MALLEE Eagles will be aiming to mark a successful swoop on the den of the Hay Lions in this Saturday’s q13th round in Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy.
It’s third against fifth as the Eagles make their way to Hay for a 2.30pm showdown.
The Lions will be snarling after a 22-92 loss to Nyah Nyah West United in Nyah.
Mallee marked a 221-point in the round 12 clash with Murrabit.
Crucial match-ups for Hay will be in defence where Dylan Adkins and Jim Houston take on Darcy Hourigan and Toby Sheahan.
The Lions’ attack is led by Declan Watson and Tom Banuelos who will be opposed by Joe Halloran and Tom McGregor.
Hay’s on-ball group of Will Wolbers, Jacob Watson and Jack Cattanach faces a big task against Hamish Hosking, Darcy McGregor and Cody Henness.
In the centre, Lions’ Fergus Cattanach will oppose Eagles’ coach Harry Allen.
The Mick Cattanach and James Moran-coached Hay has a win-loss record of eight-four.
Cohuna Kangas will be back at home to take on Tooleybuc Manangatang.
It’s fourth against sixth on the Kangas’ ground.
The Jack Geary-coached Cohuna was beaten in last Saturday’s match at Woorinen by 28 points.
It’s a testing run for Cohuna to complete the home-and-away series as it plays Tooleybuc Manangatang, home; Mallee Eagles, home; and Nyah Nyah West United, away.
Cohuna’s team includes Ricky Monti in the centre against Saints’ co-coach Robbie McComb.
Another key match-up for the Kangas will be Charlie Ford ruck-roving against Saints’ co-coach Nayef Hamad.
A strong attack for Cohuna includes Daniel Coates, Corbin Anderson, Joel Helman, and Kain Robins, a multiple premiership-winner at various clubs across a long and celebrated career.
Key players for the Saints include Josh Chatfield and Connor Hazlett in attack, Rydar Morris on a wing, Kallum Hazlett roving, and Jesse Gosman, Nick Ryan and John Wardle in defence.
Seventh and eighth in the premiership race, Swan Hill and Koondrook Barham clash at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Jason Murphy-coached Swan Hill is on the rebound from a five-point loss at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Koondrook Barham won last Saturday’s home game against Moulamein by 56 points.
Key players for the Swans include Harry Gadsden, Matt Gillbee, Kaylem Hartley, Tom Holdstock, Xavier Moloney, Tom Smith, and Patrick Veszpremi.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham has Ryan Bassett and Reagan Hamilton in the key defensive posts, Liam Read in the ruck, Nathan O’Toole and Martin Kelly teaming up as ruck-rover and rover.
A River Raiders’ attack led by Jacob Barrington, Patrick Goble and Clayton McCartney will test the Swans.
Moualmein will be on home turf against Tyntynder.
In what’s a logjam to decide who’s on the sixth, seventh and eighth rungs on the ladder, Moulamein is in a group of five clubs locked on 24 points.
The Brodie Tonkin and Hayden Dalitz-coached Moulamein rolls into this round in 10th place.
Players to watch for the Swans include Heath Moloney, Adam Curry, Brett Kennedy, Xander Hartland, Mark Drotsky, and Jack Jones.
The Darcy Bibby-coached Tyntynder is chasing its fourth victory.
The play of Patrick Crowe, Sam Bull, Michael Zambelli, Elia Ware, Zac Denham and Josh Potter will be crucial in the Bulldogs’ bid for an upset win.
Another important match will be at Ultima where Storm takes on Kerang.
These teams are separated by a win as they occupy the 9th and 11th rungs on the ladder.
The Joel Donnan-coached Ultima will be fired up after a 45-point loss at Lake Boga Sports Club.
Key players for Storm include Caillum Brady at full-back, Matt Taverna at centre half-back, Andrew Dean and Thomas Isma in attack, ruckman Jye Purtill, and Lucas Caccaviello as ruck-rover.
A Kerang attack led by Zac Bozanich, Austin Crellin, Jonah McKnight and coach Brad Pay is ready to break through Storm’s defence.
The Blues have Tyson Clingan in the centre, Rylee Gitsham and Bodhen McKnight in defence, and Ian Fisher in the ruck.
Balranald hosts Woorinen at Greenham Park.
The Brent Macleod-coached Balranald played well to win last Saturday’s match against Tyntynder by 58 points.
Massive step-up in pressure for the Kangaroos this round against the reigning premier.
Key players for Balranald include Kane Agius, Liam Farnsworth, Ben and Ian Fuller, Ryan Middlebrook, Jack and Tom Salau, and Seb Papa.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen will be eyeing another big win.
A strong team in yellow and black includes Will Collicoat, Lachlan Gardner, Jose Miliado, Blake and Kane Reid, Robert Rush, Henry Thompson, and Lachlan Warburton.
Murrabit is at home against Lake Boga.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga starts the day’s play in 12th place, but a strong chance to close the percentage gap.
Murrabit will have been bitterly disappointed about scoring just one goal against Mallee Eagles last Saturday.
The Murrabit team coached by Rick Ladson, non-playing, and Jack Shannahan, playing, includes Sam Copland, Akasha Jenkins-Jaiswal, Cruz and Reid Jolliffe, Bryden Morison, Bailey Pengelly, and Adam Thomson.
Lake Boga’s team to tackle the Blues includes Patrick Bryan, Ryan Fox, Rex Hickman, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Jayden Lonergan, Braden Padmore, Jordon Reardon and Harrison Sloss.
It’s the Bombers against the Demons as Wandella hosts Nyah Nyah West United in The Hangar.
Massive task for the Justin Robinson-coached Wandella against a red-hot NNWU team.
Key match-ups for Wandella include Tim Robinson at full-back against Alex Erlandson, Kaine O’Connell in a back pocket opposed to John Summerhayes, and Laing Waddingham at centre half-back against NNWU coach Corey Daniels.
In midfield Wandella has Connor Jamieson, Tyan Dove and Logan Tuohey to take on Mitch Grinham, Ethan Saville and Nic Threadgold.
Bombers’ on-ballers Darcy Ramge, John Cooper and Nathan Boysen pit their skills against Blake Larkings, Brayden Bigham and Dominic Gallo.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 323 per cent, 48 points; Mallee Eagles 278, 44; Woorinen 196, 40; Cohuna Kangas 258, 36; Hay 161, 32; Tooleybuc Manangatang 146, 24; Koondrook Barham 144, 24; Swan Hill 104, 24; Kerang 97, 24; Moulamein 68, 24; Ultima 105, 20; Lake Boga 91, 20; Balranald 41, 12; Tyntynder 33, 12; Murrabit 31, 4; Wandella 26, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
48 Darcy Hourigan, ME.
39 Corbin Anderson, CK; Sam Hilton-Joyce, W.
38 Zak Bozanich, K; Declan Watson, H.
37 Cameron Arnold, KB.
36 Josh Chatfield, TM.
35 Dustin Burns, U.
31 Jacob O’Meara, ME.
30 Will Collicoat, W.
29 Beau Schwarze, NNWU.
28 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, LB.
26 Jack Headon, H.
24 Jonathon Ross, NNWU.
22 Kye Attwell, KB; Adam Curry, M’mein; Ben Fuller, B; Tom Smith, SH; Patrick Veszpremi, SH.
21 Daniel Coates, CK.
20 Harry Bremner, KB; Nayef Hamad, TM; Brett Kennedy, M’mein.