IT’S a third premiership in four seasons or long-awaited triumph for another when Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Wedderburn contest the Goldacres North Central senior footy grand final this Saturday.
The Tigers and Redbacks will play at Lord Nelson Oval in St Arnaud from 2.30pm.
Premiers in 2023 and ’24, Sea Lake Nandaly faces an opponent aiming to win its ninth premiership and first since the victory in ’14 capped four-in-a-row
It’s two-one in favour of the yellow and black against the red and black this season.
In round six the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn marked an 84-44 win against Sea Lake Nandaly in the Redbacks’ web at Donaldson Park.
When they met in round 13 it was the Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan-coached Tigers who charged to a 118-56 victory at Sea Lake Oval.
Although Wedderburn finished on top of the ladder on a 15-1 record and 223 per cent it was Sea Lake Nandaly, 14-2 and 216 per cent, which outplayed the Redbacks to win the second semi-final at Wycheproof by three goals.
Best for the Tigers in the latest clash between the clubs were Wade Donnan and Boyd Bailey.
Former Richmond and North Melbourne mid/forward Robin Nahas who played 117 matches and kicked 135 goals at the highest level also starred for Sea Lake Nandaly in the second semi.
Wedderburn hit back to win last Saturday’s preliminary final against Birchip-Watchem Bulls at Boort Park by 21 points.
Two of the competition’s stand-out players of the ’26 season, Sea Lake Nandaly’s Wade Donnan and Wedderburn’s Hamish Lockhart will play crucial roles.
In the race for the Feeny Medal as league fairest and best it was Lockhart who polled 25 votes to claim the honour as Donnan was runner-up on 22 votes.
Major strength for SLN is the on-ball and midfield group of Connor Michael, Wade Donnan, Brandon Bailey and Boyd Bailey.
They will be up against Dane Keuken, Mitch McEwen, Hamish Lockhart and Zach Pallpratt.
A Tigers’ attack led by Max Cahoon, 74 goals; Lachy McClelland, 28; Billy McInnes, 25, plus Thomas Cox, Bryce Delmenico and Adam Pattison will test Wedderburn’s defence all match.
The Redbacks’ defence of Isaac Holt, Danny Benaim, Adam Postle, Corey Lowry, Jackson McEwen and Tom Metherell works hard to shut off attacks and also rebound strongly.
Tigers’ defenders Kane Donnan, Cooper Roberts, Robin Nahas, Trent Donnan, Charlie Cox and Jai Wright will be up against Matt Perri, 35 goals; Oscar Holt, 33; Darcy Jackson, Tom Campbell, Noah Furlong and Jye Mortlock.
In midfield, SLN has Cruz O’Sullivan who played 16 matches for Bendigo Pioneers in this season’s Talent League action.
On the other wing the Tigers have Cooper Allan.
Wedderburn mids Sam Lockhart and Rory Lehmann play key roles in working hard into the 50m arc at either end of the ground.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s team:
B: Charlie Cox, Kane Donnan, Jai Wright.
Hb: Robin Nahas, Cooper Roberts, Trent Donnan.
C: Cooper Allan, Boyd Bailey, Cruz O’Sullivan.
Hf: Adam Pattison, Lachy McClelland, Bryce Delmenico.
F: Thomas Cox, Billy McInnes, Max Cahoon.
Foll: Connor Michael, Wade Donnan, Brandon Bailey.
Inter: Brody Weir, Billy Poulton, Zac Kelly.
Wedderburn’s team:
B: Adam Postle, Isaac Holt, Corey Lowry.
Hb: Tom Metherell, Danny Benaim, Jackson McEwen.
C: Sam Lockhart, Zach Pallpratt, Rory Lehmann.
Hf: Darcy Jackson, Oscar Holt, Tom Campbell.
F: Noah Furlong, Matt Perri, Jye Mortlock.
Foll: Dane Keuken, Mitch McEwen, Hamish Lockhart.
Inter: Joe Lockhart, Tyler Curtis, Lachie Raymond.
A huge day for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers includes being in the Haeuslers reserves and Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s grand finals.
The Tigers scored a 36-35 win against St Arnaud in the second semi and meet again in the grand final which starts at 12.35pm.
Brodie Adcock, Jordan Bath, Joel Clohesy and Tom Considine were best for the yellow and black against the Saints last time.
A 49-45 win for St Arnaud against Wedderburn in the preliminary final put the Saints into the decider.
Players to watch for the Saints include Riley Burke, Simon Elliott, Kurtis Torney and Tristan Ward.
It’s the Magpies against the Tigers as Boort tackles Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s clash from 10.55am.
Boort was first to the grand final after a 67-29 win against St Arnaud in the second semi-final.
Best for the Magpies were Cooper Gooding, Brodie McPherson, Jake O’Flaherty and Jaxon Marwood.
The Tigers’ run began with a 25-point victory against Donald in the first semi.
Sea Lake Nandaly then dominated the preliminary final with St Arnaud to win by 91 points.
Nate McClelland, Jacob Cox, Oscar Conlan and Hugo Warne led the charge.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings.
The Tigers won 48-34 at Boort Park in round two.
A great match in the ninth round ended in a 50-44 win for Boort at Sea Lake Oval.
Grand final day kicks off at 9.30am when St Arnaud and Birchip-Watchem contest the Uniting Church under-14s match.
When they met in the second semi it was the Saints who claimed a 28-24 victory.
Darcy Brooke-Oakes, Ned Ezard, Lewis Lowe and Finn Evans were best as the Saints stretched their unbeaten streak to 17 matches.
Birchip-Watchem bounced back for a 65-42 win against Charlton in the preliminary final.
Morgan Greenaway, Eligh Dean, Des Coffey and Ryan Goss were best for the Bulls.
In the home-and-away series, St Arnaud beat the Bulls by 30 and eight points.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 71-40 v Birchip-Watchem at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 2: 150-85 v Boort at Boort Park.
Rd 3: 132-41 v St Arnaud at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 4: 256-14 v Charlton at Charlton Park.
Rd 5: 140-33 v Donald at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 6: 44-84 v Wedderburn at Donaldson Park.
Rd 7: 94-66 v Calder United Lions at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 8: 81-54 v Birchip-Watchem at George Cartwright Oval, Birchip.
Rd 9: 141-50 v Boort at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 10: 116-46 v St Arnaud at Lord Nelson Park, St Arnaud.
Rd 11: 189-4 v Charlton at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 12: 130-56 v Donald at Donald Recreation Reserve.
Rd 13: 118-56 v Wedderburn at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 14: 48-97 v Calder United Lions at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
Rd 15: 92-72 v Birchip-Watchem at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 16: 94-78 v Boort at Boort Park.
Second semi-final: 75-57 v Wedderburn at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
Wedderburn’s run to the seniors grand final:
Rd 1: 67-45 v Calder United at Nullawil Football Oval.
Rd 2: 160-7 v Charlton at Donaldson Park, Wedderburn.
Rd 3: 93-42 v Birchip-Watchem at George Cartwright Oval, Birchip.
Rd 4: 91-46 v Donald at Donald Recreation Reserve.
Rd 5: 126-53 v Boort at Donaldson Park.
Rd 6: 84-44 v Sea Lake Nandaly at Donaldson Park.
Rd 7: 78-39 v St Arnaud at Lord Nelson Park, St Arnaud.
Rd 8: 93-41 v Calder United Lions at Donaldson Park.
Rd 9: 159-9 v Charlton at Charlton Park.
Rd 10: 106-62 v Birchip-Watchem at Donaldson Park.
Rd 11: 94-65 v Donald at Donaldson Park.
Rd 12: 89-63 v Boort at Boort Park.
Rd 13: 56-118 v Sea Lake Nandaly at Sea Lake Oval.
Rd 14: 150-55 v St Arnaud at Donaldson Park.
Rd 15: 100-65 v Calder United Lions at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
Rd 16: 156-9 v Charlton at Donaldson Park.
Second semi-final: 57-75 v Sea Lake Nandaly at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
Preliminary final: 79-58 v Birchip-Watchem at Boort Park.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Lord Nelson Park in St Arnaud:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: St Arnaud v Birchip-Watchem.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: Boort v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v St Arnaud.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Wedderburn.