-By Nathan Dole
THERE were big wins for Mallee Eagles, Lake Boga Magpies, and Nyah Nyah West United Demons in Saturday’s start to the 3SH-backed senior footy action across the Central Murray region.
Koondrook Barham and Woorinen also marked first-up victories.
The Mallee Eagles showed they will be a strong challenger for a top-three finish as they beat Tooleybuc Manangatang by 123 points at Lalbert.
Just as impressive as Mallee’s goal tally of 20 was its ability to hold the Saints to just two goals.
The Brent Macleod and Harry Allen-coached Eagles won 139-16 as talented forward Darcy Hourigan kicked six goals.
Other multiple goalkickers were Jacob O’Meara and Matthew Rankine, three; Andrew Mead-Harding and Ethan Pinchen, two.
Goalkickers for the Saints were John Wardle and Josh Williams.
The Eagles’ best were Dominic Makur, Harry McGregor, Beau Bennett, Matthew Rankine, Harrison Allen and Darcy Hourigan.
On a tough afternoon for the Brad Morris-coached Saints it was Seb Rogers, Josh Williams, Rydar Morris, Josh Grant, John Wardle and Kallum Hazlett who were best.
Lake Boga dominated in the second and fourth quarters to set up a 45-point win on Kerang’s turf at Riverside Park.
The Magpies led 26-16 at quarter-time and then scored 7.3 as it held the Blues to a tally of 3.2 in the second.
Kerang fought back strongly to win the third term, 37-14, but it was Lake Boga which scored 5.4 to a point in the last.
At the final siren the Dean Helmers-coached Magpies led 119-74.
Recruited from Heathcote, Braden Padmore led Lake Boga’s attack on four goals as Mardy McDonald also booted four majors.
The Magpies also had Rex Hickman, three; and Jayden Lonergan, two; on target.
Kerang’s attack was led by Ethan McKnight, three; Flynn McKnight and Jordan McNeil on two.
Best for Lake Boga were Zac Warne, Braden Padmore, Rex Hickman, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Rory Colville and Hunter Hartland.
Cody Makeham, Rylee Gitsham, Flynn McKnight, Brad Pay, Cooper Meehan and Josh Hunter played well for the Paul Grayling-coached Kerang.
The Tigers from Woorinen outran the Kangaroos on their ground at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
Woorinen led 25-9 at quarter-time and then slammed on 5.6 as it kept the Roos to just two points in the second term.
The Tigers won the third, 41-14, before Balranald struck back to score 4.1 to 2.3 in the final term.
At the final siren the Tim Free-coached Woorinen led 117-50.
Matt Perry led the Tigers attack on six goals as Hugh Thompson booted five and Doug Beames added three majors for the yellow and black.
Lachlan Collihole, Ben Fuller and Kaleel Ross kicked two goals for the Kangaroos.
Best for Woorinen were Jye Barry, Henry Thompson, Lachlan Gardner, Matthew Gardner, Matt Perry and Hugh Thompson.
Cody Henness, Ariki Lowe, Ryan Middlebrook, Will Lowry, Tom Salau and Lachlan Collihole played well for a Balranald line-up coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau.
Koondrook Barham won a hard-fought match with Tyntynder at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
The Bulldogs from Tyntynder led 27-24 at half-time before the Marcus Demaria-coached River Raiders charged to a 53-41 lead at a quarter to go.
A pulsating final term went Koondrook Barham’s way, 11-9, as it clinched a 64-50 victory.
Details on goalkickers for both teams were not supplied.
Best for Koondrook Barham were Jack Shannon, Jack Thomas, Michael Grant, Kye Attwell, Harry Bremner and Benji Neal.
Elia Ware, Harry Simpson, Jahmahl Jenkins-Clive, Coady Gorringe, Bailey Reeves and Callan Jager played well for a Tyntynder team coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
After unfurling the ’24 premiership flag at Nyah Reserve, Nyah Nyah West United kicked on for a 10-goal win against Swan Hill.
The Demons led 14-7 at quarter-time and then scored 5.10 as it held the Swans to a tally of 1.1 in the second.
Many of NNWU’s shots on goal were astray as the red and blue finished on a score of 14.24 in a 108-48 result.
Nicholas O’Neill led the Demons attack on three goals as Charlie Boulton, Riley Daniels and Alex Erlandson added two each.
The Swans’ attack was led by Michael Herlihy, three, and Shannon Polglase.
Best for the Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy-coached Demons were Nicholas O’Neill, Brayden Bigham, Joel Walsh, Lucas Iudica, Charlie Boulton and Ethan Saville.
Swan Hill coach Michael Herlihy was best along with Cooper Angus, Adam Manning, Kallen Heslop, Luke Phelan and Sunny Handy.
The Jack Geary-coached Cohuna Kangas had the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Mallee Eagles 868 per cent, 4 points; Woorinen 234, 4; Nyah Nyah West United 225, 4; Lake Boga 160, 4; Koondrook Barham 128, 4; Tyntynder 78, 0; Kerang 62, 0; Swan Hill 44, 0; Balranald 42, 0; Tooleybuc Manangatang 11, 0; Cohuna Kangas 0, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
6 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
6 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
5 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
4 Mardy McDonald, Lake Boga.
4 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
3 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
3 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
3 Rex Hickman, Lake Boga.
3 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
3 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
3 Nicholas O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
3 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.
Koondrook Barham faces a huge test in next Saturday’s second round when it plays Nyah Nyah West United in Barham from 2.30pm.
Tooleybuc Manangatang tackles Kerang at Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
Swan Hill and Mallee Eagles clash at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Woorinen takes on Tyntynder in the Tigers’ lair at Woorinen Recreation Reserve.
Cohuna Kangas meets the Kangaroos from Balranald at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
Lake Boga has the bye.