WEDDERBURN proved its first-round victory against Calder United Lions in Goldacres North Central senior footy was no fluke as it won Saturday’s return clash.
All Cancers Awareness Round featured the Redbacks and Lions at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Unbeaten across the opening seven rounds, Wedderburn responded to the challenge of facing the reigning premier.
Calder United charged to a 20-6 lead by quarter-time.
By the long break the Lions were up 39-34.
Wedderburn dominated the second half of the contest.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks scored 4.4 and kept the Lions to a behind in term three.
Another four goals as it kept Calder United to a behind in the last sealed an impressive 91-43 victory for the red and black.
Wedderburn’s attack was led by Tyler Curtis, Oscar Holt, Hamish Lockhart and Jye Mortlock on two goals each.
Leading goalkickers for the Lions were co-captain Rylee Smith and Steven Stroobants on two.
Wedderburn’s best were Hamish Lockhart, Jayden Jones, Darcy Jackson, Tyler Curtis, Tom Metherell and Oscar Holt.
Best for the Lions were Boe Bish, Zach Caccaviello, Jordan Hughes, George Turner, Billy Forrester and Jack Marlais.
A Lions team coached by Jordan Humphreys, playing, and Tom Bickley, non-playing is now two wins behind the second-placed Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
The Tigers overcame a slow start on Birchip-Watchem’s turf at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip to win by 27 points.
It was a brilliant start by Birchip-Watchem as it raced to a 30-7 lead by quarter-time.
Although the Bulls added just one goal in the second they worked hard to restrict Sea Lake Nandaly to a score of 2.1.
The Ash Connick-coached Birchip-Watchem held a three-goal buffer going into the second half.
In the third it was the yellow and black which dominated contests.
As the Tigers scored 6.3 they kept the Bulls to a behind.
A 20-point lead for Sea Lake Nandaly going into the last became 37 by the siren.
Boyd Bailey finished with three goals as Bryce Delmenico booted two in an 81-54 victory.
The Bulls’ attack was led by Zane Connick on two majors.
Best for the Tigers were Thomas Cox, co-coaches Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan, along with Charlie Cox, Kane Donnan and Bryce Delmenico.
Zane Connick, Meyrick Buchanan, Joseph Madio, Harry Cook, Will Sheahan and Angus Butterfield were Birchip-Watchem’s best.
Boort’s winning streak has now hit three after a 97-88 win against Donald at Boort Park.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort charged to a 38-21 lead by quarter-time.
In the second it was the Royal Blues who added 4.2 and the Magpies scored 3.7.
Boort won the third term, 21-14.
The Royals fought on to score four goals in the last, but Boort’s effort to score 2.1 sealed a nine-point win.
Danko Bzenic led the Magpies’ attack on three goals as Jackson Daley, Kayne and Tyson Rutley chipped in with two each.
Lachlan Bourke kicked a match-high five goals as Blake Grant and Ashley Reed added four and three majors for a Donald team coached by ???
Boort’s best were James Byrne, Carlos Egan, Tyson and Kayne Rutley, Jack Smith and Liam Bianco.
Best for the Royal Blues were Blake Grant, Thomas Guljas, Bill Sam, Baxter Donnellon, Harry Forrest and Lachlan Bourke.
St Arnaud racked up 38 scoring shots on its way to a 146-point victory against Charlton.
The Saints charged to a 41-nil lead by quarter-time of the match on their turf at Lord Nelson Park.
Another six goals in the second as the Navies added a solitary major meant St Arnaud was up 79-6 by half-time.
The Saints scored five goals in the third and then finished with plenty of run to slam on 7.1 in the final term.
At the final siren St Arnaud led 158-12.
The Saints’ attack was led by Jay Kirwood, Nick Maishman and Torin Petrie on four goals each.
Other multiple goalkickers were Max Hungerford, three; and Lucas Bridger, Sean Holroyd and Jake Male on two apiece.
Best for the Saints were Nick and Joe Maishman, Jake Male, Sean Holroyd, Darby Schilder and Jay Kirwood.
Charlton’s best were Jake Lawry, Jed Thompson, Patrick Sait, Elliott Fitzpatrick, coach Carl Thiesz and Bailey Hooper-Dixon.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Wedderburn 249 per cent, 32 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 232, 28; Calder United Lions 153, 20; Birchip-Watchem 124, 14; St Arnaud 91, 12; Boort 72, 12; Donald 89, 10; Charlton 15, 0.
In next Saturday’s ninth round it’s a rematch of the ’25 grand final as Calder United Lions tackles Birchip-Watchem Bulls from 2.30pm in Nullawil.
Sea Lake Nandaly takes on Boort in the Tigers’ den at Sea Lake Oval.
Donald hosts St Arnaud.
Charlton and Wedderburn clash at Charlton Park.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
37 Max Cahoon, SLN; Steven Stroobants, CUL.
29 Dale Pearce, CUL.
28 Matt Perri, W.
21 Ricardo Liparota, BW; Ashley Reed, D.
20 Joseph Reid, BW.
15 Lachy McClelland, SLN; Kayne Rutley, B.
14 Tyler Curtis, W; Max Hungerford, SA.
13 Rylee Smith, CUL.
12 Boyd Bailey, SLN; Thomas Cox, SLN; Oscar Holt, W; Jay Kirwood, SA; Torin Petrie, SA.