HAY tackles Kerang in Saturday’s start to the split 14th round in Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray FNL senior footy.
The Lions and Blues will play at Hay Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
It’s fifth against seventh at three weeks to go in the home-and-away series.
Hay is on the rebound from a 51-point loss at home to Mallee Eagles.
Kerang fought for an 88-71 win at Ultima last Saturday.
Key match-ups for Saturday’s contest include Dylan Adkins at full-back against Kerang gun Zak Bozanich, Fergus Cattanach ruck-roving against Martin Kelly, and Darcy Bruns in the ruck opposed to Ian Fisher.
A Lions’ team jointly coached by Mick Cattanach and James Moran includes Jack Headon, Declan Watson and Jack Cattanach in attack, James Lugsdin in the middle, and Jim Houston at centre half-back.
The Brad Pay-coached Kerang has Scott Pay, Tyson Clingan and Cody Makeham in its forward line, Bohden and Flynn McKnight on the wings, and a defence led by Austin Crellin, Leigham McAlpin and Tyler Meehan.
Ultima is back on home turf to play Moulamein.
The Joel Donnan-coached Ultima is 12th, but just eight points behind the eighth-placed Swans.
Key players for Ultima include Caillum Brady, Lucas Caccaviello, Andrew Dean, Sol Kelly, Jye Purtill, Mitch Seton-Stewart, Matt Taverna.
Moulamein won its latest hit-out at home against Tyntynder by 56 points.
The Swans have ruckman Heath Moloney to team up with Charlie Bowes and Brodie Tonkin at centre ball-ups and stoppages.
Players to watch in the red and white include Adam Curry, Mark Drotsky, Xander Hartland, Brett Kennedy, Ely Miller and Thomas Worthley.
The Moulamein team is coached by Brodie Tonkin and Hayden Dalitz.
Murrabit is back on home turf to play Koondrook Barham.
It’s been a tough season for a Murrabit team coached by Rick Ladson, non-playing, and Jack Shannahan, playing.
The play of Ben Gillingham, Cruz Jolliffe, Jack Keath, Austin McKerrow, Matt Moon, Bryden Morrison and Bailey Pengelly will have an impact on the Blues’ fortunes.
Koondrook Barham won its latest match in Swan Hill by 29 points.
Clayton McCartney capped a superb match with nine goals to be best afield.
Thomas German, Jacob Barrington, Jack Shannon, Kye Attwell and Will Lake also starred for the Marcus Demaria-coached River Raiders.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder after 13 rounds:
Nyah Nyah West United 324 per cent, 52 points; Mallee Eagles 271, 48; Woorinen 201, 44; Cohuna Kangas 266, 40; Hay 146, 32; Koondrook Barham 142, 28; Kerang 99, 28; Moulamein 74, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 129, 24;Lake Boga 107, 24; Swan Hill 100, 24; Ultima 103, 20; Balranald 41, 12; Tyntynder 33, 12; Murrabit 29, 4; Wandella 26, 0.
Four matches will be played on August 15 from 2.30pm.
It’s the clash of the Kangas and Eagles as Cohuna and Mallee meet at Cohuna Recration Reserve.
Balranald faces Nyah Nyah West United at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
Wandella tackles Lake Boga in the Bombers’ hangar at Wandella Recreation Reserve.
Reigning premier Woorinen takes on Tooleybuc Manangatang in Woorinen.
It’s an extended break for Tyntynder and Swan Hill who met in the King’s Birthday match on June 6.
The Bulldogs beat the Swans by four points.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
48 Sam Hilton-Joyce, W; Darcy Hourigan, ME.
44 Zak Bozanich, K.
41 Corbin Anderson, CK.
38 Jacob O’Meara, ME; Declan Watson, H.
37 Cameron Arnold, KB.
36 Josh Chatfield, TM.
35 Dustin Burns, U.
31 Will Collicoat, W.
30 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, LB.
29 Beau Schwarze, NNWU.
28 Clayton McCartney, KB.
27 Jack Headon, H.
25 Ben Fuller, B; Tom Toma, CK.
24 Kye Attwell, KB; Daniel Coates, CK; Jonathon Ross, NNWU.
23 Adam Curry, M’mein; Rex Hickman, LB; Braden Padmore, LB; Tom Smith, SH; Patrick Veszpremi, SH.
22 Alex Erlandson, NNWU.
21 Harry Bremner, KB; Brett Kennedy, M’mein; Jose Miliado, W.
20 Corey Daniels, NNWU; Nayef Hamad, TM.