-By Nathan Dole
NYAH Nyah West United will bring the heat as it tackles Mallee Eagles in Saturday’s eighth round of the Radio 3SH-backed senior footy across the Central Murray region.
The NNWU Demons have home-ground advantage as fifth faces second from 2.30pm at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
As the Demons had the bye last round Mallee Eagles scored a 111-point win against Tyntynder at Lalbert.
A 25-point by Nyah Nyah West United against Tyntynder in Swan Hill in the sixth round put the reigning premier in the top five.
Best for the red and blue in that contest were Brayden Bigham, Mitch Grinham, Tristan Dalbon and Joel Campbell.
Key match-ups for the Demons will be in defence where Dean Harrop, Cooper Andrews and Joel Walsh oppose Darcy Hourigan, Andrew Mead-Harding and Ethan Pinchen.
Other players to watch for a NNWU team coached by Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy include ruckman Alex Erlandson, Nic O’Neill, Charlie Boulton and Riley Daniels in attack.
Midfield duels will be important as the Demons have Ben Shadbolt, Jordan Iudica and Zak O’Shannassy take on Beau Bennett, co-coach Brent Macleod and Brett Thomas.
The Eagles also have co-coach Harry Allen, Matthew Rankine and Jayden Post capable of winning plenty of the footy.
Woorinen Tigers will be back in their den to take on Swan Hill.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen has teamed superbly to win seven consecutive matches and hold top spot on the ladder.
Players to watch in the yellow and black are Doug Beames at centre half-forward, ruck-rover Jose Miliado, Henry Thompson and Robert Rush in midfield, Matt Gardner and Blake Reid in defence.
Massive challenge for the Michael Herlihy-coached Swans.
Big roles for Swan Hill will be played by Sunny Handy, Anthony Lewin and Tom Holdstock across half-back, captain and ruck-rover Luke Phelan, Kallen Heslop and Matthew Pearse in attack.
Cohuna Kangas take on Tooleybuc Manangatang at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
It’s third against sixth.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas have a strong on-ball brigade of ruckman Chris Anderson, Ricky Monti, Sam McGlone, and Joel Helman in the centre.
Huge test for Tooleybuc Manangatang defenders Lochlan Prentice, Josh Williams and Gareth Grant against Tom Toma, Sam Leitch and Daniel Coates.
A strong defence for Cohuna includes the experienced Brenton Conforti, Jarrod Findlay and Will Lee.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints will look to Josh Grant, Ethan Johnstone and Josh Domaille to cap off attacking moves.
Balranald will be on home turf at Greenham Park to tackle Lake Boga.
It’s ninth against eighth as Balranald starts this contest a win behind the Magpies.
Key players for the Kangaroos from Balranald include Colin Andrews and Lachlan Collihole in attack, Cody Henness and Ian Fuller in midfield, Ryan Middlebrook, Jack Helgeland and Jarryd Stead in defence.
Balranald has Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau as co-coaches.
Lake Boga was outgunned by Cohuna last round in the Magpies’ nest.
The response by the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga is likely to be led by ruck-rover Braden Padmore, Kadek Irvan in the centre, Charlie Bryan and Hunter Hartland in attack, Bryce Anderson and Andrew McDonald in defence.
Tyntynder takes on Kerang at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
The Bulldogs will be desperate to break their season ‘duck’ against the Blues who will be chasing their fourth victory.
Josh Potter, Elliot Broad and Ben Hallman were Tyntynder’s best in last Saturday’s clash with Mallee Eagles in Lalbert.
Key players for the Bulldogs include Angus Crowe at centre half-back, Mick Dedini and Sam Tozer in attack, ruckman Elia Ware and rover Eddy Shifferle.
Tyntynder is jointly coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
Kerang scored a 53-point win against Balranald in the Blues’ home at Riverside Park last round.
Zak Bozanich kicked eight goals in a best-on-ground performance as Jordan McNeil, Scott Pay and Cooper Meehan all played well for the Blues.
Other key players for the Paul Grayling-coached Kerang include ruckman Rylee Gitsham, rover Cody Makeham, Archer Dibsdale and Tyson Clingan across half-forward.
Koondrook Barham has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 246 per cent, 28 points; Mallee Eagles 295, 24; Cohuna Kangas 285, 20; Koondrook Barham 111, 20; Nyah Nyah West United 136, 12; Tooleybuc Manangatang 90, 12; Kerang 83, 12; Lake Boga 62, 8; Balranald 29, 4; Tyntynder 45, 0; Swan Hill 34, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
22 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
21 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
21 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
17 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
15 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
14 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
14 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
14 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
14 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
13 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
12 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
12 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
12 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
11 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
11 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
11 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
11 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
11 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
9 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
9 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
9 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
9 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
9 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
8 Tristan Dalbon, Nyah Nyah West United.
8 Lee Dale, Koondrook Barham.
8 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
8 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
8 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
8 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.