BY NATHAN DOLE
Kangaroos face leaders at Balranald
BALRANALD takes on the ladder-leading Nyah Nyah West United in this Saturday’s 10th round of the Radio 3SH-backed senior footy competition across the Central Murray.
The Kangaroos and Demons will play at Balranald’s Greenham Park from 2.30pm.
It’s fourth against first as last year’s runner-up, Balranald meets an opponent beaten just once this season.
A crucial match-up for the Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos will be in defence where Jackson Ferguson was named at full-back to oppose gun forward Brandyn Grenfell.
Other key roles in the Roos’ back six will be played by Jaxon Neagle, Ryan Middlebrook and Jack Jones against Demons’ co-coach Nic O’Neill, Charlie Boulton and Nic Threadgold.
Main targets in Balranald’s attack are Rory Fitzgerald, Colin Andrews and Drew Lloyd.
They will be up against Joel Walsh, Campbell Everitt and Joel Campbell.
In the on-ball duels Balranald has Jordan Wilkins, Matt Neagle and Kobe Lloyd to take on Blake Larkings, Dominic Gallo and Ethan Saville who are part of a talented Demons team which has Jason Murphy as co-coach.
Woorinen and Tooleybuc Manangatang clash in Tigers’ territory.
It’s a huge match for the Brad Morris-coached Tooleybuc Manangatang which is now sixth and two points behind the fifth-placed Mallee Eagles.
Beating the Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen on its turf will not be easy.
Key players for the third-placed Tigers include ruckman Arnold Kirby, rover Josh Domaille, Lachlan Gardner and Lachlan Warburton in attack, Doug Beames and Matt Gardner in defence.
Tooleybuc Manangatang will look to Johnathan Marsden, Josh Williams, Kai Kearns, Connor McDonald, Blake Grant, Rydar Morris and Ben Arentz to lead the way to victory.
Lake Boga faces Cohuna Kangas as Lake Boga Sports Club.
Both have just the two wins with the Kangas leading the Magpies on percentage.
Big test for Lake Boga on-ballers David Gourdis, Xavier Sherlock and Brodie Tonkin against Chris Anderson, coach Jack Geary and Jarrod Findlay.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga has Koben Ryan in the centre against Joel Helman.
In attack the Magpies will look to Rory Colville, Aaron Lonergan and Zac Warne to set up or finish off attacks.
Players to watch for Cohuna include Will Lee at full back, Brenton Conforti, Rhys Thrum and Sam McGlone.
Koondrook Barham clashes with Mallee Eagles at Barham.
Huge task for the Will Callow-coached River Raiders against an Eagles team which has won four and draw another of its past five matches.
Koondrook Barham worked hard to be within 22 points of Tooleybuc Manangatang last round.
Ruckman Mitch Christensen was KB’s best against the Saints, along with Kye Attwell, Xavier Leonard and Ryan Bassett.
The Will Callow-coached River Raiders team to take on the Eagles includes Jack Shannon, Scott Wood, Jack Thrum, Patrick Goble, Billy Driscoll and Lachlan Laursen.
Mallee Eagles have soared to the fifth rung and will not want to drop the intensity.
Players to watch for the Eagles include coach Brent Macleod in the centre, Jayden Post, key forward Darcy Hourigan, Andrew Mead-Harding, ruckman Jai Middleton, Joe Halloran and Troy Anderson.
Kerang has the bye.
Tyntynder and Swan Hill played a stand-alone match on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend on June 8.
The Bulldogs won 103-97 at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 144 per cent, 28 points; Kerang 151, 26; Woorinen 135, 24; Balranald 134, 24; Mallee Eagles 106, 22; Tooleybuc Manangatang 103, 20; Tyntynder 102, 20; Cohuna Kangas 92, 8; Lake Boga 61, 8; Swan Hill 67, 0; Koondrook Barham 52, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
37 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
32 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
25 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
22 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
18 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
18 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
17 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
17 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
14 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
13 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
13 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
13 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
12 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
12 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
12 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
11 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
11 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
11 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
10 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
10 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
10 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
9 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
9 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
9 Ryan Semmel, Cohuna Kangas.
8 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
8 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
8 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
PHOTO – GILLIAN NIELD