-By Nathan Dole
A SHOWDOWN between fourth and fifth at Barham highlights this Saturday’s senior footy action in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league.
Koondrook Barham will be on home turf against Tooleybuc Manangatang in a crucial match for both clubs which starts at 2.30pm.
The River Raiders and Saints have achieved three wins and are separated by 30 per cent as they occupy the fourth and fifth rungs on the ladder.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham has played one more match than the visitors.
The KB line-up scored a 31-point victory in last Saturday’s match on Lake Boga’s ground.
Best for the River Raiders were Lee Dale, Benji Neal, Patrick Goble and Ryleigh Wilkinson.
A key match-up for the Raiders will be in the ruck where Jacob Barrington faces the in-form Connor McDonald.
Other players to watch for Koondrook Barham include Matt Bilton, captain Jack Thrum, Jack Shannon and Jesse Wilson.
Tooleybuc Manangatang dominated its home game against Swan Hill at Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints won 135-37 as Connor McDonald, Josh Williams, Josh Domaille and Zach Prentice led the way against the Swans.
The Saints have Seb Rogers in the centre, Blake Grant as ruck-rover, Lochlan Prentice, Jedd and Rydar Morris.
Woorinen will be on home turf against Lake Boga.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen will be confident of stretching its unbeaten run to six matches.
Best for the Tigers in last Saturday’s win at Kerang by 82 points were Lachlan Warburton, Taylor Cameron, captain Henry Thompson and Jye Barry.
Woorinen’s team to tackle the Magpies includes ruck-rover Jose Miliado, Robert Rush and Taylor Cameron in midfield, Doug Beames and Jamie Nicholas in attack.
Lake Boga will be fired up after a five-goal loss at home to Koondrook Barham.
Best for the Dean Helmers-coached Magpies were Rory Colville, Nelson Ibbs, Darby Hayes and Marty Parsons
Lake Boga’s team to take on the Tigers includes ruck-rover Braden Padmore, Ryan Fox, Zac Warne and Jayden Lonergan.
Cohuna Kangas will be on their ground to play Kerang.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas are on the rebound from a five-goal loss to Mallee.
Best in Cohuna’s match in the Eagles’ nest at Lalbert were Joel Helman, Ricky Monti, Hudson Fountain and Daniel Coates.
Cohuna has the experience of Will Lee and Jarrod Findlay in defence, run of Jacob Mitchell and Rhys Thrum in midfield, and Corbin Anderson and Tyson Farrant as key targets in attack.
It’s another big test for the Paul Grayling-coached Kerang.
The Blues were outplayed by Woorinen in last Saturday’s match at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Rylee Gitsham, Jonah McKnight, Martin Kelly and Cooper Meehan were best for the Blues.
Big roles will be played by ruck-rover Nic Oliver, rover Cody Makeham, Nicholas Murray in the centre, Archer Dibsdale, Tyson Clingan and Myles Greenwood.
There were four members of the McKnight clan – Bohden, Ethan, Flynn and Jonah named in Kerang’s forward line.
Balranald faces Mallee Eagles on the Roos’ ground at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
The Roos are on the rebound from a 127-point loss to Nyah Nyah West United at Nyah.
Balranald’s best against the Demons were Cody Henness, Jack Salau, Tanner Coulthard and Lachlan Bence.
Huge roles for Roos’ defenders Jarryd Stead, Lachlan Bence and Ryan Middlebook against Mallee opponents Darcy Hourigan, Jacob O’Meara and Andrew Mead-Harding.
Balranald is jointly coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau.
A win-loss tally of four-one has Mallee Eagles perched on the ladder’s second rung.
Mallee’s best in the win against Cohuna Kangas were co-coach Harry Allen, Cameron Cook, Toby Sheahan and Troy Anderson.
The Eagles’ team bound for Balranald includes co-coach Brent Macleod as ruck-rover, Matthew Rankine, Isaiah Bull and Zac O’Meara.
Tyntynder takes on Nyah Nyah West United at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
The Bulldogs from Tyntynder had the bye last round as the Demons fired up on Balranald’s ground.
Tyntynder has Josh Potter in the ruck, Darcy Bibby in the centre, Elliot Broad and Angus Crowe in defence, and Patrick Crowe and Elia Ware in attack.
The Bulldogs are coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
Best for NNWU Demons at Balranald were Jaydyn Stirling, Nick O’Neill, co-captain Joel Walsh and Alex Erlandson.
A Demons’ team coached by Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy includes co-captain Dominic Gallo, Riley Daniels, Jordan Iudica, Joel Campbell and Ethan Saville.
Swan Hill has the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 208 per cent, 20 points; Mallee Eagles 239, 16; Cohuna Kangas 263, 12; Tooleybuc Manangatang 114, 12; Koondrook Barham 84, 12; Nyah Nyah West United 132, 8; Lake Boga 100, 8; Kerang 78, 8; Balranald 28, 4; Tyntynder 53, 0; Swan Hill 36, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
22 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
17 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
15 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
14 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
13 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
12 Nick O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
11 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
10 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
10 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
9 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
9 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
9 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
9 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
8 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
8 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
8 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
8 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
8 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
8 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
7 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
7 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
7 Lee Dale, Koondrook Barham.
7 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
7 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
6 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
6 Harry Allen, Mallee Eagles.
6 Alex Birch, Nyah Nyah West United.
6 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
6 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
6 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
6 Flynn McKnight, Kerang.
6 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.