THE Birchip-Watchem Bulls kept Calder United Lions to a solitary goal in Saturday’s 16th and final round of the home-and-away series in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
It was a dominant display by the Bulls in Bendigo Bank Round as they charged to a 148-point victory in their pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
The Bulls led 42-6 at quarter-time and kept the Lions to a behind across the next three quarters.
The Ash Connick-coached Birchip-Watchem scored five goals in the second term and six in the third.
A tally of 6.7 in the final term completed a 155-7 victory.
Zane Connick kicked eight goals in a best afield performance as Joseph Reid added six.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulls were Daniel Bell, three; Lachy Foott and Joseph Madio, two.
Calder United’s only goal was off the boot of James Ison.
Best for the Bulls were Zane Connick, Harry Cook, Ben Lakin, Daniel Bell, Joseph Reid and Joseph Madio.
James Ison, George Turner, Rylee Smith, Jed Bish, Cody Green and Daniel Watts were best for Calder United.
The Jordan Humphreys and Tom Bickley-coached Lions are likely to field a much stronger team for next Saturday’s first semi-final against Birchip-Watchem.
Closest margin of the round was 16 points at Boort Park where the Magpies took on Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Despite facing a 40-point deficit at the start of the final term, Boort fought back brilliantly.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort scored eight goals in the last quarter, but the Tigers answered with four majors.
At the final siren Sea Lake Nandaly led 94-78.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Boyd Bailey on four goals as Max Cahoon, Zac Kelly and Billy McInnes kicked two each.
Leading goalkickers for Boort were Danko Bzenic, Jackson Daley, Kayne Rutley and Jack Smith on two each.
Cooper Roberts, Bryce Delmenico, co-coaches Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan, and Max Cahoon and Charlie Cox were SLN’s best.
Boort’s best were Liam Bianco, Connor Dalgleish, Carlos Egan, Tyson Rutley, Lachlan Fitzgerald and James Byrne.
St Arnaud capped its season with a 73-point win on its turf at Lord Nelson Park against Donald.
The Saints raced to a 35-7 lead by quarter-time.
A high-scoring second term went St Arnaud’s way, 36-25.
In a strong finish to its campaign, St Arnaud scored five goals in the third term and another five in the last.
At the final siren the Saints were up 142-69.
Liam Loverso capped a brilliant match with 10 goals as Torin Petrie kicked three and Max Hungerford and Jay Kirwood chipped in with two each.
Donald’s attack was led by Lachlan Bourke on three goals as Cooper Mackenzie-George, Ashley Reed and Josh Smulders kicked two each.
Best for St Arnaud were Liam Loverso, Nick Maishman, Mitch Egan, Jay Kirwood, Joe Maishman and Darby Schilder.
Donald’s best were Thomas Guljas, Cooper MacKenzie-George, Luca Rice, Parker Sneddon, Bill Sam and Ashley Reed.
A St Arnaud team coached by Harley Durward and Darby Schilder ends the season with a seven-nine record and fifth placing.
Was a tough run for the Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder-coached Donald which was seventh on a tally of three wins,12 lossess, and a draw.
The ladder-leading Wedderburn scored a 147-point victory on its turf at Donaldson Park against Charlton.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks led 24-1 at quarter-time and then scored five majors in the second to be up 59-2 at the long break.
After a wasteful 2.10 in the third, Wedderburn’s accuracy returned as it slammed on 12.3 in the final term to complete a 156-9 win.
Tom Campbell led the Redbacks’ attack on five goals as Jye Mortlock kicked four.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red and black were Noah Furlong, Louis Holt, Dane Keuken, Hamish Lockhart and Mitch McEwen on two each.
Charlton coach Carl Thiesz was on target for the Navies.
Wedderburn’s best were Tyler Curtis, Jye Mortlock, Tom Campbell, Noah Furlong, Hamish Lockhart and Zach Pallpratt.
Jake Lawry, Jeff Debast, Billy Sexton, Bailey Hooper-Dixon, Sean O’Connor and Joseph Monaghan were Charlton’s best.
Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy ladder after the 16th and final round in the home-and-away series:
Wedderburn 223 per cent, 60 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 216, 56; Calder United Lions 135, 40; Birchip-Watchem 159, 38; St Arnaud 95, 28; Boort 83, 20; Donald 76, 14; Charlton 13, 0.
Schedule for Saturday’s first semi-finals at Sea Lake Oval:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: Charlton v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Donald.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Wedderburn v Calder United Lions.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Calder United Lions v Birchip-Watchem.
Final standings in the senior goalkicking race:
72 Max Cahoon, SLN.
63 Dale Pearce, CU; Steven Stroobants, CU.
40 Ricardo Liparota, BW.
35 Joseph Reid, BW.
33 Ashley Reed, D.
32 Jay Kirwood, SA.
31 Torin Petrie, SA.
30 Boyd Bailey, SLN; Max Hungerford, SA; Matt Perri, W.
29 Oscar Holt, W.
26 Kayne Rutley, B.
25 Lachy McClelland, SLN.
24 Tyler Curtis, W; Billy McInnes, SLN.
23 Rhona Conboy, BW; Jack Smith, B; Rylee Smith, CU.
22 Tom Campbell, W.
20 Zane Connick, BW.