BY NATHAN DOLE
Rivals try to halt rampaging Bulls
OPPONENTS are yet to beat Birchip-Watchem Bulls in this season’s Goldacres North Central senior footy action.
After 10 rounds the Trevor Ryan-coached Bulls hold top spot on a record of eight wins and a draw.
The only team which went close to ending Birchip-Watchem’s winning run was Wedderburn in seventh round.
A classic contest between the Bulls and Redbacks ended 82-all at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Birchip-Watchem is likely to again be a strong challenger to add to its most recent premiership victory of two years ago.
Big test for the Bulls this Saturday on Donald’s turf.
A formidable attack for Birchip-Watchem is led by Ben Edwards who leads the race for the NCFL goalkicking award on 57 goals.
Add in the likes of Joseph Reid, Nicholas Rippon and Ty Colbert and the Bulls are capable of a big score.
Reigning premier, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers hold second place.
Sole loss for the Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes-coached Tigers was on the Bulls’ turf at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
A key inclusion when available is former Adelaide and Geelong forward Josh Jenkins who has kicked 28 goals for the yellow and black.
Donald is desperate to break a premiership drought.
The Royals most recent grand final victory was in 2006.
A team coached by Josh Potter has worked incredibly hard to achieve six wins and also drew its clash at home with Boort.
Players to watch for Donald include Ryley Barrack, Andrew Browne, Dale Kerr and Jesse Wallin.
Wedderburn’s latest victory against St Arnaud meant the Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks moved back to the fourth rung.
The league runs a four-team finals series.
Heat will be on the Redbacks who have racked up 18 premiership points from Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil who are on 16 points.
Wedderburn has the experience of Danny Benaim, Tom Campbell and Jordan Hargreaves, and skill of Oscar Holt and Jackson McEwen.
The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Wycheproof-Narraport is craving consistency.
The Demons fired up to beat Wedderburn and Nullawil, but were beaten at Boort Park.
Form of Steven Kennedy, Spencer Allan, Boe Bish and Maysen Murgov will have a major bearing on Wycheproof-Narraport’s finals prospects.
Last season’s runner-up, Nullawil will be determined to return to the winners’ list.
The Daryl Wilson-coached Maroons have the bye this Saturday which follows recent defeats inflicted by Wycheproof-Narraport and Birchip-Watchem.
Key players for Ultima include Mitch Farmer, Dean Putt, Daniel Watts and former Swan Hill on-baller Matthew Wade.
Also in contention is Boort which is on 14.
The Dale Cameron-coached Magpies showed what they are capable of in 73-all draw with Donald in round eight.
Boort will look to Jarrod Fitpatrick, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, James Keeble and Natnael McLaren to lead the charge into the top four.
Although out of finals calculations, the Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud and Mitch Collins-coached Charlton could have a say in just who does make the league’s finals action.
The Saints will look for strong finishes to the season by the likes of Harley and Bailey Durward, Mitch Egan, Ryan Lempa and Zac Phillips.
Key players for the Navies from Charlton Park include Tyler Fehsler, Chris Gavaghan, Jed Thompson, Rhyen and Sam Woods.
A club-by-club look at the run home and season so far:
Birchip-Watchem – 8 won, 0 lost, 1 draw, 208 per cent, 34 points.
Run home: Donald, away; St Arnaud, home; Sea Lake Nandaly, a; Charlton, h; Boort, a; Wedderburn, h; Wycheproof-Narraport, a; bye.
So far: d Nullawil 108-84, d Donald 102-28, d St Arnaud 109-38, d Sea Lake Nandaly 96-83, d Charlton 157-42, d Boort 162-44, dr Wedderburn 82-82, d Wycheproof-Narraport 91-60, bye, d Nullawil 148-44.
Leading goalkickers:
57 Ben Edwards; 26 Nicholas Rippon; 18 Joseph Reid; 12 Ty Colbert; 8 Daniel Bell; 7 Meyrick Buchanan; 6 Lachy Foott, Darcy Reid.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Nicholas Rippon, Ben Edwards, Joseph Reid, Hamish Hosking, Meyrick Buchanan.
Sea Lake Nandaly – 8-1, 218, 32.
Run home: Wedderburn, h; Wycheproof-Narraport, a; Birchip-Watchem, h; Nullawil, a; Donald, h; St Arnaud, a; bye; Charlton, h.
So far: d Boort 119-78, d Wedderburn 81-65, d Wycheproof-Narraport 131-12, lt Birchip-Watchem 83-96, d Nullawil 99-71, d Donald 63-41, d St Arnaud 136-17, bye, d Charlton 139-35, d Boort 135-36.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Josh Jenkins; 20 Billy McInnes; 12 Lachy McClelland, Tyson McKenzie; 11 Will Simpson; 9 Thomas Cox; 8 Wade Donnan; 7 Max Cahoon, Brody Weir; 5 Jackson McMahon, Adam Pattison.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Thomas Cox, Wade Donnan, Josh Jenkins, Jack Poulton, Tyson McKenzie, Ryan O’Sullivan.
Donald – 6-2-1, 121, 26.
Run home: Birchip-Watchem, h; Nullawil, a; bye; St Arnaud, h; Sea Lake Nandaly, a; Charlton, h; Boort, a; Wedderburn, h.
So far: d Wycheproof-Narraport 86-59, lt Birchip-Watchem 28-102, d Nullawil 109-70, bye, d St Arnaud 94-50, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 41-63, d Charlton 49-80, dr Boort 73-73, d Wedderburn 99-42, d Wycheproof-Narraport 54-34.
Leading goalkickers:
25 Trent Grant; 13 Blake Grant; 11 Noah Berry; 8 Josh Potter; 7 Andrew Browne, Dale Kerr; 5 Jamie Papalia, Ross Young.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Andrew Browne, Ryley Barrack, Dale Kerr, Jesse Wallin, Ryan Hards.
Wedderburn – 4-4-1, 120, 18.
Run home: Sea Lake Nandaly, a; Charlton, h; Boort, a; bye; Wycheproof-Narraport, h; Birchip-Watchem, a; Nullawil, h; Donald, a.
So far: d St Arnaud 127-38, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 65-81, d Charlton 98-42, d Boort 117-68, bye, lt Wycheproof-Narraport 60-67, dr Birchip-Watchem 82-82, lt Nullawil 65-93, lt Donald 42-99, d St Arnaud 79-39.
Leading goalkickers:
27 Tom Campbell; 19 Anthony Zelencich; 15 Oscar Holt; 10 Darcy Jackson; 9 Mitch McEwen; 5 Hamish Lockhart.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Jackson McEwen, Darcy Jackson, Joe Lockhart, Oscar Holt, Jayden Jones, Jordan Hargreaves.
Wycheproof-Narraport – 4-5, 93, 16.
Run home: St Arnaud, a; Sea Lake Nandaly, h; Charlton, a; Boort, h; Wedderburn, a; bye; Birchip-Watchem, h; Nullawil, a.
So far: lt Donald 59-86, d St Arnaud 106-56, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 12-131, d Charlton 85-47, lt Boort 72-74, d Wedderburn 67-60, bye, lt Birchip Watchem 60-91, d Nullawil 121-63, lt Donald 34-54.
Leading goalkickers:
18 Nicholas Grabowski; 9 Josh Grabowski; 8 Corey Jones, Steven Kennedy, Wayne Mitrovic, Maysen Murgov; 6 Cody Green; 5 Matthew Trzeciak.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Steven Kennedy, Boe Bish, Maysen Murgov, Thomas Trewin, Spencer Allan.
Nullawil – 4-5, 89, 16.
Run home: bye; Donald, h; St Arnaud, a; Sea Lake Nandaly, h; Charlton, a; Boort, h; Wedderburn, a; Wycheproof-Narraport, h.
So far: lt Birchip-Watchem 84-108, bye, lt Donald 70-109, d St Arnaud 109-37, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 71-99, d Charlton 116-60, d Boort 87-78, d Wedderburn 93-65, lt Wycheproof-Narraport 63-121, lt Birchip-Watchem 44-148.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Mitch Farmer; 21 Jack Exell; 10 Rylee Smith; 9 Adam Thomson; 5 Andrew Casey, David Isbister, Nick Keogh.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Daniel Watts, Dean Putt, Mitch Farmer, Rylee Smith, Matthew Wade.
Boort – 3-5-1, 78, 14.
Run home: Charlton, a; bye; Wedderburn, h; Wycheproof-Narraport, a; Birchip-Watchem, h; Nullawil, a; Donald, h; St Arnaud, a.
So far: lt Sea Lake Nandaly 78-119, d Charlton 81-36, bye, lt Wedderburn 68-117, d Wycheproof-Narraport 74-72, lt Birchip-Watchem 44-162, lt Nullawil 78-87, dr Donald 73-73, d St Arnaud 118-22, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 36-135.
Leading goalkickers:
18 James Keeble; 12 Ethan Coleman; 10 Will Perryman; 8 Natnael McLaren, Tom Potter; 7 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Jarrod Fitzpatrick; 5 James Byrne.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, James Keeble, Tom Potter, Matt Austin, James Byrne, Natnael McLaren.
St Arnaud– 1-8, 41, 4.
Run home: Wycheproof-Narraport, h; Birchip-Watchem, a; Nullawil, h; Donald, a; bye; Sea Lake Nandaly, h; Charlton, a; Boort, h.
So far: lt Wedderburn 38-127, lt Wycheproof-Narraport 56-106, lt Birchip-Watchem 38-109, lt Nullawil 37-109, lt Donald 50-94, bye, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 17-136, d Charlton 77-34, lt Boort 22-118, lt Wedderburn 39-79.
Leading goalkickers:
7 Torin Petrie; 6 Mitch Egan; 5 Jake Hicks, Jake Male;
Leading players as per club best each round:
Harley Durward, Zac Phillips, Mitch Egan, Scott Driscoll, Ryan Lempa.
Charlton – 0-8, 41, 0.
Run home: Boort, h; Wedderburn, a; Wycheproof-Narraport, h; Birchip-Watchem, a; Nullawil, h; Donald, a; St Arnaud, h; Sea Lake Nandaly, away.
So far: bye, lt Boort 36-81, lt Wedderburn 42-98, lt Wycheproof-Narraport 47-85, lt Birchip-Watchem 42-157, lt Nullawil 60-116, lt Donald 49-80, lt St Arnaud 34-77, lt Sea Lake Nandaly 35-139.
Leading goalkickers:
9 Chris Gavaghan; 5 Mitch Collins, Jesse Taylor.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Tyler Fehsler, Jed Thompson, Rhyen Woods, Mitch Collins, Sam Woods.