League’s top two clash at Boort Park

-By Nathan Dole

THE clash of top two teams Birchip-Watchem and Boort highlights this Saturday’s sixth round of Goldacres North Central senior footy action.

The Bulls and Magpies will play at Boort Park from 2.30pm.

All teams had a rest last weekend.

An unbeaten Birchip-Watchem team will start favourite to take the points on Boort’s turf.

Boort’s winning streak was ended in a 154-29 loss to Calder United Lions in the Pink Sports Day-Play4BCNA round on May 10.

It’s a huge test for Boort, especially in the on-ball and defensive duels.

Key players for the Dale Cameron-coached Magpies include James Byrne, Jayden Dick, Jarrod Fitpatrick, Lachlan Hall, Will Perryman, Tom Potter.

Boort’s attack is brilliantly led by Jhye Baddeley-Kelly.

Best for Birchip-Watchem in the 87-39 win against Wedderburn at George Cartwright Oval were ruckman Hamish Hosking, Ben Lakin, Nicholas Rippon and Meyrick Buchanan.

A talented squad coached by Ash Connick includes Ben Edwards, Will Lee, Joseph Reid, Sam Simmons and Cormacc Wilson.

Charlton takes on Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Charlton Park.

The Mitch Collins-coached Charlton marked a 94-35 win at Donald last round.

Ben Lanyon, Mitch Collins, Sean O’Connor and Elliott Fitzpatrick were best.

Big test for the Navies against the Tigers who are fourth on a three-two record.

Charlton defenders Jed Thompson, Archer Patterson, Patrick Soulsby and Kris Clifford can expect to be in many contests.

The Navies will be without Luke Dunne who was handed a two-match ban after an early guilty plea to rough conduct against Donald.

Best for SLN in a 145-26 win at Sea Lake against St Arnaud last round were Adam Pattison, Jack Poulton, Wade Donnan and Max Cahoon.

A strong Tigers line-up jointly coached by Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes includes ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan, Thomas Cox, Joel Donnan and Lachy McClelland.

The Tigers also welcome back Oscar Brownless for his third match for the club.

Donald meets Wedderburn at Donald Recreation Reserve.

The Daniel Pearce-coached Donald will bring a strong defensive mindset to this match.

Best for the Royal Blues in the clash with Charlton were Daniel Pearce, Dyson Bell-Warren, Charlie Campbell and Nick Atkins.

Big roles for Donald will be played by captain Eddie Landwehr, Callum Vandendriest, Ben and Brent Arho, and Darcy Harrison.

Donald’s Glenn Meulendyks will be on the sidelines for the next five matches after an early guilty plea to rough conduct against Charlton.

A two-three record has the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn in fifth place.

The Redbacks were held to a tally of six goals in the recent hit-out against Birchip-Watchem.

Best for Wedderburn against the Bulls were Darcy Jackson, Danny Benaim, Zach Pallpratt and Corey Lowry.

Wedderburn’s squad includes Isaac, Louis  and Oscar Holt; Noah Furlong and Adam Postle.

The Redbacks will be without Jake Pallpratt who was given a two-match penalty after an early guilty plea to striking against Birchip-Watchem.

It’s Pink Sports Day-Play4BCNA as St Arnaud hosts Calder United Lions at Lord Nelson Park.

Huge task for the Scott Driscoll-coached Saints against the Lions.

A tough run for St Arnaud included playing at Sea Lake in round five.

Best for the Saints in the Tigers’ den were Kurtis Torney, Jay Kirwood, ruckman Zac Phillips and Sam Male.

St Arnaud’s team to tackle the Lions includes Harley Durward at full-back, Torin Petrie at half-back, Owen Lowe in the centre, Mitch Egan as ruck-rover.

The Calder United Lions dominated play at Wycheproof to defeat Boort by 155 points.

Zane Keighran, co-coach Jordan Humphreys, Oscar Madden and Steven Kennedy were in hot form.

A Lions’ line-up which has Darryl Wilson as non-playing co-coach includes Jack Exell, Mitch Farmer and Matt Wade in attack, Kobe Lloyd in the centre, Spencer Allan and Josh Walsh in defence.

The Lions have Dean Putt, Rylee Smith and Koby Hommelhoff able to win plenty of the footy.

North Central FNL senior footy ladder:

Birchip-Watchem 288 per cent, 20 points; Boort 199, 16; Calder United Lions 198, 12; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 166, 12; Wedderburn 123, 8; Charlton 33, 8; St Arnaud 56, 4; Donald 17, 0.

Leading goalkickers:

39 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.

28 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.

16 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.

15 Kayne Rutley, Boort.

15 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.

15 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.

13 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.

12 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.

11 Jordan Humphreys, Calder United Lions.

11 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.

9 Carlos Egan, Boort.

9 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.

8 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.

8 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly.

7 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly.

7 Ethan Coleman, Boort.

7 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.

7 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.