FIRST tackles second as Woorinen faces Cohuna Kangas in Saturday’s 10th round in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy competition.
The Tigers and Kangas will play at Woorinen Recreation Reserve from 2.30pm.
Woorinen’s unbeaten run stands at nine and will be under threat from the in-form Cohuna line-up.
A major factor in determining this result will be the on-ball and midfield duels.
Woorinen has Lachlan Gardner, Lachlan Warburton, Jye Barry and captain Henry Thompson able to set up many attacks.
The Kangas’ have Chris Anderson in the ruck where he will team with Ricky Monti, Sam McGlone and Tom Toma at centre clearances and stoppages.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen won its latest hit-out with Koondrook Barham by 45 points as Mitch Uhlhorn, Kane Reid, Lachlan Warburton and Tom Langford led the way at Barham.
In attack the Tigers have Doug Beames, Kyle Skene and Zack Ryan up against Sam Leitch, Will Lee and Jarrod Findlay.
Best for Cohuna in the 128-point win at Swan Hill last Saturday were Jackson Williams, Chris Anderson, Tom Toma and coach Jack Geary.
Cohuna’s attack includes Travis Ford, Brodie Fry and Riley Hird.
Another big match will be at Manangatang where Tooleybuc Manangatang takes on Nyah Nyah West United.
The Brad Morris-coached Tooleybuc Manangatang is in sixth place, a win and five per cent behind Koondrook Barham.
The Saints surged to an 87-point win against Balranald in Manangatang last round.
Isaac Franks, Josh Koster, Elliot Chalmers and Ethan Johnstone were best.
Tooleybuc Manangatang will look for big games from the likes of ruckman Connor Mcdonald, Kallum Hazlett and Josh Williams in defence.
The Saints also have classy forward Connor Nutting back in attack for the first time since round five.
Nutting has kicked 22 goals in four matches.
Massive test for the Saints against the reigning premier which is in fourth place.
The NNWU Demons marked a 59-point win at Kerang’s Riverside Park last Saturday.
Co-coach Corey Daniels kicked five goals as Max Thompson and Joel Walsh added three each.
The Demons’ attack includes Nic O’Neill, Alex Birch and Riley Daniels.
Ethan Curran, Lucas Iduica and Ethan Saville were among the best for a team which has Jason Murphy as co-coach.
Lake Boga will be on home turf against Mallee Eagles.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga was stung by a 23-point loss at home to Tyntynder last round.
A win-loss record of three-five has the Magpies in eighth place.
Lake Boga’s task does not become any easier as the Mallee Eagles, 6-2 and in third place are back on field for the first time since May 31.
Lake Boga’s best against Tyntynder were Rex Hickman, Xavier Sherlock, Rory Colville and Maximus Caruso.
Huge challenge for Magpies’ defenders Dylan McCosh, Rory Colville, Will Gardner and Marty Parsons against Darcy Hourigan, Andrew Mead-Harding, Jacob O’Meara and Ethan Pinchen.
Players to watch for the Eagles include captain Beau Bennett on a wing, rover Matthew Rankine, Billy O’Meara and Isaiah Bull off the half-back line.
The Eagles are jointly coached by Brent Macleod and Harry Allen.
Koondrook Barham takes on Balranald at Barham.
The Marcus Demaria-coached KB River Raiders are on the rebound from an 87-42 loss at home to Woorinen.
Roy George kicked two goals and was Koondrook Barham’s best along with Jacob Barrington, Isaac Corvo, Harry Bremner, Patrick Goble and Nathan O’Toole.
After just one victory in ’24, Koondrook Barham rolls into this round in fifth place on a 5-3 record.
Koondrook Barham selected Jacob Barrington, Ethan Reeves and Lee Dale as starting on-ballers.
The River Raiders cannot afford a slip-up against Balranald which is 10th on a one-seven tally.
Balranald was overrun at Manangatang last Saturday.
Best for the Kangaroos in the 131-44 result in Saints’ territory were co-coach Jack Salau, Cody Henness, Ryan Middlebrook, Brad Hartman, Roarke Smith and Will Lowry.
Kangaroos’ defenders Jarryd Stead, Lachlan Bence and Tim Marsh will rely a lot on pressure further afield.
Balranald has Ben Fuller and Ben Mahon as co-coaches.
Kerang has the bye.
The round 10 match between Swan Hill and Tyntynder was brought forward as a stand-alone match on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
The Swans won 49-26 under lights at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Former Essendon key defender and forward Michael Hurley kicked three goals and was among Swan Hill’s best.
Perry Roberts, Taj McMillan, Wilhem Bennett, Xavier Moloney and Sonny Beasy also starred for the Swans.
It was the first win of the season for the Michael Herlihy-coached Swans.
Best for Tyntynder in the showdown with the Swans were Bailey Reeves, Elliot Broad, Kyle Doran, Josh Potter, Charlie Ford and Angus Crowe.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 272 per cent, 36 points; Cohuna Kangas 288, 28; Mallee Eagles 256, 24; Nyah Nyah West United 139, 20; Koondrook Barham 102, 20; Tooleybuc Manangatang 97, 16; Kerang 77, 12; Lake Boga 70, 12; Tyntynder 61, 8; Balranald 34, 4; Swan Hill 32, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
31 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
27 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
22 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
22 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
20 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
19 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
18 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
18 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
17 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
16 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
16 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
16 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
15 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
15 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
13 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
12 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
12 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
12 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
12 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
11 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
11 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
11 Bohden McKnight, Kerang.
10 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Kallen Heslop, Swan Hill.