MANANGATANG will host one of its biggest matches in years in this Saturday’s 17th round in Central Murray senior footy.
Finals hopes for the fifth and sixth-placed Tooleybuc Manangatang and Koondrook Barham are on the line in the Radio 3SH-backed competition.
At two rounds to go in the home-and-away series the Saints and Raiders are locked 32 points.
The Brad Morris-coached Tooleybuc Manangatang holds fifth place as it leads the KB line-up by more than 11 per cent.
When these clubs met in round six it was the Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham which won 75-60 in Barham.
Defeat in the past two rounds has put Koondrook Barham out of the top five.
Tooleybuc Manangatang jumped to the fifth rung after a 169-30 victory at Swan Hill last Saturday.
A talented attack for the Saints is led by Connor Nutting, Ethan Johnstone and Josh Williams.
The Raiders will need strong defensive games from Reagan Hamilton, Jack Thrum and Jordan Bassett.
In the on-ball duels the Saints have Connor Mcdonald, Seb Rogers and Josh Domaille to take on Jacob Barrington, Benji Neal and Matt Bilton.
A Tooleybuc Manangatang defence led by Josh Grant, Kallum Hazlett and Rydar Morris will take on Kye Attwell, Ryan Bassett and Patrick Goble.
The seventh-placed Lake Boga will be on home turf against the ladder-leading Woorinen.
In round six Woorinen beat the Magpies by 135 points in the Tigers’ den.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga teamed brilliantly to score a 69-46 win against Koondrook Barham in Barham last round.
The Dean Helmers-coached Magpies swooped for an upset 69-46 victory.
Jayden Lonergan kicked three goals for Lake Boga.
Lake Boga’s line-up to tackle the Tigers includes Zac Warne in the centre, Ned Ayson in the ruck, Braden Padmore as ruck-rover, Darcy Butler and Rex Hickman in attack.
The Magpies’ will need Dylan McCosh, Rory Colville and Marty Parsons to defend well against Matt Perry, Doug Beames and Jose Miliado.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen had Matt Gardner, Henry Thompson and Kane Reid lead the way in a 105-point win against Tyntynder in the 15th round.
Kerang faces an in-form Cohuna Kangas at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Huge test for the Paul Grayling-coached Kerang against an opponent which scored a 51-47 win against Mallee Eagles in Cohuna last Saturday.
On-ball contests will be crucial in Kerang’s bid to match the Kangas across four quarters.
Kerang ruckman Jordan McNeil will team with Zak Bozanich and Cody Makeham.
They will be up against Chris Anderson, Sam McGlone and Jayden Cordy.
In defence, Kerang has Thomas Hetherington, Jayden Crellin and Martin Kelly to compete with Corbin Anderson, Jude Palmer and Will O’Shea.
Another important match-up for the Blues will be in the centre where Scott Pay takes on the skilful Ricky Monti.
A 12-2 record has earnt the Jack Geary-coached Cohuna second place on the ladder.
Mallee Eagles return to Lalbert to take on Balranald.
The third-placed Eagles had Jonah Devlin, Troy Anderson, Jayden Post and Beau Bennett as best in the clash with Cohuna.
A team which is co-coached by Brent Macleod and Harry Allen includes Andrew Mead-Harding, Matthew Rankine and Darcy Hourigan.
One of three co-coaches for Balranald, Ben Fuller kicked seven goals in last Saturday’s clash with Nyah Nyah West United.
Best for the Kangaroos against the reigning premier included Ian Fuller, Ryan Middlebrook, co-coach Jack Salau and Cruz Jolliffe.
A Balranald team which has Ben Mahon as co-coach includes Cody Henness, Colin Andrews and Tim Marsh.
Nyah Nyah West United will be back on home turf to play Tyntynder.
In round six the NNWU Demons marked a 66-41 win against Tyntynder at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Demons’ co-coach Corey Daniels kicked five goals in a 64-point win at Balranald last Saturday.
The NNWU attack to face the Bulldogs includes Brayden Bigham, Charlie Boulton and Riley Daniels.
Players to watch in the red and blue include Nic O’Neill, Nash Richman at full-back, ruck-rover Jordan Iudica, Mitch Grinham on a wing, and rover Dominic Gallo.
The Demons also have Jason Murphy as co-coach.
Massive test for a Tyntynder team coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
Key players for the Bulldogs include Coady Gorringe in the centre, ruckman Josh Potter, Sam Bull and Harry Simpson in defence.
Tyntynder also has Akasha Jenkins-Jaiswal as rover and Kyle Doran, Mick Dedini and Elliot Broad as targets in the forward 50m arc.
Swan Hill has the bye.
Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 252 per cent, 52 points; Cohuna Kangas 242, 48; Mallee Eagles 266, 44; Nyah Nyah West United 134, 40; Tooleybuc Manangatang 114, 32; Koondrook Barham 102, 32; Lake Boga 76, 24; Kerang 70, 16; Balranald 43, 12; Tyntynder 51, 8; Swan Hill 33, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
53 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
39 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
37 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
35 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
33 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
29 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
29 Zac Bozanich, Kerang.
29 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
28 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
28 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
26 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
26 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
26 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
25 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
24 Kallen Heslop, Swan Hill.
23 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
23 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
23 Kyle Skene, Woorinen.
23 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
22 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
22 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
21 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
20 Corey Daniels, Nyah Nyah West United.
20 Ethan Johnstone, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
20 Nick O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
19 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
18 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
17 Josh Koster, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
17 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
17 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
17 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.
17 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.
16 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
16 Ricky Monti, Cohuna Kangas.
15 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
15 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
15 Rex Hickman, Lake Boga.
15 Bohden McKnight, Kerang.