ONE of country Victoria’s most decorated footballers, Jack Geary will mark his 300th senior match as Cohuna Kangas tackle Moulamein in Saturday’s fourth round in Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray footy.
Cohuna’s playing coach has racked up plenty of team and individual success in a 299-game journey.
A 220-game stint with Golden Square included six premiership wins and being declared best on ground in three grand finals.
A Michelsen medallist as the Bendigo FNL’s fairest and best, Geary was a three-time club champion with the Bulldogs.
A multiple Victoria Country representative, Geary captained Bendigo in five inter-league matches and is also a dual premiership winner with Northern Territory club St Mary’s.
The Kangas will be aiming to mark Geary’s special day with victory on their turf when they play the Swans from 2.30pm.
Cohuna and Moulamein are among seven clubs on eight premiership points.
Last week the Kangas scored a 10-point win aginst Koondrook Barham in Barham as Moulamein beat Wandella by 27 points.
Key players for Cohuna include Tom Toma, Chris and Corbin Anderson, Sam McGlone and Mitch Treacy.
The Brodie Tonkin and Hayden Dalitz-coached Swans will look for big games from the likes of Heath Moloney, Brodie Tonkin, Will Doquile, Brett Kennedy and Mark Drotsky.
Match of the day status belongs to Nyah Nyah West United and Mallee Eagles as they clash at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
It’s first against third.
The Corey Daniels-coached Demons roll into this match following a 158-win at home against Tyntynder.
Mallee won its latest hit-out with Tooleybuc Manangatang by 27 points.
Highlight of the Demons and Eagles showdown will be in the ruck where Blake Larkings takes on Hamish Hosking.
Key players for NNWU include Joel Walsh, captain Dominic Gallo, Jordan Johnston, Charlie Boulton and Beau Schwarze.
A talented attack for Mallee includes Darcy Hourigan, Jacob O’Meara and Brayden Bigham.
The Eagles also have Cody Henness in the centre, Darcy McGregor and coach Harry Allen roving.
Hay and Ultima will clash in the Lions’ den at Hay Recreation Reserve.
In last Saturday’s play Hay was beaten in Swan Hill by three goals as Ultima marked a 13-goal win against Murrabit.
Key players for the Mick Cattanach and James Moran-coached Hay include Dean Aylett, Fergus and Cattanach, Declan and Jacob Watson, and Joel Crocker.
An Ultima line-up coached by Joel Donnan includes Matt Taverna, Thomas Isma, Lucas Caccaviello, Andrew Dean, Mitch Seton-Stewart and Thomas Bull.
Woorinen is back on home turf to play Kerang in the clash of the Tigers and Blues.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen won last Saturday’s match at Lake Boga by 83 points.
Kerang passed the 130-point mark in its clash with Balranald at Riverside Park.
Crucial match-ups for the Tigers include Oscar Lewis against gun forward Zak Bozanich, Jose Miliado at full-forward against Archer Dibsdale, and Lachlan Warburton opposed to Tyson Clingan.
Other players to watch in the yellow and black are Robert Rush, Will Collicoat, Oscar Lewis and Billy Evers.
Kerang coach Brad Pay will line up at half-back in a defence that includes Rylee Gitsham, Martin Kelly and Jonah McKnight.
The Blues have Ian Fisher in the ruck, Bohden McKnight in the centre, and Jayden Crellin and Cody Makeham in attack.
Wandella hosts the second-placed Swan Hill.
Huge test for the Justin Robinson-coached Bombers against the unbeaten Swans.
Wandella is on the rebound from a 27-point loss at Moulamein while the Swans won their clash with Hay by 28 points.
Key players in the red and black include Darcy Ramage in the ruck, Laing Waddingham at centre half-forward, Jack Radcliffe on a wing, Logan Keighran and Joel Osbrough in defence.
The Jason Murphy-coached Swans have teamed superbly.
Co-captains Cooper Angus and Tom Holdstock lead a team that includes Patrick Veszpremi and Rory Sheldrick in midfield, Matt Gilbee and Thomas Corridan in defence, Buol Majur in the ruck, and Will Simpson and Tom Smith in attack.
Tyntynder or Murrabit will break their season duck at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
The Darcy Bibby-coached Tyntynder has Sam Bull in the centre, Patrick Crowe and Zac Denham in attack, Hugh Broad as ruckman, Cayden Crowe and Josh Dwyer in defence.
A Murrabit team coached by Rick Ladson and Jack Shannahan will look to Sam Copland, Adam Thomson, Ben Gillingham, Ryan Harvey, Austin McKerrow and Matt Moon to lead the way.
Balranald’s back on its turf at Greenham Park to play Koondrook Barham.
Huge test for the Brent Macleod-coached Kangaroos as the River Raiders aim to bounce back from a 10-point loss to the Cohuna Kangas.
Key players for Balranald include Ian Fuller, Jack and Tom Salau, Ryan Middlebrook, Seb Papa and Jake Lockhart.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham has Harry Bremner in the centre, Kye Attwell and Nathan O’Toole in attack, Jack Thrum and Ryan Bartlett in defence, and Roy George as ruck-rover.
Tooleybuc Manangatang tackles Lake Boga at Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
In midfield Tooleybuc Manangatang has Rydar Morris, co-coach Robbie McComb and Cohen Frith up against Harry Bull, Braden Padmore and Max O’Reilly.
The Saints’ attack is led by Ben Arentz, Austin Hodge and Jack Mazzarella.
Big roles will be played by Magpies’ defenders Jordon Reardon, Dylan McCosh and Willem Holmes.
Another key battle will be Saints’ co-coach Nayef Hamad ruck-roving against Marty Parsons.
Players to watch for the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga include Rex Hickman, Jayden Lonergan and Kamen Ogilvie.
Standings in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy competition:
Nyah Nyah West United 300 per cent, 12 points; Swan Hill 187, 12; Mallee Eagles 186, 12; Kerang 201, 8; Hay 168, 8; Koondrook Barham 163, 8; Ultima 148, 8; Cohuna Kangas 130, 8; Lake Boga 114, 8; Moulamein 85, 8; Woorinen 110, 4; Tooleybuc Manangatang 109, 4; Murrabit 43, 0; Wandella 38, 0; Tyntynder 27, 0; Balranald 23, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
16 Declan Watson, H.
15 Beau Schwarze, NNWU.
14 Sam Hilton-Joyce, W’neen; Zak Bozanich, K.
11 Cameron Arnold, KB; Dustin Burns, U.
10 Harry Bremner, KB.
9 Andrew Dean, U; Brett Kennedy, Moula.; Jacob O’Meara, ME.
8 Corbin Anderson, CK; Daniel Coates, CK; Corey Daniels, NNMWU; Jack Headon, 8; Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, LB; Jordan Johnston, NNWU; Jonathon Ross, NNWU; Tom Toma, CK.
7 Adam Curry, Moula.; Leo Ellison, Murra.; Rex Hickman, LB; Jayden Lonergan, LB; Tom Smith, SH; Adam Thomson, Murra.