THE clash of top-two teams Birchip-Watchem and Calder United Lions highlights this Saturday’s 11th round in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
Unbeaten in 10 matches, Birchip-Watchem makes its way to the Lions’ den at Nullawil for a 2.30pm showdown.
When these clubs met in round four it was the Ash Connick-coached Bulls who fought on for an 89-87 victory at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
The Bulls kicked on for a 40-point win against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers last round as Meyrick Buchanan, Rhona Conboy and ruckman Hamish Hosking led the way.
A powerful attack is led by Ben Edwards who has kicked 74 goals in nine matches this season.
Birchip-Watchem has Marshall and Nicholas Rippon, Lachy Foott, Will Lee, Dale Hinkley and Joseph Reid in the line-up to face Calder United.
The Lions won their latest hit-out at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park by 33 points as co-coach Jordan Humphreys kicked five goals and Dale Pearce booted three.
Best for Calder United were George Turner, Daniel Watts, Thomas Trewin and Zane Keighran.
The Lions are led by co-captains Koby Hommelhoff and Rylee Smith and have the experience of Josh Walsh, Oscar Madden and Jack Exell.
A multiple premiership-winning coach at Colbinabbin and Strathfieldsaye, Darryl Wilson is non-playing co-coach of the Lions.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers will be determined not to be beaten by Boort for a second time.
When they met in round four it was the Magpies who defeated the Tigers by eight points at Boort Park.
Premiers of the past two seasons, Sea Lake Nandaly starts this round in fourth place on a six-four record.
The Tigers could not stop Birchip-Watchem’s charge to a 40-point victory in the Bull pen at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval last Saturday.
As the Tigers were beaten, Boort scored a 161-point win at home against Donald.
Key match-ups for this Saturday’s showdown include Tigers’ co-coach Billy McInnes at full-back against Kayne Rutley, and Ryan O’Sullivan rucking against Peter Barbopoulos.
The Tigers will look to captain Wade Donnan, co-coach Bryce Delmenico, Trent Donnan, Connor Michael and Zach Wemyss to lead the charge to victory.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort has shown it has plenty of attacking power and skill.
Players to watch for the Magpies include Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Keiren Wilson, Jayden Dick, Ryan McGhie and Will Perryman.
It’s the Woosang Challenge as Charlton faces Wedderburn at Charlton Park.
The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn dominated the fourth round clash with the Navies at Donaldson Park to win by 110 points.
Charlton marked a hard-fought 13-point win on St Arnaud’s turf at Lord Nelson Park last round.
The Navies’ team to tackle the Redbacks this time includes coach Mitch Collins, Patrick Soulsby, Mason Heenan, Jackson and Seb Zagame, Sean O’Connor, and co-captains Ben Lanyon and Billy Sexton.
Wedderburn’s squad includes Ben Bacon, Danny Benaim, Noah Furlong, Isaac and Oscar Holt, Zach Pallpratt, Adam Postle and Mitch Woods.
Donald will be on home turf against St Arnaud.
The Dale Pearce-coached Donald will eye a great chance to end its winless run.
In round four the Saints won at Lord Nelson Park by 69 points.
Donald’s squad for this match includes Ryan Bath, Harry Forrest, Dyson Bell-Warren, Luca Rice, Nic Atkins and Feeny medallist Ross Young.
St Arnaud’s best in last Saturday’s clash with Charlton were Thomas Bertalli, Owen Lowe, Kurtis Torney and Zac Phillips.
The Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud squad includes Max Hungerford, Jake and Sam Male, Brad Organ, Jackson Needs and Jacob Tillig.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 313 per cent, 40 points; Calder United Lions 280, 32; Boort 189, 32; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 214, 24; Wedderburn 133, 16; Charlton 27, 12; St Arnaud 41, 4;. Donald 12, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
74 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
55 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
44 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
28 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
28 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
27 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
24 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
21 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
20 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
19 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
19 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
19 Jordan Humphreys, Calder United Lions.
18 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
17 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
16 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
15 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
15 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
14 Carlos Egan, Boort.
14 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
14 Jye Mortlock, Wedderburn.
11 Meyrick Buchanan, Birchip-Watchem.
11 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
11 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
11 Mitch McEwen, Wedderburn.
10 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
10 Bryce Delmenico, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
10 Tom Gibson, Birchip-Watchem.
10 Zane Keighran, Calder United Lions.
10 James Keeble, Boort.
10 Steven Kennedy, Calder United Lions.
10 Dale Pearce, Calder United Lions.