-By Nathan Dole
THE rematch of ’24 grand finalists, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Birchip-Watchem Bulls highlights this weekend’s third round of senior footy in the Goldacres North Central league.
Premier of the past two years, Sea Lake Nandaly has home-ground advantage when Saturday’s run with the Bulls starts at 2.30pm.
Both teams take an unbeaten record into this contest.
The Tigers won the round two clash with Calder United Lions at Nullawil by 23 points.
Best for the Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes-coached Tigers were Thomas Cox, Trent and Wade Donnan, Max Cahoon and Adam Pattison.
A strong squad in the yellow and black includes Brodie Adcock, Lachy McClellan, Ryan O’Sullivan, Jack Poulton and Brody Weir.
Bulls forward Ben Edwards looms as a huge threat to the Tigers’ defence.
A haul of 15 goals in the win against Donald has put Edwards on 28 and well-clear in the goalkicking race.
Joseph Reid also booted 10 majors as the Bulls charged to a 223-point win against the Royal Blues at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Best in the latest win by the Ash Connick-coached Bulls were Edwards, Reid, ruckman Hamish Hosking, Nicholas Rippon, Rhona Conboy and Cormacc Wilson.
It will be Charlton or St Arnaud who claim their first victory of the season when they meet on Anzac Day at Charlton Park.
The match between the Navies and Saints will start at 5.45pm.
Best for Charlton in the round two defeat at Boort Park were Ben Lanyon, coach Mitch Collins, Ben Xiriha, Ashton Wood, Billy Sexton and Darcy McCallum.
The Navies’ squad includes Thomas Finlay, Aaron Schofield, Billy Sexton, Jackson and Seb Zagame.
St Arnaud could not stop Wedderburn’s run to a 12-goal victory on the Redbacks’ turf at Donaldson Park in round two.
Best for the Scott Driscoll-coached Saints were Zac Phillips, Brad Organ, Mitch Birthisel, Jay Kirwood, Harley Durward and Daniel Gifford.
St Arnaud’s squad includes Mitch Egan, Luke Jackson, Jackson Needs and Kurtis Torney.
On Saturday it will be Calder United Lions against Wedderburn from 2.30pm at Wycheproof.
It’s fourth against fifth.
The Darryl Wilson, non-playing, and Jordan Humphreys, playing, Lions will be keen to bounce back from defeat.
It’s also the first hit-out for the Lions, formed by the merger of Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport at Wycheproof.
Best for the Lions in the clash with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were Brent Sheahan, Daniel Watts, George Turner, Matt Wade, Steven Kennedy and Boe Bish.
The forward line against SLN was Jack Exell, Mitch Farmer and Koby Hommelhoff.
The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn will be aware pressure will be much higher this time.
The Redbacks led 70-6 at half-time of their clash with St Arnaud.
Best in Wedderburn’s first win of the season were Mitch Jensen, Mitch and Jackson McEwen, Jye Mortlock, Darcy Jackson and Noah Furlong.
Donald faces Boort in Saturday’s other game at Donald from 2.30pm.
The Daniel Pearce-coached Donald will be aimimg to raise its defensive intensity against the Magpies.
Donald’s squad includes Feeny medallist Ross Young, Darcy Harrison, Eddie Landwehr, Charlie Campbell, Kalon Green, Robert Walker and Jonty Funcke.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort passed the 200-point mark at home against Charlton last round.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and Kayne Rutley kicked 10 and eight goals against the Navies to earn best afield honours.
In-form players for Boort include Keiren Wilson, James Keeble, Kieren Jaksic and Lachlan Hall.
Boort’s squad includes Ethan Coleman, Carlos Egan, Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Will Perryman and Peter Barbopoulos.
Goldacres North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 1016 per cent, 8 points; Boort 467, 8; Sea Lake Nandaly 188, 8; Calder United Lions 245, 4; Wedderburn 121, 4; St Arnaud 38, 0; Charlton 10, 0; Donald 8, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
14 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
13 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
12 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
11 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
9 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
8 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
7 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
6 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
5 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
5 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
5 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly.
4 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
4 Carlos Egan, Boort.
4 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
4 James Keeble, Boort.
4 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
4 Matt Wade, Calder United Lions.
3 Zach Caccaviello, Calder United Lions.
3 Jacob Tillig, St Arnaud.