THE ladder-leading Hay Lions make their way to Swan Hill for a clash between first and second in Saturday’s third round in Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy.
The Lions and Swans are among six teams which have racked up two wins.
Hay has a two-one record after win against Tyntynder in Round Zero and Moulamein in round two, and a 28-point loss to Koondrook Barham in the first round.
Swan Hill has home-ground advantage for the 2.30pm showdown.
Jason Murphy has marked his return to the Swans as coach with wins against Ultima, 57 points, and Murrabit, 75 points.
Cruical match-ups for Swan Hill will be Thomas Corridan at full-back against Declan Watson, and Matt Gilbee at centre half-back opposed to Jack Headon.
The Swans’ line-up includes Cooper Angus, ruckman Buol Majur, Patrick Veszpremi in the centre, Tom Holdstock and Lane Cardenas.
Players to watch in a Hay squad coached by Mick Cattanach and James Moran include Dylan Collis, Joel Crocker, Fergus Cattanach, Jacob Watson and Dean Aylett.
Koondrook Barham will be on home turf in Barham against Cohuna Kangas.
The River Raiders passed the 200-point mark in a 201-78 victory at Wandella last round.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham includes Harry Bremner in the centre, Nathan O’Toole as rover, Kye Attwell and Jacob Barrington in attack, Ryan Bassett and Jack Thrum in defence.
A huge role will be played Martin Kelly against Cohuna’s gun on-baller Tom Toma.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas won the round two clash with Kerang by 47 points.
Players to watch for Cohuna include Mitch Treacy at centre half-back, ruckman Chris Anderson, rover Sam McGlone, Naite Hoskin from a wing, Corbin Anderson and Lachlan English in attack, and Corbin Anderson and Lachlan English in attack.
Lake Boga will be at home against Woorinen.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga beat Cohuna by two points and then charged to a 117-point win at Balranald’s Greenham Park last round.
Woorinen’s run at back-to-back premierships has not started well.
The Tim Free-coached Tigers were beaten at Nyah in round one by 56 points and then by a point at home by Mallee Eagles last round.
Big test for Lake Boga defenders Patrick Bryan, Jordan Reardon and Brady Hogan against Jose Miliado, Matt Gardner and Will Collicoat.
In the ruck the Magpies have Bryce Anderson to compete with Lachlan Gardner.
Lake Boga forwards Rex Hickman, Kai Everett and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown take on Oscar Lewis, Ben Booth and Robert Rush.
Mallee Eagles will start favourite against Tooleybuc Manangatang in Lalbert.
The Harry Allen-coached Eagles won a great contest in Woorinen last round as Billy O’Meara, Marcus Wattie, Toby Sheahan and Jayden Post led the way.
Mallee’s team to tackle the Saints includes Isaiah Bull, ruckman Hamish Hosking, Darcy Hourigan, Harry and Tom McGregor.
The Saints are on the rebound from a 40-point loss to Nyah Nyah West United at Tooleybuc in round two.
Robbie McComb and Nayef Hamad have teamed up to coach Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Key players for the Saints include Ben Arentz, Xavier Brenton-Reed, Josh Chatfield, Luke McComb, Rydar Morris and Rylee Taylor.
Moulamein and Wandella renew their rivalry from Golden Rivers days at Moulamein Recreation Reserve.
The Brodie Tonkin and Hayden Dalitz-coached Moulamein dominated the round one clash with Murrabit but was outplayed at Hay in round two.
The Swans’ line-up to face the Bombers includes Tobie Richardson, Adam Curry and Brett Kennedy in attack, Ethan Fitzpatrick and Kaleb Richards in midfield, Mark Drotsky and Jack Jones in defence.
Been a tough run for Wandella which was held to a tally of two goals at Kerang in round one.
The Bombers struck back to score 12 goals at home in round two, but could not halt Koondrook Barham racking up 31 goals.
The Justin Robisnon-coached Wandella team bound for Moulamein includes Nathan Boysen, Logan Keighran, Archer Lancaster, Darcy Ramage, Tim Robinson and Adam Ward.
Nyah Nyah West United tackles Tyntynder at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
The Corey Daniels-coached NNWU marked a 40-point win at Tooleybuc last round.
Key players for the Demons include Ethan Saville in the centre, ruckman Blake Larkings, Dominic Gallo, Charlie Boulton, Riley Daniels and Brayden Bigham.
Huge test for the Darcy Bibby-coached Tyntynder which will need big games from centreman Patrick Crowe, ruckman Josh Potter, Elia Ware, Hugh Broad, Angus Crowe and Mick Dedini.
It’s the Blues against the Kangaroos as Kerang hosts Balranald at Riverside Park.
The Brad Pay-coached Kerang is likely to have too much scoring power.
Targets in Kerang’s attack include Zak Bozanich, Rylee Gitsham and Martin Kelly.
The Blues also have Archer Dibsdale, Tyson Clingan and Ian Fisher capable of winning many contests.
Been a tough run for the Brent Macleod-coached Balranald which was on the end of defeats by 125 and 117 points.
The Kangaroos will aim for a big jump in their intensity in all areas of the ground through the play of Ian Fuller, Tom Salau, Liam Farnsworth, Nathan Wilson, Jack Salau, Ryan Middlebrook and Kane Agius.
Ultima’s back on home turf to take on Murrabit.
After a 57-point loss to Swan Hill in Round Zero, Ultima hit back to defeat Tyntynder by 83 points.
The Joel Donnan-coached Ultima team to take on the Blues includes Jake Foster in the centre, Sol Kelly and Matt Taverna in defence, Andrew Dean and Kyle Symons in attack.
Jye Purtill, Lucas Caccaviello and Thomas Isma complete a talented on-ball group for Ultima.
The Rick Ladson and Jack Shannahan-coached Murrabit will be striving to improve defensive play after tallies of 21 and 18 goals in the clashes with Moulamein and Swan Hill.
The Blues line-up for this Saturday includes Wade Minter in the centre, Jack Keath in the ruck, Sam Copland roving, Matt Moon and Austin McKerrow in defence, and Scott Cooper and Ben Gillingham to lead the attack.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Hay 223 per cent, 8 points; Swan Hill 221, 8; Koondrook Barham 213, 8; Mallee Eagles 210, 8; Lake Boga 208, 8; Nyah Nyah West United 196, 8; Kerang 149, 4; Cohuna Kangas 143, 4; Tooleybuc Manangatang 135, 4; Ultima 115, 4; Moulamein 70, 4; Woorinen 71, 0; Murrabit 45, 0; Tyntynder 34, 0; Wandella 29, 0; Balranald 20, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
14 Declan Watson, H.
11 Cameron Arnold, KB.
9 Zak Bozanich, K; Dustin Burns, U.
8 Andrew Dean, U.
7 Jack Headon, H; Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, LB; Jayden Lonergan, LB; Jacob O’Meara, ME.
6 Harry Bremner, KB; Adam Curry, Moula.; Corey Daniels, NNWU; Leo Ellison, Murra.; Tom Toma, CK.
5 Kye Attwell, KB; Josh Chatfield, TM; Shaun Harrison, ME; Rex Hickman, LB; Sam Hilton-Joyce, Woor.; Austin Hodge, TM; Brett Kennedy, Moula.; Harry Loughan, H; Xavier Moloney, SH.
4 Corbin Anderson, CK; Cooper Angus, SH; Tom Banuelos, H; Daniel Coates, CK; Dylan Collis, H; Lachlan English, CK; Jordan Johnston, NNWU; Tom Langford, Woor.; Josh McMahon, KB; Nathan O’Toole, KB; Ethan Pinchen, ME; Tobie Richardson, Moula.; Jonathon Ross, NNWU; Beau Schwarze, NNWU; Xavier Sherlock, LB; John Summerhayes, NNWU; Elia Ware, Tyn.; Ryleigh Wilkinson, KB.