BY NATHAN DOLE
Tyntynder fights to stay in race
TYNTYNDER will fight to stay in the senior footy finals race by winning Saturday’s round 16 clash with Lake Boga in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray season.
The Bulldogs make their way to Lake Boga’s ground for a 2.30pm showdown.
An 11-point win against Balranald last round put Tyntynder within eight points of the fifth and sixth-placed Cohuna Kangas and Balranald.
Both of the league’s two mobs of the Kangaroos have the bye this round.
Although it’s significant percentage behind, Tyntynder’s run in the last three rounds is Lake Boga, away; Koondrook Barham, away; and Woorinen, home.
Results in other matches must fall the way of the Bulldogs, but finals hopes are not extinguished just yet.
In round three, Tyntynder scored a 23-point victory against Lake Boga at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Key players for the Jack O’Rourke-coached Bulldogs include Jayden Magro, Matt Gilbee, Isaiah Bull, Marcus Wattie, Roy George, and captain Elliot Broad.
The Dean Helmers-coached Magpies will be eyeing consecutive wins after an 18-point triumph against Koondrook Barham at Barham.
Players to watch for Lake Boga include David Gourdis, Aaron and Jayden Lonergan, Zac Warne, Marty Parsons, Kai Everett, and Koben Ryan.
Having climbed to top of the ladder, Kerang will be on home turf at Riverside Park to take on Koonodrook Barham.
The Troy Coates-coached Blues have achieved a win-loss record of 11-1 and drawn another match in pursuit of a premiership hat-trick.
Best for the Blues in last Saturday’s victory at Woorinen were Bradlee Pay, Jesse Clark, Josh Nitschke and Martin Kelly.
A talented line-up representing Kerang includes Adam Baird in the centre, ruckman Nick Lang, Josh and Sean Hunter, Archer and Mason Dibsdale, and Lachlan Ross.
It’s been another challenging season for the Will Callow-coached Koondrook Barham.
Strong defensive efforts will be a key for the River Raiders as they take on the Blues who won their previous clash by 10 goals.
Key players for the KB line-up include Jack Thrum, Jack Shannon, Kye Attwell, Patrick Goble, Scott Wood, Mitch Christensen and Xavier Leonard.
Stung by a 13-point loss to Mallee Eagles, Nyah Nyah West United will be fired up for its home game against Tooleybuc Manangatang at Nyah.
The Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill-coached Demons dropped to the second rung following an 85-72 loss in the Eagles’ nest at Lalbert.
Gun forward Brandyn Grenfell looms as a huge threat to the Saints’ defence.
Other key players for the Demons include Corey and Riley Daniels, Jordan and Lucas Iudica, Charlie Boulton, Joel Campbell, and Brayden Bigham.
After such a promising start to the season Tooleybuc Manangatang has gone from a win-loss tally of 6-3 to now be 6-7.
Massive task for the Brad Morris-coached Saints to lift for this contest with the Demons.
After being held to a goal by Cohuna at Manangatang last round the Saints will be determined to hit back.
Key players for the Saints include Johnathan Marsden, Josh Williams, Connor Nutting, Rydar Morris and Blake Grant.
Jackson Morris is back for his first senior game since the round eight clash with Tyntynder.
It’s the Swans against the Eagles as Swan Hill takes on Mallee Eagles at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans had the bye last round.
Margin was 23 points when the Swans played at Lalbert in round three.
Swan Hill’s chances of an upset will hinge greatly on the play of Sonny Beasy, Kallen Hislop, Thomas Isma, Ned McKeown, Jose Miliado, Luke Phelan, and Toby Thoolen.
The Eagles soared to an impressive win against NNWU Demons last Saturday as Paul Davis, Jayden Post, Joe Halloran and Liam Drummond led the way.
The Brent Macleod-coached Eagles have Darcy Hourigan, Paul Davis and Andrew Mead-Harding in attack, and Jacob O’Meara, Jai Middleton, and Darcy McGregor capable of winning many contests.
It’s a bye for Balranald, Cohuna Kangas, and Woorinen.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Kerang 178 per cent, 46 points; Nyah Nyah West United 139, 44; Mallee Eagles 113, 38; Woorinen 121, 36; Cohuna Kangas 140, 32; Balranald 128, 32; Tyntynder 94, 24; Tooleybuc Manangatang 74, 24; Lake Boga 55, 12; Swan Hill 74, 8; Koondrook Barham 50, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
62 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
47 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
35 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
33 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
32 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
29 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
26 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
22 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
22 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
22 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
21 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
21 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
21 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
20 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
19 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
18 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
18 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
18 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
17 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
17 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
16 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
16 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
16 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
15 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
15 Brett Kennedy, Kerang.
14 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
14 Jye Barry, Woorinen.
14 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
13 Seth Connell, Balranald.
13 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
13 Xavier Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
13 Koben Ryan, Lake Boga.
13 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
12 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
12 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Tom Langford, Woorinen.
12 Josh Stone, Woorinen.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Jordan McKinnon, Koondrook Barham.
11 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Tyson Clingan, Kerang.
10 Shaun Harrison, Mallee Eagles.
10 Thomas Hetherington, Kerang.
10 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
10 Max Thompson, Nyah Nyah West United.