-By Nathan Dole
JUST two rounds in and Koondrook Barham has claimed the tag for upset of the season after Saturday’s senior footy action in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray competition.
The Marcus Demaria-coached River Raiders outpointed reigning premier Nyah Nyah West United at Barham.
Koondrook Barham has already doubled its win tally of last season.
The River Raiders led 26-10 at quarter-time and then won the second term, 22-15.
A superb effort to score 3.2 as it held the Demons to a score of 1.1 put gave the KB line-up a six goal buffer going into the final quarter.
The Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy-coached NNWU Demons fought back strongly.
Nyah Nyah West United slammed on seven goals straight, but the Raiders added 2.3.
At the final siren Koondrook Barham led 83-74.
Kyall Parker led KB’s attack on three goals as Kye Attwell, Ryan Bassett, Matt Bilton and Matt Bremner added two each.
Nick O’Neill booted three majors for the Demons as Tristan Dalbon and Jordan Iudica booted two goals.
Best for Koondrook Barham were Benji Neal, Kye Attwell, Harry Bremner, Matt Bilton, Kyall Parker and Lee Dale.
Joel Campbell, Zak O’Shannassy, Ben Shadbolt, Jordan Iudica, Cooper Andrews and Brady Davidson were the Demons best.
Cohuna Kangas kicked off its season with a 178-point win at home against Balranald.
The Kangas scored 26.24 and kept Balranald to a tally of two behinds.
Corbin Anderson kicked seven goals as Daniel Coates, Jude Palmer and Jackson Williams chipped in with three each.
Cohuna also had Joel Helman, Jacob Mitchell, Ricky Monti and Thomas Toma add two majors.
Best for the Jack Geary-coached Cohuna Kangas were Chris and Corbin Anderson, Will Lee, Thomas Toma, Joel Helman and Ricky Monti.
Balranald’s best were Tom and Jack Salau, Ryan Middlebrook, Lachlan Collihole, Jack Helgeland and Tim Marsh.
It’s been a tough start for a Kangaroos team coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau.
Tooleybuc Manangatang bounced back from a big defeat in round one to score a 112-97 win against Kerang at Tooleybuc Recreation Reserve.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints were down 32-34 at quarter-time, but then hit back to win the second term, 29-13.
An evenly-fought third quarter went the way of the Saints, 26-20.
Although Kerang won the last, 30-25, it was Tooleybuc Manangatang which led by 25 points at the final siren.
Connor Nutting dominated in the Saints attack to finish with 10 goals as Josh Koster booted four.
Kerang’s attack was led by Ethan McKnight and Jordan McNeil on four each as Brad Pay kicked two.
Best for the Saints were Connor Nutting, Josh Williams, Josh Koster, Connor McDonald, Rydar Morris and Seb Rogers.
Archer Dibsdale, Brad Pay, Jordan McNeil, Cody Makeham, Bohden McKnight and Rylee Gitsham were best for the Paul Grayling-coached Blues.
After building a 30-point lead by quarter-time, Woorinen kicked on to record a 113-52 win at home against Tyntynder.
Matt Perry and Hugh Thompson led the Tigers’ attack on five goals each as Jose Miliado added two.
Sam Bull was Tyntynder’s sole multiple goalkicker on two.
Best for the Tim Free-coached Woorinen were Matt Gardner, Jye Barry, Hugh Thompson, Jose Milado, Ben Booth and Blake Reid.
Josh Potter, Elia Ware, Mick Dedini, Darcy Bibby, Bailey Reeves and Coady Gorringe were Tyntynder’s best.
The Bulldogs are jointly coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
It was the clash of the Swans and Eagles as Swan Hill took on Mallee at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Eagles soared to a 58-14 lead by quarter-time.
Mallee then added 3.4 and kept the Swans to a point in the second.
A 65-point lead at the long break became 79 at a quarter to play.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans worked hard to score two goals in the last.
Andrew Mead-Harding and Jacob O’Meara finished on four goals apiece as the Eagles marked a 130-36 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for Mallee were Ethan Pinchen, three; Harry Allen and Darcy Hourigan, two.
The Swans’ attack was led by Harry Scott on two.
Best for the Brent Macleod and Harry Allen-coached Eagles were Harry McGregor, Harry Allen, Wes Bennett, Ethan Pinchen, Zac O’Meara and Isaiah Bull.
Tom Holdstock, Hary Scott, Anthony Lewin, Cooper Angus, Michael Herlihy and Adam Manning played well for the Swans.
Lake Boga had the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Mallee Eagles 517 per cent, 8 points; Woorinen 225, 8; Koondrook Barham 118, 8; Cohuna Kangas 9000, 4; Lake Boga 160, 4; Nyah Nyah West United 138, 4; Tooleybuc Manangatang 54, 4; Kerang 74, 0; Tyntynder 57, 0; Swan Hill 35, 0; Balranald 17, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
11 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
10 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
10 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
8 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
7 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
7 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
7 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
6 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
6 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
6 Nicholas O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
5 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
4 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
4 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
4 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
4 Josh Koster, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
4 Mardy McDonald, Lake Boga.
4 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
4 Bailey Reeves, Tyntynder.
3 Harry Allen, Mallee Eagles.
3 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
3 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
3 Coady Gorringe, Tyntynder.
3 Rex Hickman, Lake Boga.
3 Flynn McKnight, Kerang.
3 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
3 Kyall Parker, Koondrook Barham.
3 Shannon Polglase, Swan Hill.
3 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.
3 Harry Scott, Swan Hill.
3 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
3 Jackson Williams, Cohuna Kangas.
There will be no play on the Easter holiday weekend.
Round three on April 26 will be highlighted by the clash between the first and third-placed Mallee Eagles and Koondrook Barham at Lalbert from 2.30pm.
Another big clash will be Nyah Nyah West United against Woorinen at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
Tyntynder tackles Cohuna Kangas at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Kerang and Swan Hill clash at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Lake Boga is on home turf against Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Balranald has the bye.