THE Birchip-Watchem Bulls will be fired up when they tackle the ladder-leading Wedderburn in Saturday’s third round in the Goldacres North Central senior footy season.
Runner-up in ’25, Birchip-Watchem has started this campaign with a 31-point loss at Sea Lake and one-point loss at home to Calder United Lions.
The Bulls are back in their pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip to take on Wedderburn from 2.30pm.
Best for the Bulls in the rematch of the ’25 grand final against Calder United Lions were Ben Lakin, Joseph Madio, Daniel Rendell and Harry Cook.
Wedderburn followed up a round one win against Calder United at Nullawil by dominating the Woosang Challenge match against Charlton at Donaldson Park.
In-form players for the Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks include Tyler Curtis, Noah Furlong, Hamish and Joe Lockhart, and Jackson McEwen.
Wedderburn’s squad includes Zach Pallpratt, classy forward Matt Perri, Adam Postle and Mitch Woods.
It’s third against second as Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers play St Arnaud at Sea Lake Oval.
The Tigers have kicked off the season with wins against Birchip-Watchem by 31 points and Boort by 65 points.
Been a stunning start by the Saints who won the round one clash at Charlton Park by 118 points and then followed up with a 70-59 win at home against Donald in the Chris “Pa” Wall Memorial match.
Massive test for the Harley Durward and Darby Schilder-coached Saints against the Tigers.
A powerful team representing Sea Lake Nandaly includes Max Cahoon, Charlie and Thomas Cox, Robin Nahas, Adam Pattison, Billy McInnes and Brody Weir.
The Tigers are jointly coached by Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan.
Donald will be on home turf against Charlton.
The Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder-coached Donald will start favourite to mark a second win.
In round one the Royal Blues upset Boort by 10 points on Donald’s turf.
Key players for the Royals include Dyson Bell-Warren, Lachlan Bourke, Thomas Guljas, Pala Kuma, Luca Rice, and Bill Sam.
Been a tough run for the Carl Thiesz-coached Charlton which was kept to a tally of two goals against St Arnaud and a solitary major at Wedderburn.
The Navies’ line-up bound for Donald includes Mason Heenan, Ben Lanyon, Billy Sexton, Jed and Rhys Thompson, Zac Wescott and Jackson Zagame.
Calder United Lions will be back in their den at Nullawil to take on Boort.
The Jordan Humphreys and Tom Bickley-coached Lions bounced back from a 22-point loss to Wedderburn at Nullawil to win at Birchip by a point.
Gun recruit Steven Stroobants kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance for the Lions.
Calder United’s team to tackle Boort includes Oscar Madden at centre half-back, Justin Laird in the centre, Dean Putt in the ruck, and Mitch Farmer, Matt Trzeciak and George Turner in attack.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort is yet to bank premiership points.
Huge challenge for the Magpies against the reigning premier.
Boort’s key players include Liam Bianco, Danko Bzenic, Ethan Coleman, Carlos Egan, Jonathan Lanyon, Tom Potter, and James Wilson.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Wedderburn 436 per cent, 8 points; St Arnaud 272, 8; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 176, 8; Donald 99, 4; Calder United Lions 84, 4; Birchip-Watchem 77, 0; Boort 67, 0; Charlton 7, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
11 Matt Perri, W’burn.
7 Max Cahoon, SLN; Steven Stroobants, CU.
6 Max Hungerford, SA; Lachy McClelland, SLN; Torin Petrie, SA.
5 Thomas Cox, SLN; Tyler Curtis, W’burn.