DONALD capped a brilliant final quarter fightback to beat Birchip-Watchem by a point in Saturday’s seven round in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
A 64-63 victory against last season’s runner-up was one of Donald’s best in several seasons.
A closely-fought first quarter went the way of the Bulls, 16-13.
Donald dominated most of the second term and led 39-23 by the long break.
The Ash Connick-coached Birchip-Watchem struck back to score five goals in the third as Donald was held to a point.
Four straight goals in the last by Donald as the defence held the Bulls to a tally of 1.2 clinched a one-point win for the Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder-coached Royals.
Donald’s attack was led by Blake Grant and Luca Rice on two goals each.
Joseph Madio kicked a match-high three goals for the Bulls as Joseph Reid added two.
Best for Donald were Bill Sam, Pala Kuma, Daniel Pearce, Blake Grant, Parker Sneddon and Charlie Campbell.
Joseph Madio, Meyrick Buchanan, Heath Smith, Mac Lewis, Rhona Conboy and Joseph Reid were Birchip-Watchem’s best.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers outran Calder United Lions on Sea Lake Oval.
The Tigers led 32-19 at quarter-time and 49-39 by the main break.
Best quarter was the third where SLN scored 5.2 and the reigning premier added 3.2.
Sea Lake Nandaly won the last, 13-7, on the way to a 94-66 victory.
Billy McInnes capped a great match for the yellow and black with five goals as Thomas Cox and Adam Pattison kicked two each.
The Lions’ attack was led by Steven Stroobants on four goals as co-coach Jordan Humphreys booted two.
Best for the Tigers were Wade Donnan, Thomas Cox, Billy McInnes, Kane Donnan, Boyd Bailey and Adam Pattison.
Calder United’s best were captain Oscar Madden, Jordan Hughes, Boe Bish, Justin Laird, Matt Trzeciak and Jack Barry.
The Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan-coached Tigers are now a win clear of Calder United in the fight for the double chance at finals time.
The Calder United team which has Tom Bickley as co-coach is third on a five-two record.
Bolstered by the inclusion of Brownlow medallist and Collingwood great Dane Swan, Charlton put in its best performance of the season.
The Navies welcomed Swan and gun on-baller Adam Baird, a premiership star with Golden Square and Mount Pleasant to its team to take on Boort at Charlton Park.
It was a brilliant start by Charlton as it scored five goals in the opening term to be up 31-21 at the break.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort hit back to slam on six goals in the second as the Navies added a major.
A 21-point lead for the Magpies at half-time was 28 at a quarter to play.
The Carl Thiesz-coached Charlton worked hard to win the last, 29-21, but it was Boort which marked a 102-82 victory.
Liam Bianco and Carlos Egan led Boort’s attack on three goals each as Danko Bzenic and Kayne Rutley kicked two apiece.
It was a superb effort by James Magner to kick six goals for Charlton as Adam Baird and Kris Clifford kicked two each.
Boort’s best were Danko Bzenic, Liam Bianco, Carlos Egan, Jack Smith, Kayne Rutley and Keiren Wilson.
James Magner, Adam Baird, Ben Lanyon, Dane Swan, Jeff Debast and Patrick Soulsby were Charlton’s best.
Wedderburn’s unbeaten run rolled on as the Redbacks won at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park by 39 points.
The Redbacks were under pressure across the opening hour as the Saints scored 5.2 as the ladder-leaders racked up 6.9.
Wedderburn’s pressure and teamwork lifted markedly in the second half.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks kicked five goals after the break and kept the Saints to a solitary major.
By the final siren Wedderburn led 78-39.
Tyler Curtis and Mitch McEwen led the Redbacks’ attack on two goals each.
St Arnaud had six goalkickers.
Best for Wedderburn were Noah Furlong, Mitch McEwen, Corey Lowry, Zach Pallpratt, Jayden Jones and Jye Mortlock.
Sean Holroyd, co-coach Harley Durward, Mitch Egan, Nick Maishman, Jackson Needs and Liam Loverso were St Arnaud’s best.
The Saints have Darby Schilder as playing co-coach.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Wedderburn 253 per cent, 28 points; Sea Lake Nandaly 244, 24; Calder United Lions 178, 20; Birchip-Watchem 135, 12; Donald 89, 12; Boort 68, 8; St Arnaud 66, 8; Charlton 16, 0.
The league marks All Cancers Awareness Round next Saturday.
A big match will be Birchip-Watchem against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers from 2.30pm at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
The ladder-leading Wedderburn faces Calder United Lions in the Redbacks’ web at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Boort tackles Donald at Boort Park.
St Arnaud and Charlton clash on the Saints’ ground at Lord Nelson Park.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
36 Max Cahoon, SLN; Steven Stroobants, CUL.
29 Dale Pearce, CUL.
28 Matt Perri, W.
20 Ricardo Liparota, BW.
19 Joseph Reid, BW.
18 Ashley Reed, D.
14 Lachy McClelland, SLN.
13 Kayne Rutley, B.
12 Tyler Curtis, W.