THE rematch of ’25 grand finalists Calder United and Birchip-Watchem highlights this Saturday’s ninth round in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
The Lions and Bulls will play at Nullawil Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
When they met in round two it was Calder United which clinched a 73-72 victory in the Bulls’ pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat from All Cancers Awareness Round played last Saturday.
The Lions were beaten by 52 points at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park as the Bulls went down to Sea Lake Nandaly by 37 points.
A Calder United team coached by Jordan Humphreys and Tom Bickley is third in the premiership race.
Key players for the Lions include Oscar Madden at centre half-back, Zach Caccaviello, Mitch Farmer, Justin Laird, Boe Bish, Dean Putt and Rylie Smith.
Gun forward Steven Stroobants was not named for this contest.
Birchip-Watchem’s best against Sea Lake Nandaly were Zane Connick, Meyrick Buchanan, Joseph Madio and Harry Cook.
The Bulls’ squad coached by Ash Connick includes Ty Colbert, Rhona Conboy, Lachy Foott, Dale Hinkley, Ricardo Liparota and Sam Simmons.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers are back in their den to play Boort.
A high-scoring clash between these clubs in round two went the way of the Tigers, 150-85.
There’s plenty of goalkicking power in an SLN attack that includes Billy McInnes, Max Cahoon, Trent Donnan and Lachy McClelland.
Huge roles will be played by Boort defenders Keiren Wilson, Max Beattie, Alex Chamberlain and Sam Toose.
In the on-ball duels the Tigers have Connor Michael, Wade Donnan and Thomas Cox up against James Byrne, Danko Bzenic and Carlos Egan.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s defence is led by Kane Donnan, Cooper Roberts and former Richmond and North Melbourne player Robin Nahas.
The Magpies will look to Jackson Daley, Connor Dalgleish, Harry Weaver and James Wilson to cap off their attacks.
Sea Lake Nandaly has Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan as playing co-coaches.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort is on a winning hat-trick.
Donald is back on its turf to play St Arnaud.
In round two it was the Saints who scored a 70-59 victory in the Chris “Pa” Wall Memorial match at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
The Royal Blues are on the rebound from last Saturday’s loss at Boort Park while the Saints passed the 150-point mark against Charlton.
Donald’s line-up for this match includes Dyson Bell-Warren, Baxter Donnellon, Kalon Green, Pala Kuma, Daniel Pearce and Luca Rice.
The Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder-coached Royals have a win-loss tally of two-five and also drew with Birchip-Watchem.
St Arnaud starts this round just two points behind the fourth-placed Birchip-Watchem.
Best for the Saints against Charlton in All Cancers Awareness Round were Nick and Joe Maishman, Jake Male and Sean Holroyd.
A St Arnaud squad coached by Harley Durward and Darby Schilder includes Max Hungerford, Luke Jackson, Sam Male, Jackson Needs and former coach Torin Petrie.
Charlton faces a huge task against Wedderburn at Charlton Park.
The Navies’ line-up includes coach Carl Thiesz, Mason Heenan, Ben Lanyon, Sean O’Connor, Patrick Sait and Billy Sexton.
Wedderburn is unbeaten and competition for places in the team are heating up.
The Redbacks fought back from being 14 points down at quarter-time of last Saturday’s clash with Calder United to win by 52 points.
In-form players for the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn include Hamish Lockhart, Jayden Jones, Darcy Jackson, Tyler Curtis and Oscar Holt.
The Redbacks also have Noah Furlong, Jackson and Mitch McEwen in their squad.
Key forward Tom Campbell also played for Wedderburn last round after playing seven senior matches with Sandhurst this season.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Wedderburn 249 per cent, 32 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 232, 28; Calder United Lions 153, 20; Birchip-Watchem 124, 14; St Arnaud 91, 12; Boort 72, 12; Donald 89, 10; Charlton 15, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
38 Steven Stroobants, CUL.
37 Max Cahoon, SLN.
29 Dale Pearce, CUL.
28 Matt Perri, W.
21 Ricardo Liparota, BW; Ashley Reed, D.
20 Joseph Reid, BW.
15 Lachy McClelland, SLN; Kayne Rutley, B.
14 Tyler Curtis, W; Max Hungerford, SA.
13 Rylee Smith, CUL.
12 Thomas Cox, SLN; Boyd Bailey, SLN; Oscar Holt, W; Jay Kirwood, SA; Torin Petrie, SA.