BY NATHAN DOLE
Bombers, Tigers work to gain mental edge
DRAWN to meet in a first semi no matter the result, Macorna and Wandella will strive to gain a mental edge in Saturday’s 16th round of Golden Rivers senior footy.
The Tigers from Macorna have home-ground advantage against the Wandella Bombers from 2.30pm.
When these clubs last met in round 11, Macorna fought on for a 78-75 victory in the Wandella hangar.
The Tigers and Bombers were well-beaten in last Saturday’s play by Ultima and Hay respectively.
Key players for Macorna include Malcolm Neiwand, co-captains Lachlan Thompson and Laing Whinfield, Travis Mercadante, Hunter Anset and Lachlan Ritchie.
Wandella will look for big games from Logan Keighran, Adam Ward, Justin and Tim Robinson, Tanner Treacy and Jarred Schlitz to take the points.
The ladder-leading Hay will be at home to take on the Murrabit Blues.
Hay is likely to have too much goalkicking power for the Blues to hold across four quarters.
Players to watch for the Lions include Nathan Wilson, Kenneth Judd, Brad Pocock, Daniel Zambon, William Collis, Daniel Stewart, Hugh Crighton and Jayden Kinces.
Best for Murrabit against Moulamein last round were Dean Harrop, Nathan O’Toole, Josh Bray, Sam and Tom Copland, and Ashton Wood.
After a great win last Saturday, Moulamein will round out its season against Ultima.
Massive test for the Swans as the second-placed Roos warm up for the finals.
Key match-ups for Moulamein include Hunter Hartland at centre half-back against Jye Purtill, Xander Hartland opposed to Cameron Johnson in the centre, Heath Moloney to take on Matt Taverna in the ruck.
Other key players for the Swans include Rodney Reeves, Ely Miller, Cody Storm, Morgan Turvey and Trae Atkinson.
A strong team from Ultima includes Ryan Devereux in attack, Mitchell Seton-Stewart, Mitch Makepeace, Caillum Brady, Zac Cattlin and Ryan Featherby.
Golden Rivers senior footy ladder:
Hay 313 per cent, 56 points; Ultima 233, 52; Wandella 82, 28; Macorna 60, 20; Moulamein 59, 12; Murrabit 50, 12.
Leading goalkickers:
58 Ryan Devereux, Ultima.
58 Declan Watson, Hay.
32 Kenneth Jubb, Hay.
27 Justin Robinson, Wandella.
26 Jack Cattanach, Hay.
21 Patrick Bryan, Murrabit.
21 William Collis, Hay.
20 Michael Rowe, Wandella.
19 Tristan McIntosh, Macorna.
19 Ely Miller, Moulamein.
18 Matt Taverna, Ultima.
17 Logan Keighran, Wandella.
17 Jack Shannahan, Murrabit.
16 Jack Headon, Hay.
16 Heath Moloney, Moulamein.
15 Jensen Hargreaves, Hay.
15 Ricky Wild, Ultima.
14 Lochlan Prentice, Moulamein.
14 Adam Ward, Wandella.
14 Jacob Watson, Hay.
14 James White, Moulamein.
13 Hunter Hartland, Moulamein.
13 Malcolm Neiwand, Macorna.
12 Jake Foster, Ultima.
12 Lincoln Frost, Ultima.
12 Angus Gardiner, Hay.
12 Jim Houston, Hay.
11 Jay Reynolds, Ultima.
10 Bailey Codling, Ultima.
10 Koby Gibson, Macorna.
10 Kaine O’Connell, Wandella.
10 Lachlan Ritchie, Macorna.
10 Xavier Wishart, Macorna.