THE clash of the Lions and Tigers highlights Saturday’s round 16 action in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
Calder United and Sea Lake Nandaly will warm up for finals in a big match at Wycheproof from 2.30pm.
A 12-3 record has Calder United in second place, a win and 12 per cent clear of the third-placed reigning premier.
When these clubs met in round nine it was the Lions who roared in an 85-45 victory at Sea Lake Oval.
Among the many key match-ups will be in the Lions’ attack where Calder United has Jack Exell, Daniel Watts and Mitch Farmer as key targets.
The Sea Lake Nandaly defence includes Kane Donnan, Jack Poulton and co-coach Billy McInnes.
Lions’ on-ballers Matthew Trzecizk, Steven Kennedy and Zane Keighran will take on Ryan O’Sullivan, co-coach Bryce Delmenico and Trent Donnan.
United defenders Josh Walsh, Oscar Madden, Boe Bish and co-coach Jordan Humphreys will play crucial roles against an SLN attack which includes Adam Pattison, Josh Jenkins, Andy Collins and Max Cahoon.
The Tigers will be without Cooper Roberts who was handed a one-match ban after an early guilty plea for rough conduct.
Wedderburn and St Arnaud will be aiming to end their seasons with a victory when they clash at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn won on the Saints’ turf at Lord Nelson Park in round nine by 111 points.
Wedderburn’s squad includes captain Joe Lockhart, Mitch Jensen, Zach Pallpratt, Noah Furlong, Darcy Jackson, Adam Postle and Danny Benaim.
Best for the Saints in last Saturday’s home game against Boort were Daniel Gifford, Kurtis Torney, Owen Lowe and Jay Kirwood.
A St Arnaud squad coached by Scott Driscoll includes Jackson Needs, Max Hungerford, Luke Jackson and Bailey Durward.
The unbeaten Birchip-Watchem will be on home turf at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval to play Donald.
Bulls’ full-forward Ben Edwards kicked 11 goals in last Saturday’s win against Charlton for a season tally of 116 in 14 matches.
A powerful Birchip-Watchem squad coached by Ash Connick includes Marshall and Nicholas Rippon, Sam Simmons, Hamish Hosking, Lachlan Ryan and Dale Hinkley.
Been a tough season for the Daniel Pearce-coached Donald.
The Royal Blues team to tackle the Bulls includes Jett Adams, Dyson Bell-Warren, Brady Griffiths, Kalon Gren, Thomas Reekie and captain Josh Talty.
Boort will warm up for the finals by tackling Charlton at Boort Park.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort beat the Navies at Charlton Park in round nine by 92 points.
Players to watch for the Magpies include Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, James Keeble, Kayne Rutley, Jacob Mulquiny, Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Carlos Egan and Will Perryman.
Huge roles for Charlton will be played by Patrick Soulsby, Sean O’Connor and Ben Xiriha in defence, Ben Lanyon in the ruck, and Billy Sexton and Seb Zagame in attack.
Charlton coach Mitch Collins will start in the centre.
Goldacres North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 320 per cent, 60 points; Calder United Lions 286, 48; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 274, 44; Boort 144, 36; Wedderburn 142, 28; Charlton 27, 16; St Arnaud 36, 8; Donald 11, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
116 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
68 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
61 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
55 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
53 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
34 Nicholas Rippon, Birchp-Watchem.
33 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
30 Jordan Humphreys, Calder United Lions.
27 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
25 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
25 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
24 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
23 Jye Mortlock, Wedderburn.
22 Tom Gibson, Birchip-Watchem.
22 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
19 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
19 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
19 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
19 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
19 Mitch McEwen, Wedderburn.
18 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
18 Steven Kennedy, Calder United Lions.
17 James Keeble, Boort.
17 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
16 Bryce Delmenico, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
16 Zane Keighran , Calder United Lions.
15 Carlos Egan, Boort.
15 Jarvis Keogh, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
15 Rylee Smith, Calder United Lions.
14 Dale Pearce, Calder United Lions.