BY NATHAN DOLE
Place in elimination final up for grabs
JUST who is through to the elimination final in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy competition will not be known until after this Saturday’s matches.
Three teams – Cohuna Kangas, Woorinen and Balranald – are all locked on 36 premiership points.
The fourth-placed Cohuna is in great form, but against the second-placed Nyah Nyah West United on Cohuna’s turf from 2.30pm.
When these teams met in round seven it was the NNWU Demons who fired up for an 85-60 victory against the Jack Geary-coached Kangas.
The Kangas go into this match on a seven-game winning streak.
Latest hit-out for Cohuna was at Swan Hill where it won by 55 points.
It’s been a brilliant bounce back by the Kangas since a 37-point loss at home to Kerang in the ninth round played on June 15.
Cohuna’s defence faces a massive task in trying to limit the Demons’ gun forward Brandyn Grenfell has on this match.
A premiership winner with Golden Square last season, Will Lee is likely to start against Grenfell.
A powerful attack for the Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill-coached NNWU includes Charlie Boulton, Corey and Riley Daniels.
Cohuna’s back six is led by Xavier Mitchell, Sam McGlone and Brenton Conforti.
Key match-ups for the Kangas include Joel Helman, Jackson Williams and Rhys Thrum against Demons’ playmakers Brayden Bigham, Jordan Iudica and Max Thompson.
The fifth-placed Balranald will be home at Greenham Park to take on Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Balranald beat the Saints by 27 points in round seven.
The Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos won a crucial contest at Woorinen last Saturday by 10 points.
Victory will ensure Balranald is in another finals campaign after being runner-up last season.
Players to watch for the Kangaroos include Drew and Kobe Lloyd, Matt and Jaxon Neagle, Ian Fuller, Harrison Soraggi and Jack Salau.
Although the Saints are on a seven-eight record they have plenty to play for.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints broke their losing run in a 13-point triumph against Lake Boga at Manangatang last Saturday.
Key players for the Saints include Josh Williams, Jackson Morris and Connor Nutting in attack, Elliot Chalmers in the centre, ruck-rover Jesse Wilson, and Rydar Morris, Conor Wilson and Ben Arentz in defence.
Stung by a loss to Balranald, Woorinen makes its way to Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill this round to tackle Tyntynder.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen must win, but also need Cohuna or Balranald to be beaten to climb into the five.
Woorinen will start favourite, but will be wary of an opponent on the rebound from a loss to Koondrook Barham last round.
The Tigers have Doug Beames, Lachlan Gardner and Josh Stone in attack to capitalise on the work of Arnold Kirby, Brock McLean, Henry Thompson and Will Collicoat.
Tyntynder will be determined to end the season on a high.
A Bulldogs’ line-up coached by Jack O’Rourke includes Jayden Magro, Matt Gilbee, Brock Storer, Roy George, Patrick Crowe, Isaiah Bull and Marcus Wattie.
Lake Boga will be home at Lake Boga Sports Club to take on Mallee Eagles.
Both line-ups were defeated last round.
No matter the result, the Brent Macleod-coached Mallee will play in a qualifying final.
The Eagles will be keen to rebuild confidence after a 35-point loss to Kerang at Lalbert.
Players to watch for Mallee include Jayden Post at centre half-back, ruckman Kieren Bourke, Darcy Hourigan and Andrew Mead-Harding in attack.
The Eagles’ defence is led by Joe Halloran, Zac O’Meara and Matthew Despott.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga has Ryan Fox and Nathan Holmes-Brown in midfield, Willem Pye and Marty Parsons in defence, and Nick Taylor, Koben Ryan and Jayden Lonergan to cap off moves with goals.
The ladder-leading Kerang is on home turf at Riverside Park to play Swan Hill.
Although margins have not been as sizeable as previous seasons, Kerang has a win-loss record of 13-1 and a draw.
The Troy Coates-coached Blues are still the team to beat for the premiership cup.
A talented line-up representing Kerang includes Nick Lang in the ruck, rover Sam Heavyside, Thomas Hetherington and Brett Kennedy in attack, and Jarryd Pertzel and Tyson Clingan on the wing.
Blues’ defenders Josh Hunter, Sam Nitschke and Lachlan Ross up against Ned McKeown, Cooper Angus and Brandon Houlihan.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swan Hill faces a big task against the reigning premier.
Key players in the Swans team are Toby Thoolen, ruck-rover Jose Miliado, Tom Holdstock, Jarvis Keogh, Sonny Beasy, and rover Thomas Isma.
Koondrook Barham has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Kerang 177 per cent, 54 points; Nyah Nyah West United 144, 48; Mallee Eagles 117, 42; Cohuna Kangas 144, 36; Balranald 128, 36; Woorinen 119, 36; Tyntynder 97, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 73, 28; Lake Boga 57, 12; Swan Hill 68, 8; Koondrook Barham 53, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
69 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
55 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
37 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
35 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
35 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
33 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
29 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
27 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
26 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
23 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
22 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
22 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
22 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
21 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
21 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
21 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
21 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
21 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
20 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
20 Brett Kennedy, Kerang.
19 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
19 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
19 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
18 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
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.
16 Koben Ryan, Lake Boga.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Jye Barry, Woorinen.
14 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
14 Seth Connell, Balranald.
14 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
14 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Xavier Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Jordan McKinnon, Koondrook Barham.
13 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
13 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
12 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
12 Shaun Harrison, Mallee Eagles.
12 Tom Langford, Woorinen.
12 Josh Stone, Woorinen.
11 Tyson Clingan, Kerang.
11 Troy Coates, Kerang.
11 Billy Driscoll, Koondrook Barham.
11 Thomas Hetherington, Kerang.
11 Brandon Houlihan, Swan Hill.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Jackson Williams, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Dominic Gallo, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
10 Jarryd Pertzel, Kerang.
10 Xavier Sherlock, Lake Boga.
10 Max Thompson, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.
10 Marcus Wattie, Tyntynder.