BY NATHAN DOLE
NYAH Nyah West United set up a Central Murray senior footy grand final clash with Kerang as it defeated Mallee Eagles in the preliminary final of the Radio 3SH-backed competition on Saturday.
The Demons and Eagles played at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
Just four points separated the teams when they met in the qualifying final a fortnight earlier in Lake Boga.
This time it was the Jason Murphy and Nic O’Neill-coached NNWU Demons who won 104-86.
Ethan Curran led the Demons’ attack on six goals as Brandyn Grenfell added three.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red and blue were Charlie Boulton and Ethan Saville on two.
Leading goalkickers for the Eagles were coach Brent Macleod and Darcy Hourigan on three.
Best for Nyah Nyah West United were Ethan Curran, Joel Walsh, Ethan Saville and Corey Daniels.
The Eagles’ best were Darcy McGregor, Harrison Allen, Billy O’Meara and Jai Middleton.
Nyah Nyah West United now meets a Kerang line-up coached by Troy Coates which is aiming for a premiership hat-trick in next Saturday’s grand final at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
It was not all doom and gloom for Mallee Eagles as the reserves made their way to the grand final.
Mallee marked a 71-61 victory in the preliminary final clash with Woorinen.
Jonah Devlin led the Eagles’ attack on three goals as Sebastian Linssen and Mardy McDonald added two.
Leading goalkickers for Woorinen were Zac Cordwell, three, and Jason Iannucci, two.
Best for Mallee Eagles were Dominic Makur, Wes Bennett, Andrew McDonald and Hamish McGregor.
William Rush, Leigh Coleman, Matthew Iannucci and Bailey Kruger played well for Woorinen.
It will be Mallee Eagles against Kerang in the grand final.
Swan Hill scored a four-goal win against Woorinen in the Colts preliminary final.
A tally of 25 scoring shots to just 11 was a sign of the Swans’ dominance in a 9.16 (70) to 7.4 (46) victory.
Harry Scott kicked four goals for Swan Hill as Sonny Beasy added two.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Hugh Thompson, four, and Elwood Stacey, two.
Best for Swan Hill were Sonny Beasy, Bodhi Kelly, Darcy Uebergang and Paddy Hufer.
Otto Conlan, Tahj Bolton, Cooper Beasley and Oscar Thornton played well for the yellow and black.
Swan Hill will take on Lake Boga in the grand final.
The Swans will also chase premiership glory in the Mildura Health Fund under-15s competition.
Swan Hill marked a 46-15 win against Koondrook Barham in the preliminary final.
Clem Harris led the Swans’ attack on three goals.
Goalkickers for the River Raiders were James McDonald and Tennysen O’Neill.
Swan Hill’s best were Jace Lloyd, Clem Harris, Lenny Ryan and Thomas Robertson.
Nate Pretty, James McDonald, Ethan Patten and Tennysen O’Neill were Koondrook Barham’s best.
Grand final day kicks off at 8.50am when Lake Boga tackles Swan Hill in the under-15s match.
Central Murray footy preliminary finals scoreboard:
Radio 3SH seniors:
Nyah Nyah West United 15.14 (104)
Mallee Eagles 12.14 (86)
GOALS – Nyah Nyah West United: Ethan Curran 6, Brandyn Grenfell 3, Charlie Boulton, Ethan Saville 2, Dominic Gallo, Max Thompson. Mallee Eagles: Darcy Hourigan, Brent Macleod 3, Nathan Bisset, Paul Davis, Jai Middleton, Billy O’Meara, Jacob O’Meara, Jayden Post.
BEST – Nyah Nyah West United: Ethan Curran, Joel Walsh, Ethan Saville, Corey Daniels, Brandyn Grenfell, Charlie Boulton. Mallee Eagles: Darcy McGregor, Harrison Allen, Billy O’Meara, Jai Middleton, Jayden Post, Toby Sheahan.
Reserves:
Mallee Eagles 11.5 (71)
Woorinen 8.13 (61)
GOALS – Mallee Eagles: Jonah Devlin 3, Sebastian Linssen, Mardy McDonald 2, Wes Bennett, Ashlin Grant, Daniel Lavey, Logan Nalder. Woorinen: Zac Cordwell 3, Jason Iannucci 2, Tyler Beasy, Adam Hendy, Matthew Iannucci.
BEST – Mallee Eagles: Dominic Makur, Wes Bennett, Andrew McDonald, Hamish McGregor, Jonah Devlin, Brayden Shipp. Woorinen: William Rush, Leigh Coleman, Matthew Iannucci, Bailey Kruger, Tahj Bolton, Adam Hendy.
Colts:
Swan Hill 9.16 (70)
Woorinen 7.4 (46)
GOALS – Swan Hill: Harry Scott 4, Sonny Beasy 2, Harry Graham, Paddy Hufer, Cody McIntyre. Woorinen: Hugh Thompson 4, Elwood Stacey 2, Juan Kruger.
BEST – Swan Hill: Sonny Beasy, Bodhi Kelly, Darcy Uebergang, Paddy Hufer, Lane Cardenas, Wilhem Bennett. Woorinen: Otto Conlan, Tahj Bolton, Cooper Beasley, Oscar Thornton, Elwood Stacey, Tyson Zucco.
Mildura Health Fund under-15s:
Swan Hill 7.4 (46)
Koondrook Barham 2.3 (15)
GOALS – Swan Hill: Clem Harris 3, Sam Brown, Jaron Cardenas, Charlie Gracia, Finn Hufer. Koondrook Barham: James McDonald, Tennysen O’Neill.
BEST – Swan Hill: Jace Lloyd, Clem Harris, Lenny Ryan, Thomas Robertson, Noah Pearson, Sam Brown. Koondrook Barham: Nate Pretty, James McDonald, Ethan Patten, Tennysen O’Neill, Riley D’Silva, Ryder Laursen.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 8.50am: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
Colts at 10.25am: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Kerang v Mallee Eagles.
3SH seniors at 2.45pm: Kerang v Nyah Nyah West United.