-By Nathan Dole
THE clash between top two teams Mallee Eagles and Woorinen highlights Saturday’s fourth round of senior footy in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league.
An unbeaten run by the Eagles and Tigers is at stake as first and second clash at Woorinen Recreation Reserve at 2.30pm.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen marked a 21-point victory on Nyah Nyah West United’s turf on Anzac Day.
Best for the yellow and black in that clash were Lachlan Gardner, Blake Reid, Jye Barry and Henry Thompson.
Mallee’s hot streak kept rolling in a 175-61 result against Koondrook-Barham in the Eagles’ nest at Lalbert.
Best for the ladder-leaders were Isaiah Bull, Matthew Rankine, Toby Sheahan and Zac O’Meara.
Key match-ups on Saturday include Woorinen’s Ben Booth at full-back against Darcy Hourigan.
Another top contest will be Blake Reid against the dangerous Andrew Mead-Harding.
Woorinen on-ballers Lachlan Gardner, Jye Barry and Jose Miliado take on Cameron Cook, Toby Sheahan and Matthew Rankine.
The Eagles have co-coaches Brent Macleod and Harry Allen in attack and the centre respectively.
After dominating its opening two matches, Cohuna Kangas will be on home turf against Nyah Nyah West United.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas romped to a 14-goal win at Tyntynder last Saturday as Ricky Monti, Tom Toma, Brodie Fry and Jude Palmer led the way.
A NNWU team jointly coached by Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy will focus a lot on a high level of pressure.
Players to watch for Cohuna Kangas include Will Lee at full-back, Riley Hird on a wing, Corbin Anderson in attack, and rover Joel Helman.
Best for the NNWU Demons against Woorinen were Joel Campbell, Jordan Iudica, Cooper Andrews and Brady Davidson.
Look for big games from the likes of captain Joel Walsh, Ethan Saville and Zack Threadgold in defence, ruckman Blake Larkings, and rover Ethan Curran.
Koondrook Barham will be back on home turf at Barham against Kerang.
A two-one start has put the Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook-Barham in fifth place.
In-form players for the River Raiders include Jacob Barrington, Matt Bilton, Lee Dale and Benji Neal.
Other key players in the KB line-up are captain Jack Thrum, Jack Shannon, Cameron Moore, Patrick Goble and Nathan O’Toole.
The Paul Grayling-coached Kerang worked at home to beat Swan Hill by 37 points.
In-form players for the Blues include Hugh Bremner, Dominic Dick-O’Flaherty, Cody Makeham and Brad Pay.
The Blues also have ruckman Rylee Gitsham, Archer Dibsdale and Tyson Clingan in attack, and the experience of Martin Kelly.
It’s the Swans against the Magpies as Swan Hill tackles Lake Boga at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans will be desperate to improve on last week’s score of 2.3 (15) at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Swan Hill has Kallen Heslop, Buol Majur and Will Simpson in attack, Cooper Angus roving contests, Tom Corridan and Tom Holdstock in defence.
Lake Boga is on the rebound from a 57-point loss at home to the Saints from Tooleybuc-Manangtang.
Players to watch for the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga include Rex Hickman at centre half-forward, ruck-rover Braden Padmore, ruckman Hunter Hartland, Darby Hayes and Koben Ryan.
Balranald will be on home turf at Greenham Park against Tyntynder.
The Kangaroos and Bulldogs will be desperate to end their winless run.
As Balranald had the bye in round three Tyntynder was on the end of a 14-goal defeat to the Cohuna Kangas.
Now a Bulldogs team coached by Darby Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford is up the league’s other mob of Kangaroos.
Balranald is being coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau.
Key players for the Roos include Lachlan Collihole and Ian Fuller in attack, Baylie and Blake Helgeland and Crus Jolliffe in midfield.
Balranald also has former Western Bulldogs player Roare Smith as ruck-rover.
In-form players for Tyntynder include Bailey Reeves at centre half-forward, and Harry Simpson in defence.
The Bulldogs will also look for big games from the likes of Elliot Broad, Jahmahl Jenkins-Clive, Josh Potter and Harry Simpson.
Tooleybuc Manangatang has the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Mallee Eagles 392 per cent, 12 points; Woorinen 212, 12; Cohuna Kangas 918, 8; Tooleybuc Manangatang 82, 8; Koondrook Barham 69, 8; Nyah Nyah West United 116, 4; Lake Boga 93, 4; Kerang 90, 4; Tyntynder 45, 0; Swan Hill 34, 0; Balranald 17, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
18 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
13 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
11 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
10 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
8 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
8 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
8 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
8 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
7 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
6 Harry Allen, Mallee Eagles.
6 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
5 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
5 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
5 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
5 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
5 Rex Hickman, Lake Boga.
5 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
5 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
5 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
5 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.