THERE’S more than four premiership points to be won as Charlton takes on Donald in Saturday’s 12th round in the Goldacres North Central senior footy action.
The Bunters Cup will be up for grabs as the Navies and Royals clash at Charlton Park from 2.30pm.
The Mitch Collins-coached Charlton will be chasing its fourth win of the season as Donald fights for its first.
When they met in round five it was the Navies who claimed a 94-35 win on Donald’s ground.
Among the key match-ups will be Charlton captain Ben Lanyon in the ruck against Thomas Reekle, and Mitch Collins in the centre opposed to Jesse Dixon.
Best for Charlton in its most recent hit-out at Wedderburn included Liam O’Keefe, Rhys Thompson, Ben Xiriha and Elliott Fitzpatrick.
The Navies will be looking to Thomas Finlay, Mason Heenan and Archer Patterson to lead the attack.
It’s been a tough run for Donald, but it will have gained plenty of confidence from a 29-point loss to St Arnaud.
Best for the Royals against the Saints were Robert Walker, coach Daniel Pearce, and centre half-back Dyson Bell-Warren.
Crucial roles for Donald will be played by Brady Griffiths and Kalon Green in defence, Thomas Reekie in the ruck, Josh Talty on a wing, Ben, Brent and Sam Arho in attack.
It’s third against second as Boort faces Calder United Lions at Boort Park.
The round five showdown ended in a 125-point win for the Lions at Wycheproof.
A Boort team coached by Dale Cameron has an eight-three record and was within 11 points of Sea Lake Nandaly in the 11th round.
Crucial match-ups for Boort include Keiren Wilson at centre half-back against Cody Green, Peter Barbopoulos in the ruck against Dean Putt, and Jhye Baddeley-Kelly in the centre against Koby Hommelhoff.
Boort’s defence which includes Kieren Jaksic, Will Perryman and Ryan McGhie will take on Dale Pearce, Lions’ co-coach Jordan Humphreys and Jack Exell.
Players to watch for Boort include Matt Austin, Jayden Dick and Carlos Egan.
The Lions will be snarling after a 105-63 loss to Birchip-Watchem last round.
A team which has Darryl Wilson as non-playing co-coach has the run and skill of Matt Wade, Rylee Smith, Zane Keighran and Steven Kennedy.
Oscar Madden and Josh Walsh lead Calder United’s defence.
Wedderburn will be on home turf at Donaldson Park against Birchip-Watchem.
Massive challenge for the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn in trying to deny the Bulls a 12th consecutive victory.
In round five the Ash Connick-coached Bulls beat the Redbacks by eight goals.
Wedderburn racked up 21 goals against Charlton last round, but defensive pressure will be much higher and for longer against the ladder-leaders.
Mitch Jensen kicked 10 goals in Wedderburn’s latest victory as Oscar Holt and Aaron Smith added three each.
In-form players for the Redbacks include Danny Benaim, Noah Furlong, Jye Mortlock and Zach Pallpratt.
Wedderburn’s squad to tackle the Bulls includes Jackson and Mitch McEwen, Adam Postle and Ben Bacon.
The Bulls have shown no signs of slowing down in their premiership pursuit.
The Ash Connick-coached Bulls won the round 11 clash with Calder United Lions at Nullawil by seven goals.
Best in Birchip-Watchem’s latest win were Tom Gibson, Nicholas Rippon and Daniel Bell.
A powerful line-up includes ruckman Hamish Hosking, Will Lee, gun forward Ben Edwards, Rhona Conboy, Sam Simmons, Lachy Foott and captain Dale Hinkley.
St Arnaud faces Sea Lake Nandaly in the clash of the Saints and Tigers at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
In round five the Tigers beat the Saints by 119 points.
Will be another huge challenge for the Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud which worked hard to defeat Donald last round.
Players to watch for the Saints include Max Hungerford, Kurtis Torney, Jackson Needs and Darby Schilder.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers fought on to win its latest hit-out with Boort by 11 points.
There’s plenty of experience in the SLN line-up as Ryan O’Sullivan, Wade Donnan, co-coach Billy McInnes and Brodie Adcock take to the field.
Huge inclusion for Sea Lake Nandaly is former Sandhurst and Bridgewater mid/forward Andy Collins for his first game.
Collins previously played in the yellow and black at Richmond and joins a Sea Lake Nandaly team which will also have Josh Jenkins and Oscar Brownless in attack.
Bryce Delmenico is co-coach as SLN chases a premiership hat-trick.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 295 per cent, 44 points; Calder United Lions 237, 32; Boort 179, 32; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 204, 28; Wedderburn 148, 20; Charlton 27, 12; St Arnaud 45, 8;. Donald 13, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
76 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
59 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
44 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
38 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
29 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
29 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
25 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
22 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
20 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
20 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
19 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
19 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
19 Jordan Humphreys, Calder United Lions.
18 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
17 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
17 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
17 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
16 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
15 Jye Mortlock, Wedderburn.
14 Carlos Egan, Boort.
13 Dale Pearce, Calder United Lions.
12 Bryce Delmenico, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
12 Tom Gibson, Birchip-Watchem.
12 James Keeble, Boort.
12 Mitch McEwen, Wedderburn.
11 Meyrick Buchanan, Birchip-Watchem.
11 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
11 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
11 Zane Keighran, Calder United Lions.
11 Steven Kennedy, Calder United Lions.
11 Rylee Smith, Calder United Lions.
10 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
10 Trent Donnan, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
10 Wade Donnan, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.