BY NATHAN DOLE
Eagles ready to confront Tigers at Lalbert
UNBEATEN in its past six matches, Mallee Eagles tackle Woorinen in this Saturday’s 11th round of the Radio 3SH-backed senior footy competition across the Central Murray.
The Eagles have home-ground advantage as third takes on fifth from 2.30pm.
Victory in five matches and a draw with Kerang across the past six rounds has lifted the Eagles to the third rung.
The Brent Macleod-coached Mallee team now faces a Woorinen line-up on the rebound from defeat.
Darcy Hourigan leads the Eagles attack on 36 goals and is second in the league goalkicking race.
An attack that includes Andrew Mead-Harding, Paul Davis and Brady Fordham will test the Tigers.
Other players to watch for the Eagles include former Richmond player Jayden Post, co-captains Beau Bennett and Zac O’Meara, and Harry Allen.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen will be snarling after a 46-point loss at home to Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Expect a strong response from the Tigers and for the likes of Doug Beames, Lachlan Gardner, Arnold Kirby, Josh Domaille and Jye Barry to lead the way.
Brock McLean brings his experience from AFL days with Melbourne and Carlton to the Woorinen team.
Swan Hill will be on home turf at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve to tackle Kooondrook Barham.
The Swans or River Raiders will mark their first win of the season.
It’s been a longer rest for the Michael Herlihy-coached Swan Hill which did not play last Saturday as the club met Tyntynder in the stand-alone match on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend on June 8.
That match went Tyntynder’s way by 22 points.
A week later and Swan Hill was beaten in its home game with Balranald by 41 points.
Swan Hill regains former Melbourne and Port Adelaide forward Jimmy Toumpas for the first time since round five.
Toumpas was named in the centre against River Raiders co-captain Jack Shannon.
Key players for the Swans include Ned McKeown and Toby Thoolen in attack, rover and captain Luke Phelan, Jarvis Keogh, Elijah Miliado and Thomas Isma.
The chances of the Will Callow-coached Koondrook Barham will hinge greatly on the play of ruckman Mitch Christensen, rover Billy Driscoll, and defensive work of Peter Lewis and Ryan Bassett.
The River Raiders also have the run and skill of Jack Thrum, Ryan Attwell, and marking power of Patrick Goble and Scott Wood.
The ladder-leading Nyah Nyah West United will be at home to take on Tyntynder.
A Demons’ line-up jointly coached by Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill has played well to be six points clear of nearest rival, Kerang in the premiership race.
Gun forward Brandyn Grenfell leads the league goalkicking race on 43 goals.
The NNWU team for this round includes Charlie Boulton and Lucas Iudica at half-forward, ruck-rover Dominic Gallo, Jordan Iudica in the centre, Joel Campbell and Joel Walsh in defence.
Massive challenge for the Jack O’Rourke-coached Tyntynder to win at Nyah and stay in touch with the top five.
The Bulldogs had a rest last round.
Most recent hit-out for the red, white and blue was at Lalbert where Mallee Eagles won a top contest by eight points.
Key players for Tyntynder include Jason Eagle, Matt Gilbee, Jayden Magro, Marcus Wattie, Isaiah Bull, Ned Lay and Elia Ware.
Cohuna Kangas are at home against Balranald.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas have a three-six record and must win to be any chance of surging into the finals.
Cohuna won its latest hit-out at Lake Boga by 51 points as Jack Geary, Jack Donat and Jackson Williams were best.
Crucial roles against the Roos to be played by Will Lee, Brenton Conforti and Sam McGlone in defence, Joel Helman in the centre, and Izaac Johnson and Xavier Mitchell in attack.
Cohuna also has the skilful Jarrod Findlay roving the packs.
Balranald will be determined to hit back after a 22-point loss to Nyah Nyah West United.
A six-three record has the Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos in fourth place.
Plenty of goalkicking options for Balranald through Colin Andrews, Lachlan Lellman and Drew Lloyd.
The centre battle between Harrison Soraggi and Joel Helman will be a highlight.
Balranald has Jaxon Neagle at centre half-back, Matt Neagle roving, Jordan Wilkins in the ruck, and Ian Fuller on a wing or at half-forward.
Refreshed by the bye, Kerang returns to Riverside Park to take on Lake Boga.
The Troy Coates-coached Kerang have been beaten once and drew another match in its pursuit of a premiership hat-trick.
The Blues’ team to take on the Magpies includes Nick Lang in the ruck, rover Martin Kelly, Josh Hann in the centre, Archer Dibsdale, Rylee Gitsham and Sam Heavyside in attack.
A tight-knit defence is led by Josh Hunter, Lachlan Ross and Jesse Clark.
Another big test for the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga.
On-ballers Taylor Johnstone, Zac Warne and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown will play key roles in setting up attacks and denying the Blues scoring chances.
Players to watch for Lake Boga include David Gourdis, Jayden Lonergan, Brodie Tonkin and Nelson Ibbs.
Tooleybuc Manangatang has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 144 per cent, 32 points; Kerang 151, 26; Mallee Eagles 109, 26; Balranald 127, 24; Woorinen 122, 24; Tooleybuc Manangatang 110, 24; Tyntynder 102, 20; Cohuna Kangas 100, 12; Lake Boga 59, 8; Swan Hill 67, 0; Koondrook Barham 56, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
43 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
36 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
26 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
26 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
22 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
21 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
19 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
19 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
15 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
15 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
14 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
14 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
13 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
13 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
13 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
12 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
12 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
11 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
11 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
10 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
10 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
10 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
10 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
10 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.