BY NATHAN DOLE
Tigers face test against Blues
SEPARATED by a win, Macorna and Murrabit clash in Saturday’s seventh round of the Golden Rivers senior footy season.
The Tigers and Blues will play at Macorna Recreation Reserve from 2.25pm.
A win-loss tally of two-four has Macorna in fourth place in the premiership race.
Murrabit starts this round in fifth place on a one-five record and almost 40 per cent behind the Tigers.
When these clubs met in round two it was Murrabit which marked an 84-62 victory.
Macorna is the on the rebound from a three-point loss at Wandella.
In-form players for Macorna include Travis Mercadante, Lachlan Ritchie at centre half-forward, and Christian McCarthy.
The Tigers will be without Laing Whitfield after he was given a one-match ban for rough conduct.
Murrabit was outplayed by the unbeaten Hay last round.
The Blues will look for big games from Tom Copland at centre half-forward, Rhys Carmichael at centre half-back, Sam Copland and Ashton Wood.
Centre contests will be vital in the wet conditions.
Macorna ruckman Reegan O’Rourke will team up with Josh MacPherson, Malcolm Neiwand and Oscar Don.
Murrabit has co-captain Ben Gillingham in the ruck and supported by Austin McKerrow, Tobie Cameron and co-captain Nathan O’Toole.
Other key players for the Blues include Josh Bray, Patrick Bryan and Brody Palmer.
It’s second against third as Ultima faces Wandella at Ultima Recreation Reserve.
In round two, Ultima won by 62 points in the Bombers’ hangar at Wandella.
Margin could be much closer this time.
Ultima’s only defeat so far was against Hay in round four.
In-form players for the Kangaroos include Caillum Brady, ruck-rover Thomas Bull, Darcy Farrell and Mitch Makepeace.
Targets in Ultima’s forward 50 include Matt Taverna, Lincoln Frost and Ricky Wild.
Wandella is brilliantly led by Justin Robinson and Adam Ward.
The Bombers will look to key defender Logan Keighran, ruck-rover Russell Rich, Tim Robinson, Archer and Ryan Lancaster, and Darren Rushton to spark an upset victory against last season’s runner-up.
Moulamein faces a huge task at home against Hay.
The Swans will be on home turf at Moulamein against the in-form Lions.
In round two, Hay won at Moulamein by 68 points.
After six rounds the Swans are sixth on a one-five record.
Moulamein will need to bring a high level of defensive pressure against the rampaging Lions.
Key players in the red and white include ruckman Heath Moloney, on-field leaders Will Gibson and Cody Storm, Hunter Hartland, Kaylem Hartley and Andrew May.
Hay will be without some of its leading goalkickers, but still has Kenneth Jubb, Tom Spence and Daniel Zambon to cap off attacks.
The reigning premier has Brad Pocock at centre half-back, Angus Gardiner in the centre, ruckman James Moran, and on-ballers Christian Foster and Jack Cattanach.
Ultima v Wandella
Golden Rivers FNL senior footy ladder:
Hay 309 per cent, 24 points; Ultima 225, 20; Wandella 91, 12; Macorna 83, 8; Murrabit 46.9, 4; Moulamein 46.1, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
20 Justin Robinson, Wandella.
17 Declan Watson, Hay.
15 William Collis, Hay.
15 Ryan Devereux, Ultima.
14 Tristan McIntosh, Macorna.
12 Jack Cattanach, Hay.
12 Adam Ward, Wandella.
11 Kenneth Jubb, Hay.
10 Lincoln Frost, Ultima.
10 Hunter Hartland, Moulamein.
9 Ely Miller, Moulamein.
9 Ricky Wild, Ultima.
8 Jack Shannahan, Murrabit.
8 Josh Walters, Macorna.
7 Jake Foster, Ultima.