THE clash of the fourth and second-placed Cohuna Kangas and Mallee Eagles highlights Saturday’s second week in the split 14th round across the Radio 3SH Central Murray senior footy season.
Cohuna has home-ground advantage for the big clash which starts at 2.30pm.
Victory would ensure the Jack Geary-coached Kangas of a top-four finish.
The Harry Allen-coached Eagles have a 12-1 record.
Cohuna on-ballers Chris Anderson, Ricky Monti and Sam McGlone will take on Hamish Hosking, Darcy McGregor and Harry Allen.
A great battle will be in the centre where Tom Toma faces Cody Henness.
A Cohuna defence led by Lachlan English, Tyson Farrant and Riley Williams will be opposed to Darcy Hourigan, Jared Greenbank and Jacob O’Meara.
The Kangas’ attack has the experienced Kain Robins to team with Daniel Coates, Corbin Anderson and Riley Hird.
This match will be a massive test for Mallee defenders Joe Halloran, Harry and Tom McGregor, and Billy O’Meara.
Reigning premier Woorinen is back on home turf to take on Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Tim Free-coached Tigers will start favourite against the Saints.
An 11-2 record has Woorinen third in the race as it chases back-to-back premierships.
Players to watch in the yellow and black include rover Jye Barry, ruckman Lachlan Gardner, Lachlan Warburton in the centre, Ben Booth, and Blake and Kane Reid in defence.
A strong attack for Woorinen is led by Doug Beames, Will Collicoat, Sam Hilton-Joyce and Jose Miliado.
Victory is likely to put Tooleybuc Manangatang on the eighth rung and in the finals series at a round to play.
The play of ruckman James Greenwood, rover Luke McComb, Jedd and Rydar Morris on the wings, Jesse Gosman and Gareth Grant in defence, and Ben Arentz and Josh Chatfield in attack are many of the keys to the Saints’ chances.
Co-coaches Nayef Hamad and Robbie McComb will play as ruck-rover and in the centre.
Balranald will be on home turf at Greenham Park to play Nyah Nyah West United.
After a 58-point win against Tyntynder at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve in round 12, Balranald then hosted Woorinen and now meets an in-form NNWU team coached by Corey Daniels.
Key match-ups the Brent Macleod-coached Balranald included Kane Agius in the ruck against Blake Larkings, Liam Farnsworth roving against Dominic Gallo, and Ian Fuller in the centre opposed to Ethan Saville.
Kangaroos’ defenders Jack Salau, Ryan Middlebrook, Ben Brett and Jake Lockhart face a huge task against Charlie Boulton, Kyle Armstrong, Jonathon Ross and John Summerhayes.
In attack Balranald has Seb Papa, Ben Fuller and Tom Salau to pit their skill against Jack Palmer, Nash Richman and Joel Walsh.
Wandella and Lake Boga clash at the home of Wandella FNC.
The Justin Robinson-coached Bombers are still chasing their first win of the season.
Key players for Wandella include Tim Robinson at full-back, coach Justin Robinson at centre half-back, Tynan Dove in the centre, ruckman Darcy Ramage, and rover Nathan Boysen.
The red and black also has John Cooper, Jack Radcliffe, Seth Rowe and Laing Waddingham determined to lead the charge to a long-awaited win.
Doing so will not be easy against the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga which is 10th on a six-seven record.
Key players for the Magpies include Bryce Anderson, Maximus Caruso, Ryan Fox, Rex Hickman, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Jayden Lonergan, Dylan McCosh, Braden Padmore, and Xavier Sherlock.
In last Saturday’s start to the split 14th round, Moulamein scored a 101-point win at Ultima, and Hay beat Kerang by 47 points in the Lions’ den.
Koondrook Barham won by 15 goals at Murrabit.
First match in the round was on King’s Birthday weekend on June 6 when Tyntynder beat Swan Hill at Alan Garden Reserve by four points.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder after first week in split 14th round:
Nyah Nyah West United 324 per cent, 52 points; Mallee Eagles 272, 48; Woorinen 201, 44; Cohuna Kangas 266, 40; Hay 149, 36; Koondrook Barham 149, 32; Moulamein 83, 32; Kerang 94, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 129, 24;Lake Boga 107, 24; Swan Hill 100, 24; Ultima 94, 20; Balranald 41, 12; Tyntynder 33, 12; Murrabit 30, 4; Wandella 26, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
48 Zak Bozanich, K; Sam Hilton-Joyce, W; Darcy Hourigan, ME.
44 Declan Watson, H.
41 Corbin Anderson, CK.
38 Jacob O’Meara, ME.
37 Cameron Arnold, KB.
36 Josh Chatfield, TM.
35 Dustin Burns, U.
34 Clayton McCartney, KB.
31 Will Collicoat, W.
30 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, LB.
29 Jack Headon, H; Brett Kennedy, M’mein; Beau Schwarze, NNWU.
28 Kye Attwell, KB.
26 Adam Curry, M’mein.
25 Ben Fuller, B; Tom Toma, CK.
24 Daniel Coates, CK; Jonathon Ross, NNWU.
23 Harry Bremner, KB; Adam Curry, M’mein; Rex Hickman, LB; Braden Padmore, LB; Tom Smith, SH; Patrick Veszpremi, SH.
22 Alex Erlandson, NNWU.
21 Jose Miliado, W.
20 Corey Daniels, NNWU; Nayef Hamad, TM.