BY NATHAN DOLE
Saints face Kangaroos on rebound
THE third-placed Tooleybuc Manangatang tackles the second-placed Balranald in this Saturday’s seventh round of senior footy in the Central Murray competition.
Massive test for the Saints against a Kangaroos on the rebound from defeat when they meet in the Radio 3SH-backed competition at Tooleybuc.
The Saints won their latest hit-out at Lake Boga by 44 points.
Connor Nutting kicked five goals and will test the Roos, as will Johnathan Marsden and Josh Williams.
Players to watch for the Brad Morris-coached Tooleybuc Manangatang include centreman Elliot Chalmers, ruckman Connor McDonald, Jackson Morris and John Wardle in defence.
Balranald’s unbeaten run was ended in a one-point loss on home turf at Greenham Park to Woorinen.
After being up 21 points at half-time, Balranald could not stop the Tigers’ charge to victory.
A brilliant contest ended in an 89-88 win for the yellow and black.
Expect a Kangaroos line-up that includes Seth Connell, Drew Lloyd, centreman Harrison Soraggi, and Matt, Jaxon and Jydon Neagle to bounce back strongly.
Another big match will be at Nyah Recreation Reserve where the ladder-leading Nyah Nyah West United takes on Cohuna Kangas.
As the Demons had the bye last round, Cohuna marked its second victory of the season.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas start this round in eighth place, six points adrift of the fifth-placed Kerang.
Highly-prized recruit Brandyn Grenfell has kicked 27 goals for Nyah Nyah West United.
A strong attack for the Demons includes Brayden Bigham, co-coach Nick O’Neill, Darcy Butler and Charlie Boulton.
Best in the latest win for NNWU at Swan Hill included Jordan and Lucas Iudica.
The Cohuna Kangas will need to raise the pressure in midfield and on-ball duels so as to not allow the Demons an easy run into the forward 50m arc.
Key players for Cohuna include Tyson Farrant, Tim Hill and Will Lee in defence; co-captains Jarrod Findlay and Joel Helman; Jack Donat, Izaac Johnson and Dylan Johnstone in attack.
Woorinen is at home against Tyntynder.
The Tigers will start favourite against the Bulldogs.
Stars in Woorinen’s hard-fought win at Balranald were Lachlan Gardner, six goals; Taylor Cameron, ruckman Arnold Kirby and Jye Barry.
The Tigers’ line-up to tackle Tyntynder includes ruck-rover Josh Domaille, wingmen Matthew Iannucci and Hugh Thompson, and Doug Beames, Otto Conlan and Kyle Steicke in defence.
Tyntynder scored a 40-point win against Koondrook Barham at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
Roy George capped a best afield performance for the Bulldogs with six goals.
Best in Tyntynder’s third win of the season included Sam Bull, Matt Gilbee, Jayden Magro, Harry Simpson and Marcus Wattie.
The Bulldogs will also look for big games from captain Elliot Broad, Isaiah and Sam Bull, Brock Storer and Elia Ware.
Mallee Eagles take on Lake Boga at Lalbert.
Although it did not claim all points, Mallee’s draw at Kerang was the Eagles best performance of the season.
A record of two wins, two defeats, and a draw has the Eagles in seventh place on the ladder.
Best in Mallee’s battle with the Blues were Darcy McGregor, three goals; Jacob O’Meara, Jayden Post, Harry McGregor, Zac O’Meara and Harrison Allen.
The Eagles’ line-up to tackle the Magpies includes Troy Anderson in the centre, Joe Halloran, Brent Macleod, Jai Middleton and Billy O’Meara.
Lake Boga is on the rebound from a 44-point loss at home to Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Key players for the Magpies include Fraser Colville in the centre, ruckman Kai Everett, Dylan McCosh and Marty Parsons in defence, Will Douqile and Ryan Fox on the wings.
Swan Hill faces Kerang at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Massive test for the Michael Herlihy-coached Swans against the reigning premier.
The Swans will look for big games from ruckman Toby Thoolen, centreman Cooper Angus, Tom Holdstock, Ned McKeown and Elijah Miliado.
Swan Hill’s team includes Sonny Beasy, Kallen Heslop, Brandon Houlihan and Thomas Isma.
A record of three wins, one defeat and a draw has Kerang in fifth place in the premiership race.
The Troy Coates-coached Blues are likely to have too much run and scoring power for the Swans to hold across four quarters.
Key players for Kerang include Sam Heavyside in the centre, ruckman Nick Lang, rover Martin Kelly, Tyson Clingan and Archer Dibsdale in attack.
Kerang’s defence is led by Josh Hunter, captain Josh Nitschke, Rylee Gitsham and Lachlan Ross.
Koondrook Barham has the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 154 per cent, 20 points; Balranald 139, 16; Tooleybuc Manangatang 127, 16; Woorinen 122, 16; Kerang 134, 14; Tyntynder 98, 12; Mallee Eagles 94, 10; Cohuna Kangas 103, 8; Lake Boga 57, 4; Swan Hill 69, 0; Koondrook Barham 50, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
27 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
17 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
16 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
15 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
14 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
12 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
12 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
11 Nick O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
9 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
9 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
9 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
8 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
8 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
8 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
8 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
8 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
7 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
7 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
7 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
7 Lachlan Lellmann, Balranald.
7 Roy George, Tyntynder.
7 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.