BY NATHAN DOLE
Eagles take on Kerang at Lalbert
THE Mallee Eagles take on the ladder-leading Kerang in this Saturday’s round 17 action in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy season.
Mallee has home-ground advantage when the clash kicks off at 2.30pm at Lalbert.
When the Eagles and Blues last met in round six a great contest ended in a 43-all draw at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Both teams are in top form a fortnight away from the finals.
The attack for the Brent Macleod-coached Eagles is brilliantly led by Andrew Mead-Harding and Darcy Hourigan.
In defence, Mallee has Joe Halloran and Jayden Post to take on Thomas Hetherington and Rylee Gitsham.
Other key players for the Eagles include Troy Anderson in the centre, ruckman Jai Middleton, and rover Harrison Allen.
The Troy Coates-coached Kerang has an experienced on-ball division of Nick Lang, Martin Kelly and Sam Heavyside.
Gun recruit Adam Baird will play a key role for the Blues in midfield, on-ball or attack.
Baird was co-coach of Mount Pleasant’s premiership-winning team in ’23 and a Michelsen medallist and multiple premiership player in his days at Golden Square.
Other players to watch for Kerang include Brett Kennedy, Lachlan Ross, Brad Pay, Cody Makeham and Josh Hann.
Another big match will be at Woorinen where the Tigers take on Balranald.
It’s the clash of fourth and sixth.
A loss would make it incredibly difficult for Balranald, last season’s runner-up, to make the top five and contest finals.
Both teams had the bye last round.
When they met in round six the Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen won 89-88 at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
Woorinen’s team for this match includes Regan Vesty in the centre, Arnold Kirby, Doug Beames and Will Collicoat in attack; Henry Thompson, Jye Barry and Tom Langford in defence.
The Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos have Lachlan Gardner in the ruck, Colin Andrews and Drew Lloyd in attack, Ian Fuller, Harrison Soraggi, Jaxon and Matt Neagle, and Kobe Lloyd to lead the way to victory.
Swan Hill is up against Cohuna Kangas at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Huge test for the Swans in trying to break Cohuna’s winning streak.
Swan Hill was outplayed by the Eagles last round as Cohuna had the bye.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans line-up for this match includes Toby Thoolen in the ruck, ruck-rover Thomas Isma, Ned McKeown and Kallen Heslop in attack, Thomas Corridan, Tom Holdstock and Jarvis Keogh in defence.
After a slow start to the season the Jack Geary-coached Kangas are in superb form.
Players to watch for Cohuna include Joel Helman, Jarrod Findlay, Brenton Conforti, Will Lee, Riley Hird, Sam McGlone, Jackson Williams and Jayden Cordy.
After a string of big defeats, Tooleybuc Manangatang will aim to bounce back against Lake Boga at Manangatang.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints scored a 44-point win at Lake Boga in round six.
The play of Johnathan Marsden, Jackson and Rydar Morris, Connor Nutting, Josh Williams, Blake and Mitchell Grant, Ben Arentz and Ryan Domaille will be crucial in the Saints breaking the losing run.
It will not be easy against the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga as it chases win number four.
Key players for the Magpies include Aaron and Jayden Lonergan, Martyn Parsons, Zac Warne, Willem Pye, Koben Ryan, Ryan Fox, Xavier Sherlock and Kai Everett.
Koondrook Barham will be on home turf at Barham to tackle Tyntynder.
The Will Callow-coached Koondrook Barham played well in a 79-51 loss at Kerang last round.
Players to watch for the River Raiders include Kye Atwell, Mitch Christensen, Jack Shannon, Jack Thrum, Billy Driscoll, Scott Wood and Patrick Goble.
Koondrook Barham also has Ryan Bassett who has played two matches for Bendigo Pioneers in this season’s Coates Talent League action.
A Tyntynder line-up coached by Jack O’Rourke has sights on back-to-back wins.
The Bulldogs’ line-up bound for Barham includes Roy George, Isaiah Bull, Matt Gilbee, Jayden Magro, Brock Storer, Justin Ellis and Marcus Wattie.
Nyah Nyah West United has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Kerang 176 per cent, 50 points; Nyah Nyah West United 144, 42; Mallee Eagles 123, 42; Woorinen 121, 36; Cohuna Kangas 140, 32; Balranald 128, 32; Tyntynder 97, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 71, 24; Lake Boga 55, 12; Swan Hill 70, 8; Koondrook Barham 50, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
69 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
53 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
35 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
34 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
33 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
33 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
27 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
26 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
24 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
22 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
22 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
21 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
21 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
20 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
20 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
19 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
19 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
18 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
18 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
18 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
17 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
17 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
17 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
17 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
15 Brett Kennedy, Kerang.
14 Jye Barry, Woorinen.
14 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
14 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Koben Ryan, Lake Boga.
13 Seth Connell, Balranald.
13 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Xavier Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
13 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
12 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
12 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Shaun Harrison, Mallee Eagles.
12 Tom Langford, Woorinen.
12 Jordan McKinnon, Koondrook Barham.
12 Josh Stone, Woorinen.
11 Troy Coates, Kerang.
11 Thomas Hetherington, Kerang.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Tyson Clingan, Kerang.
10 Billy Driscoll, Koondrook Barham.
10 Dominic Gallo, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
10 Xavier Sherlock, Lake Boga.
10 Max Thompson, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Marcus Wattie, Tyntynder.