BY NATHAN DOLE
NYAH Nyah West United put Balranald out of the Radio 3SH-backed senior footy premiership race in Sunday’s first semi-final in the Central Murray FNL season.
The Demons and Kangaroos clashed at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
The NNWU line-up led 38-33 at half-time and then dominated most of the third quarter.
As the red and blue scored 5.5 it held Balranald to a tally of 1.2.
The Jason Murphy and Nic O’Neill-coached Demons kicked on to win the last term, 25-19, and the contest, 86-60.
Gun forward Brandyn Grenfell was in hot form for the Demons and finished with a match-high seven goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for NNWU were Ethan Curran and Max Thompson with two.
Balranald’s attack was led by Lachlan Lellman on three goals as Matt Neagle chipped in with two.
Best for the Demons were Jordan Iudica, Ethan Saville, Ethan Curran and Corey Daniels.
Harrison Soraggi, Mason Fitzgerald, Kobe Lloyd and Ian Fuller were best for the Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos who finish fourth after being runner-up in ’23.
The Demons will now take on Mallee Eagles in next Saturday’s preliminary final at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
Kerang is a win away from a premiership hat-trick after the Blues won Saturday’s second semi-final against Mallee Eagles at Woorinen.
The Troy Coates-coached Blues faced a 16-point deficit at half-time.
Inspired by the play of Martin Kelly, Brett Kennedy and ruckman Nick Lang, Kerang hit back to win the third quarter, 37-13.
The Blues then scored 6.1 as the Eagles added 4.2 in the last.
Brett Kennedy kicked a match-high five goals in a 109-90 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for Kerang were Jordan McNeil and Jarryd Pertzel on three, and Sam Heavyside with two.
The Eagles’ attack was led by Darcy Hourigan, four; Darcy McGregor and Jayden Post on two.
Best for the Brent Macleod-coached Eagles included Billy O’Meara, Beau Bennett, Brady Fordham and Nathan Bisset.
Kerang will meet Mallee or Nyah Nyah West United in the September 21 grand final at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
In the reserves competition, Kerang scored an 82-point win against Woorinen in the second semi-final.
The Blues led 36-27 at half-time and then slammed on 6.3 as the Tigers were held to a behind in the third quarter.
Kyle Franzini went on to kick three goals for Kerang in a 110-82 victory.
Best for the Blues were Ethan and Bohden McKnight, Cody Tuohey and Hamish Rookes.
Woorinen’s best were Matthew Iannucci, Kyle Steicke, Jake Butler and Leigh Coleman.
On Sunday it was Mallee Eagles which scored a 67-23 win to end Lake Boga’s run.
The Eagles’ accuracy was outstanding across the first half as they led 43-19 at the main break.
Mallee added 3.6 and kept the Magpies to a tally of four behinds in the second half.
Todd Day-Henery and Mardy McDonald led the Eagles’ attack on two goals each.
Will Gardner and Coby Mirtschin were on target for the Magpies.
Best for the Eagles were Andrew McDonald, Toby Sheahan, Wes Bennett and Liam Drummond.
Lake Boga’s best were Brady Hogan, Cody Mirtschin, John Foskett and Gary Goodes.
In the Colts competition, Lake Boga charged to a 43-15 by half-time of the second semi-final showdown with Swan Hill.
The Swans struck back to win the third term, 15-6.
It was 13-all in the last as Lake Boga marked a 62-43 victory.
Xavier Sherlock and Nick Taylor led the Magpies’ attack on three goals each.
The Swans’ leading goalkickers were Sonny Beasy and Harry Scott on two.
Best for Lake Boga were Xavier Sherlock, Koben Ryan, Rylan Barnes and Harry Bull.
Lachlan Vrolijks, Mitch Hinton, Lletyon Purcell and Lane Cardenas played well for the Swans.
Scores were 27-all at half-time of the Colts first semi-final between Kerang and Woorinen.
The Tigers won third quarter, 21-13, and then added 4.3 as it kept the Blues to a tally of 1.1 in the last.
Hugh Thompson was in great touch for the yellow and black as he kicked five goals and Harper Holland added three in a 69-47 victory.
Kerang’s attack was led by Mason Dibsdale and Flynn McKnight on two goals.
Best for Woorinen were Mitchell Bannam, Harper Holland, Hugh Thompson and Tahj Bolton.
Leigham McAlpin, Zarne Thamm, Harry Bremner and Flynn McKnight played well for the Blues.
It was a six-goal win for Lake Boga against Swan Hill in the second semi-final of the Mildura Health-backed under-15 competition.
The Magpies led 43-19 at half-time and won the next two terms, 18-9 and 15-12.
Jarra Kelly kicked four goals and Bryce Anderson added three in a 76-40 victory for Lake Boga.
The Swans’ attack was led by Sam Brown on two goals.
Best for Lake Boga were Maximus Caruso, Lachie Heil, Jake Steer and Flynn Barnes.
Swan Hill’s best were Sam Brown, Jaron Cardenas, Kaedan Purcell and Noah Pearson.
It will be a showdown of the Swans and River Raiders in Saturday’s preliminary final.
Koondrook Barham held on for a one-goal win against Tooleybuc Manangatang in the first semi in Cohuna.
The River Raiders led 17-9 at half-time and then won the third quarter, 7-3.
The Saints struck back to score 3.1 in the last, but KB’s tally of 2.1 was enough to seal a 37-31 victory.
Mitchell Gilbert and Tennysen O’Neill both kicked two goals for the River Raiders.
Best for Koondrook Barham were Nate Pretty, Alex Chisholm, Jakson Curry and Riley Dixon.
Julian Muir, Jedd Morris, Campbell Fisher and Jacob Zanker played well for the Saints.
Central Murray footy first semi-finals scoreboard:
Radio 3SH seniors:
Nyah Nyah West United 3.3 5.8 8.13 12.14 (86)
Balranald 4.2 5.3 6.5 9.6 (60)
GOALS – Nyah Nyah West United: Brandyn Grenfell 7, Ethan Curran, Max Thompson 2, Jordan Iudica. Balranald: Lachlan Lellman 3, Matt Neagle 2, Rory Fitzgerald, Drew Lloyd, Jydon Neagle, Harrison Soraggi.
BEST – Nyah Nyah West United: Jordan Iudica, Ethan Saville, Ethan Curran, Corey Daniels, Brandyn Grenfell, Joel Walsh. Balranald: Harrison Soraggi, Mason Fitzgerald, Kobe Lloyd, Ian Fuller, Jackson Ferguson, Matt Neagle.
Reserves:
Mallee Eagles 5.0 7.1 8.4 10.7 (67)
Lake Boga 1.3 2.7 2.8 2.11 (23)
GOALS – Mallee Eagles: Todd Day-Henery, Mardy McDonald 2, Wes Bennett, Charlie Kingwill, Daniel Lavey, Dominic Makur, Hayden Richards, Toby Sheahan. Lake Boga: Will Gardner, Coby Mirtschin.
BEST – Mallee Eagles: Andrew McDonald, Toby Sheahan, Wes Bennett, Liam Drummond, Todd Day-Henery, Charlie Kingwill. Lake Boga: Brady Hogan, Cody Mirtschin, John Foskett, Gary Goodes, Darby Hayes, Parker Tonkin.
Colts:
Woorinen 3.2 4.3 7.6 10.9 (69)
Kerang 1.1 4.3 6.4 7.5 (47)
GOALS – Woorinen: Hugh Thompson 5, Harper Holland 3, Elwood Stacey 2. Kerang: Mason Dibsdale, Flynn McKnight 2, Hugh Bremner, Ronarrian Dowdy, Mark Threlfall.
BEST – Woorinen: Mitchell Bannam, Harper Holland, Hugh Thompson, Tahj Bolton, Otto Conlan, Juan Kruger. Kerang: Leigham McAlpin, Zarne Thamm, Harry Bremner, Flynn McNight, Nicholas Oliver, Seth Hall.
Mildura Health under-15:
Koondrook Barham 1.3 2.5 3.6 5.7 (37)
Tooleybuc Manangatang 1.2 1.3 1.6 4.7 (31)
GOALS – Koondrook Barham: Mitchell Gilbert, Tennysen O’Neill 2, Jye Hamilton. Tooleybuc Manangatang: Zachary Lehner, Tyler Mazzarella, Jedd Morris, Jacob Zanker.
BEST – Koondrook Barham: Nate Pretty, Alex Chisholm, Jakson Curry, Riley Dixon, Jye Hamilton. Tooleybuc Manangatang: Julian Muir, Jedd Morris, Campbell Fisher, Jacob Zanker, Tyler Mazzarella, Zachary Lehner.
Central Murray footy second semi-finals scoreboard:
Radio 3SH seniors:
Kerang 1.4 5.5 11.6 17.7 (109)
Mallee Eagles 3.6 7.9 9.10 13.12 (90)
GOALS – Kerang: Brett Kennedy 5, Jordan McNeil, Jarryd Pertzel 3, Sam Heavyside 2, Tyson Clingan, Ryan Gillingham, Thomas Hetherington, Sean Hunter. Mallee Eagles: Darcy Hourigan 4, Darcy McGregor, Jayden Post 2, Harrison Allen, Troy Anderson, Shaun Harrison, Billy O’Meara, Jacob O’Meara.
BEST – Kerang: Martin Kelly, Brett Kennedy, Nick Lang, Sam Heavyside, Josh Nitschke, Jesse Clark. Mallee Eagles: Billy O’Meara, Beau Bennett, Brady Fordham, Nathan Bisset, Clinton Cummins, Darcy McGregor.
Reserves:
Kerang 3.8 4.12 10.15 15.20 (110)
Woorinen 1.1 4.3 4.4 4.4 (28)
GOALS – Kerang: Kyle Franzini 3, Harry Bremner, Brodie Meehan, Harrison Saunders 2, Mason Dibsdale, Leigham McAlpin, Bohden McKnight, Ethan McKnight, Jonah McKnight, Logan Tuohey. Woorinen: Jason Iannucci 2, Tyler Beasy, Andrew Lolicato.
BEST – Kerang: Ethan McKnight, Bohden McKnight, Cody Tuohey, Hamish Rookes, Jonah McKnight, Leigham McAlpin. Woorinen: Matthew Iannucci, Kyle Steicke, Jake Butler, Leigh Coleman, James Gleeson, Jason Iannucci.
Colts:
Lake Boga 3.4 6.7 7.7 9.8 (62)
Swan Hill 2.0 2.3 4.6 6.7 (43)
GOALS – Lake Boga: Xavier Sherlock, Nick Taylor 3, Lachlan Bull 2, Bodi Clune. Swan Hill: Sonny Beasy, Harry Scott 2, Lane Cardenas, Kaillum Polglase.
BEST – Lake Boga: Xavier Sherlock, Koben Ryan, Rylan Barnes, Harry Bull, Willem Holmes, Lachlan Bull. Swan Hill: Lachlan Vrolijks, Mitch Hinton, Lletyon Purcell, Lane Cardenas, Sonny Beasy, Darcy Uebergang.
Mildura Health under-15:
Lake Boga 5.1 7.1 10.1 12.4 (76)
Swan Hill 2.0 3.1 4.4 6.4 (40)
GOALS – Lake Boga: Jarra Kelly 4, Bryce Anderson 3, Maximus Caruso 2, Novak Demarchi, Kye Fleming, Lachie Heil. Swan Hill: Sam Brown 2, Finn Hufer, Ethan Germaine, Noah Pearson, Thomas Robertson.
BEST – Lake Boga: Maximus Caruso, Lachie Heil, Jake Steer, Flynn Barnes, Reef Mulligan, Lucas O’Reilly. Swan Hill: Sam Brown, Jaron Cardenas, Kaedan Purcell, Noah Pearson, Jace Lloyd, Hugh Angus.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Nyah Recreation Reserve:
Mildura Health under-15 at 9am: Swan Hill v Koondrook Barham.
Colts at 10.20am: Swan Hill v Woorinen.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Woorinen v Mallee Eagles.
Radio 3SH seniors at 2.30pm: Mallee Eagles v Nyah Nyah West United.