BY NATHAN DOLE
A SHOWDOWN of ladder leaders Kerang and Balranald highlights this Saturday’s 17th round of senior footy in the Central Murray FNL season.
The clash of the top two in the 3SH-backed competition will be played on the Kangaroos’ ground at Balranald’s Greenham Park from 2.30pm.
When these clubs met in round six, Kerang fought for a 46-38 victory against the Kangaroos on the Blues’ turf at Riverside Park.
The unbeaten Kerang is back in action after a bye.
Balranald is on the rebound from a five-point loss to Lake Boga.
Key targets in the Kangaroos’ attack include Ben Fuller, Jydon and Matt Neagle.
A key to Balranald’s chances will be its work in defence and through midfield.
The Kangaroos will look for big games from the likes of Jake Helgeland, Ned Lay, Drew and Kobe Lloyd, and Jack Salau.
Kerang has kept winning, but only just.
In round 15, Kerang was under fire in the last quarter at Cohuna but was able to claim a nine-point win against the Kangas.
Players to watch in the Troy Coates-coached Blues team include Ryan Gillingham, Sam Heavyside, Martin Kelly, Josh Nitschke and Rylee Smith.
The Blue also have ruckman Nic Lang, and key defenders Troy Davis and Josh Hunter.
Another big match will be at Woorinen where the Tigers face Lake Boga.
It’s third against fourth.
Woorinen did plenty of atacking to score 23 goals in last Saturday’s match against Koondrook Barham, but can expect the pressure to be much higher.
A strong attack for the Tigers includes Will Collicoat, Lachlan and Matt Gardner, Charlie King and Danko Bzenic.
Players to watch for Woorinen include Josh Domaille, Doug Beames, Henry Thompson, Mitchell Uhlhorn and Lachlan Warburton.
A 60-55 win at home against Balranald was arguably Lake Boga’s best performance of the season.
The Magpies will be determined to keep the winning run rolling and also show they learnt plenty from a 45-point loss to Woorinen in the sixth round.
The play of Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lincoln Sieben, Ricky Wild and Tyle Williams will be crucial to the Magpies’ chances.
Others to watch for Lake Boga are Jayden Lonergan, Xavier Sherlock and Matt Taverna.
Nyah Nyah West United has home-ground advantage for its showdown with Mallee Eagles .
The Demons have climbed to the fifth rung and cannot afford to slip-up at Nyah as Swan Hill and Cohuna are ready to pounce.
In round six, NNWU beat the Eagles at Lalbert by 62 points.
The Demons won last Saturday’s match against Tooleybuc Manangatang at Manangatang by 19 points.
Ethan Saville kicked two goals in a best afield performance for the red and blue.
Players to watch for NNWU include Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, Brayden Bigham, Joel Campbell, Kayne Davidson, Zack Threadgold and Joel Walsh.
The Demons also have Ethan Curran, Matt Gibbs and Jarrod Stokes capable of winning many contests.
Mallee Eagles had the bye last round.
Most recent hit-out for Mallee ended in a 49-point win at home against Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Eagles’ attack in that match was led by Brent Macleod and Andrew McDonald on eight and five goals.
Best in Mallee’s fourth win of the season included Beau Bennett, Joe Halloran, Angus McKenzie and Zac O’Meara.
Test for an Eagles’ defence that includes Harry McGregor and Billy O’Meara.
Tyntynder and Swan Hill clash at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
It’s a must-win match for the Swans to keep the heat on the fifth-placed NNWU Demons.
Swan Hill won the King’s Birthday holiday weekend match against Tyntynder by 16 points.
The Swans worked incredibly hard to score a two-goal win against Cohuna Kangas last Saturday.
Kallen Heslop led the Swans’ attack on four goals as Jose Miliado added two.
Selected forward line for this match includes Zach Mihocek, Brandon Houlihan and captain Luke Phelan.
On-baller Matt Wade has had a superb season for the Swans.
The Swans also have Sonny Beasy on a wing, Thomas Corridan and Xavier Molonoey at half-back.
Tyntynder had the bye last round.
The Bulldogs kept the heat on Lake Boga in the round 15 match at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Tyntynder led by 28 points at three quarter-time, but could not stop Lake Boga’s surge of 6.3 to a goal to claim a 74-69 victory.
Best for the Bulldogs in that match were Matt Gilbee, Jordi Bibby, Harry Simpson, Zac Denham, Brock Storer and Elliot Broad.
Big roles to play for Josh Stone in the centre, Isaiah Bull as ruck-rover, and Jason Eagle at full-forward.
Cohuna Kangas are at home to play the Saints from Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Kangas start the round in seventh place and a win behind Nyah Nyah West United, and Swan Hill.
Cohuna will be determined to rebound from last week’s loss to Swan Hill.
In round six, Cohuna won 101-79 at Tooleybuc.
Key players for the Tyson Findlay-coached Cohuna include Jack Donat, Rhys Free, Jarrod Findlay, Joel Helman, Tom Metherell, and Will Thrum.
The Kangas also have rover Sam McGlone, Riley Hird, and Brenton Conforti.
The Saints were beaten by 19 points in last week’s clash with NNWU United at Manangatang.
Key players for the Saints include ruckman Tim Auckland, Blake Grant, Ethan Goldfinch, Jaicob Kenny, Ethan Goldfinch, Connor McDonald and Josh Williams.
Koondrook Barham has the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Kerang 219 per cent, 56 points; Balranald 191, 48; Woorinen 203, 44; Lake Boga 117, 36; Nyah Nyah West United 130, 32; Swan Hill 96, 32; Cohuna 110, 28; Mallee Eagles 70, 16; Tyntynder 85, 12; Tooleybuc Manangatang 56, 8; Koondrook Barham 25, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
47 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
43 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
39 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
36 Rhys Free, Cohuna.
35 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
33 Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, Nyah Nyah West United.
29 Bradlee Pay, Kerang.
27 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
25 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
25 Rylee Smith, Kerang.
24 Lochie Laing, Lake Boga.
21 Jose Miliado, Swan Hill.
20 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
20 Danko Bzenic, Woorinen.
20 Paul Davis, Mallee Eagles.
19 Ethan Gant, Balranald.
18 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
18 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
17 Hayden Hall, Kerang.
17 Joel Helman, Cohuna.
17 Angus Monfries, Lake Boga.
17 Michael Runciman, Kerang.
16 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
15 Riley Daniels, Nyah Nyah West United.
15 Jack Donat, Cohuna.
15 Matthew Wade, Swan Hill.
14 Jye Barry, Woorinen.
14 Daniel Coates, Cohuna.
14 Troy Coates, Kerang.
14 Matt Corney, Tyntynder.
14 Justin Ellis, Tyntynder.
14 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.