THE ladder-leading Donald takes on the Birchip Watchem Bulls when the Goldacres North Central Football League’s senior footy competition resumes this Saturday.
It’s first against third as both unbeaten line-ups meet on the Bulls’ turf at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip after the Easter holiday break.
The Trevor Ryan-coached Donald has made an impressive start to the season.
The Royals won at St Arnaud by 88 points and kicked off the ’22 campaign by scoring a 101-point win against Boort at Donald.
Key players for the Royals include ruckman-forward Shane Neaves, midfielders/onballers Brody Haddow, Rian McGough and Ross Young, and an attack that includes Will Burke, Jordan Bates-Gilby and Josh Potter.
The Bulls won a great battle with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, 59-48 at Birchip in round one and then won at Boort by 76 points.
Players to watch for Birchip Watchem include Sam Simmons in the centre, rover Stefan Pye, ruck-rover Elliot Jaeschke, key forward Dylan Adkins and ruckman Lochy Sirett.
The defence is led by Dale Hinkley, Joseph Reid and Kyle Stevens.
Fifth takes on fourth as Wycheproof Narraport and Sea Lake Nandaly meet in the Demons’ den at Wycheproof.
The Demons will be fired up after a 71-point loss at Wedderburn.
Key players for the Boe Bish-coached Wycheproof Narraport include ruck-rover Gedd Hommelhoff, half-forward Justin Bateson, full-forward Cody Green, Joel Turner in the centre, Lachlan Van Schaik in the ruck, Sam Faure and Joe Kenny.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers struck back from a first-round defeat to score a 205-7 win at home against Charlton in round two.
Billy McInnes led the attack on eight goals as Justin Ellis, six; Trent Donnan, four; and Will Simpson, three, finished off many attacking moves.
A powerful Tigers line-up includes centreman Austin Mertz, Brodie Adcock in defence, ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan, rover Bryce Delmenico, and Kane Donnan at centre half-back.
Trent Donnan, Brody Weir and John Summerhayes can win many contests.
The season duck for Charlton or Boort will be broken as the Navies and Magpies meet at Charlton Park.
Both teams have battled in attack, especially Charlton which was held to a goal by the Tigers at Sea Lake.
The play of key forward Bailey Kemp, ruck-rover Thomas Finlay, Tim Hill at centre half-back, Daniel and Riely Thiesz, and Ricky Welch will be crucial to Charlton’s chances.
The Navies will also look to Aaron Walklate, Sean O’Connor, Kade Blow and Rhys Thompson to set up plenty of attacking moves.
Boort worked hard against the Bulls, but was blown away in the second and third quarters when it scored just a point in both of those terms.
Magpies’ coach Andy Hawker will be looking for big games from ruckman Nathan Twigg, midfielder/onballer Ben Knight, key forward Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Keiren Wilson, Jarrod Starr, Matt Chisari, Darcy and Tom Hawker.
Boort’s attack includes Cody Gunn, Keanu Padula and Jack Smith.
Wedderburn tackles St Arnaud at home on the Donaldson Park turf.
The Redbacks won every quarter on their way to a 71-point win against Wycheproof Narraport in round two.
There are plenty of attacking options for Wedderburn as a strong forward line includes Danny Benaim, Tom Campbell, Ben DeAraugo, and the Holt trio of Isaac, Louis and Luke.
Other key players for the Sam Barnes-coached Redbacks are Jordan Rosengren, Hamish Winter-Irving, Jaran McKay, Jackson Guan and Adam Postle.
It’s another daunting task for the Torin Pertrie-coached Saints who have met Wycheproof Narraport and Donald so far.
Kurtis Torney, Jacob Tillig, Daniel Gifford and Mitch Egan were best in the Saints’ latest hit-out.
A St Arnaud defence that includes Thomas Bertalli, Bailey and Harley Durward will be reliant on a lot of pressure from team-mates further up the ground.
The Saints will be desperate to improve on a return of just two goals from their latest match.
North Central FL senior footy ladder:
Donald 485 per cent, 8 points; Wedderburn 201, 8; Birchip Watchem 200, 8; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 383, 4; Wycheproof-Narraport 71, 4; St Arnaud 40, 0; Boort 28, 0; Charlton 20, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
11 Billy McInnes, SLN.
9 Danny Benaim, W.
8 Tom Campbell, W.
7 Justin Ellis, SLN.
6 Daniel Castellano, BW.
5 Ben DeAraugo, W; Blake Grant, D.
4 Justin Bateson, WN; Trent Donnan, SLN; Rian McGough, D; Jordan Rosengren, W.
3 Leigh Burke, D; Will Burke, D; Cody Green, WN; Joshua Hicks, SA; Elliot Jaeschke, BW; Brodie Leonard-Shannon, B; Jaran McKay, W; Shane Neaves, D; William Sheahan, BW; Will Simpson, SLN; Riley Thiesz, C; Ross Young, D.
Written by Nathan Dole.
Photo Credit – 1 Mile2Go Photography
