MATCHES in Wycheproof and Sea Lake highlight this Saturday’s 15th round in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
Reigning premier Calder United Lions are back in Wycheproof to take on Wedderburn as Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers tackle Birchip-Watchem at Sea Lake Oval.
After a 49-point win against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Wycheproof last Saturday the Lions mark back-to-back appearances on the ground.
A Lions’ team coached by Jordan Humphreys and Tom Bickley showed it cannot be discounted from this season’s premiership race.
Calder United faces a Wedderburn team which won its latest hit-out at home in Donaldson Reserve against St Arnaud by 95 points to reclaim top spot on the ladder.
The previous round the Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks were beaten in Sea Lake by 62 points.
When these clubs met in All Cancers Awareness Round it was Wedderburn which won by 52 points.
A Calder United Lions attack led by Dale Pearce, Steven Stroobants, Rick Allan and Justin Laird will test Wedderburn defenders Josh Hall, Corey Lowry, Tom Metherell and Danny Benaim.
In the on-ball contests the Lions have Matt Trzeciak, Rylee Smith and Steven Kennedy to take on Dane Keuken, Mitch McEwen and Hamish Lockhart.
A Calder United Lions defence led by Oscar Madden, Cody Green, Daniel Watts and Zach Caccaviello faces a big test holding the likes of Oscar Holt, Thomas Hawke, Noah Furlong, and Tom Campbell.
The Tigers will strive to outrun the Bulls when Sea Lake hosts Birchip-Watchem.
In round eight the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers won in the Bulls’ pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip by 27 points.
The Tigers will be snarling after last Saturday’s performance against the Lions in Wycheproof.
A 12-2 record has the SLN team coached by Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan in second place.
The Tigers squad to tackle the Bulls this time includes Max Cahoon, Charlie and Thomas Cox, Bryce Delmenico, Lachy McClelland, Billy McInnes, Robin Nahas, Adam Pattison and Jai Wright.
Birchip-Watchem’s best in last week’s win against Donald by 69 points were Zane Connick, Joseph Madio, Meyrick Buchanan and Mac Lewis.
A Bulls’ squad coached by Ash Connick includes Ty Colbert, Rhona Conboy, Lachy Foott, Dale Hinkley, Ricardo Liparota, Joseph Reid, and Daniel Rendell.
Donald is back on home turf to play Boort.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Royal Blues and Magpies.
Donald won the first-round clash by 10 points, and Boort won by nine points at Boort Park in the eighth round.
A Donald defence led by Parker Sneddon, Harry Forrest, Julian Seol and Charlie Burke takes on James Byrne, Jackson Daley, Danko Bzenic and Kayne Rutley.
The Royals’ on-ball group of Charlie Campbell, Daniel Pearce and Lachlan Bourke faces a challenge against Connor Dalgleish, Carlos Egan and Jonathan Lanyon.
Big roles for the Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder-coached Donald will be played by Baxter Donnellon and Bill Sam on the wings, and by Seth Pearse, Luca Rice and Cooper Mackenzie-George in attack.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort has James and Keiren Wilson, Liam Bianco and Tyson Rutley capable of winning many contests.
Charlton is back home at Charlton Park to take on St Arnaud.
The Saints have won this season’s showdowns with the Navies by 118 and 146 points.
It’s another huge challenge for the Carl Thiesz-coached Charlton team.
Key players for the Navies include Billy Sexton and Patrick Soulsby in defence, Jake Lawry in the centre, ruckman Ben Lanyon, and Jackson Zagame, Bailey Hooper-Dixon, and Leigh Van Boven.
St Arnaud forwards Torin Petrie, Max Hungerford, Josh Hicks and Jay Kirwood will be aiming to capitalise on many chances.
Players to watch for the Saints include Joe and Nick Maishman as ruck-rover and rover, Lachlan O’Connell at half-back, and co-coach Darby Schilder in the centre.
St Arnaud has Harley Durward as co-coach.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder after 14 rounds:
Wedderburn 209 per cent, 52 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 235, 48; Calder United Lions 166, 40; Birchip-Watchem 151, 34; St Arnaud 83, 20; Boort 79, 16; Donald 81, 14; Charlton 12, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
66 Max Cahoon, SLN.
63 Steven Stroobants, CUL.
56 Dale Pearce, CUL.
40 Ricardo Liparota, BW.
30 Matt Perri, W.
29 Ashley Reed, D.
28 Joseph Reid, BW.
27 Oscar Holt, W; Torin Petrie, SA.
24 Boyd Bailey, SLN; Jay Kirwood, SA.
23 Tyler Curtis, W; Max Hungerford, SA; Lachy McClelland, SLN; Kayne Rutley, B.
22 Rylee Smith, CUL.
20 Rhona Conboy, BW; Billy McInnes, SLN.
18 Meyrick Buchanan, BW.