37 Corey Grey, Ultima.
27 Ryan Devereux, Ultima.
24 Adam Saunders, Moulamein.
21 Brett Kennedy, Moulamein.
19 Josh Dwyer, Ultima.
17 Dylan Collis, Hay.
17 Josh Walters, Macorna.
16 Dustin Burns, Ultima.
16 Luke Gray, Macorna.
15 James Stewart, Murrabit.
15 Matt Taverna, Ultima.
14 Thomas Isma, Ultima.
14 Blake Launer, Moulamein.
13 Jack Cattanach, Hay.
13 Mitch Collins, Wandella.
13 Justin Robinson, Wandella.
12 Trae Atkinson, Moulamein.
12 Logan Keighran, Wandella.
12 Kaine O’Connell, Wandella.
12 Mitch Seton-Stewart, Ultima.
12 Morgan Turvey, Moulamein.
12 Jacob Watson, Hay.
11 Conner Burge, Macorna.