BY NATHAN DOLE
A SHOWDOWN between Sea Lake Nandaly and Donald highlights this Saturday’s 17th round of senior footy in the Goldacres North Central FNL season.
The unbeaten Sea Lake Nandaly will be on home turf at Sea Lake as first tackles third from 2.30pm.
When these clubs met in round eight it was the SLN Tigers who charged to a 20-goal victory on Donald’s ground.
The Rohan Brown-coached Donald put in a superb effort last Saturday to beat Nullawil by 11 points.
The Royal Blues’ attack was led by Sam Dunstan, four, and Feeny medallist and gun on-baller Ross Young on two.
A key to Donald’s chances of breaking the Tigers’ unbeaten run will be the midfield and defensive match-ups.
Best in Donald’s latest victory included Dyson Bell-Warren, Hayden Geddes, Jamie Papalia, Josh Potter, Jesse Wallin and Ross Young.
Other key players for the Royal Blues are Ryley Barrack, Will Burke and Eddie Landwehr.
Sea Lake Nandaly dominated last Saturday’s match against Wycheproof-Narraport to beat the Demons by 152 points at Wycheproof.
Former Adelaide and Geelong key forward Josh Jenkins kicked seven goals in that match and looms as a huge threat to Donald’s defence.
Other targets in attack for the yellow and black include co-coach Billy McInnes, Tyson McKenzie and John Summerhayes.
Players to watch for the ladder leaders include co-coach Bryce Delmenico, Thomas Cox, Trent Donnan Matt Farrelly, captain Ryan O’Sullivan and Jack Poulton.
Nullawil will be aiming to rebound from defeat when it hosts Wedderburn.
A goal separated these clubs when Nullawil won, 75-69 at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park in the eighth round.
Players to watch for the Brett Barker-coached Nullawil include captain Jordan Humphreys, Josh Bamford, Jonathan Casey, David Isbister, Patrick Kelly and Daniel Watts.
The Maroons’ line-up includes Lucas and Zac Caccaviello, and Adam and Mark Thomson.
Wedderburn coach Sam Barnes kicked 10 goals in last week’s home win against St Arnaud and will be determined to lead the red and black to another victory.
A first-quarter blitz by the Redbacks netted a score of 8.10 (58) against the Saints.
Targets in Wedderburn’s forward 50m arc include Danny Benaim, Tom Campbell and Jordan Rosengren.
The Redbacks will look to Jordan Hargreaves, Jayden Jones and Mitch McEwen,.and the Holt quartet of Isaac, Louis, Luke and Rhordan to win plenty of the footy.
Charlton is back at Charlton Park to take on Wycheproof-Narraport.
In round eight the Demons beat the Navies by 69 points at Wycheproof.
The Boe Bish-coached Wycheproof-Narraport will have sights on its eighth win of the season.
Key players for the Demons include Rick and Spencer Allan, Justin Bateson, Gedd Hommelhoff, Thomas Trewin and Josh Walsh.
Charlton will be chasing its fourth victory of the season.
Nick Thompson is in superb form in Charlton’s attack.
The play of Kris Clifford, Cobi Fitzpatrick, Harrison and Jesse Taylor will have a major bearing on the chances of the Andy Nisbet-coached Navies.
Others to watch for Charlton include Travis Baird, Jaydon Cowling, Chris Gavaghan, captain Tim Hill, Riely Thiesz and Aaron Walklate.
St Arnaud tackles Boort on the Saints’ turf at Lord Nelson Park.
Best for Anthony Bourke-coached St Arnaud against Birchip-Watchem last round were Owen Lowe, Matt Goode and William Bertalli.
The Saints will look to Riley Burke, Harley Durward and Daniel Gifford.
Boort is on the rebound from a 95-point loss at home to Birchip-Watchem.
The Dale Cameron-coached Magpies will start favourite to take the points at St Arnaud.
Boort’s line-up for last round included Western Bulldogs premiership player Shane Biggs, Matt Chisari and Angus Trethowan.
Birchip-Watchem has the bye.
Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Sea Lake Nandaly 270 per cent, 56 points; Birchip-Watchem 164, 44; Donald 126, 40; Nullawil 151, 36; Wycheproof-Narraport 83, 30; Wedderburn 113, 24; Boort 74, 14; Charlton 53, 12; St Arnaud 27, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
75 Sam Dunstan, Donald.
69 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
50 Sam Barnes, Wedderburn.
39 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
38 Nathan Gordon, Birchip-Watchem.
36 Nick Thompson, Charlton.
36 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
32 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
31 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
29 Daniel Castellano, Birchip-Watchem.
29 John Summerhayes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
28 Gedd Hommelhoff, Wycheproof-Narraport.
27 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
24 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
23 Danny Benaim, Wedderburn.
23 Dean Smith, Nullawil.
22 Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Boort.
22 Jordan Humphreys, Nullawil.
20 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
20 Chris Gavaghan, Charlton.
19 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
19 Cody Green, Wycheproof-Narraport.
19 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
16 Ben Fraser, Wycheproof-Narraport.
16 Jordan Rosengren, Wedderburn.