– By Nathan Dole
IT’S the clash of the big cats as Calder United Lions takes on Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in Saturday’s second round of the Goldacres North Central senior footy action.
The league’s match of the day will start at 2.30pm.
Formed by the merger of Nullawil and Wycheproof Narraport, Calder United dominated last Saturday’s match at Donald.
The Darryl Wilson and Jordan Humphreys-coached Lions beat the Royal Blues by 25 goals.
Now they are up against the premiers of the past two seasons.
Jointly coached by Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly scored an eight-goal win at home against Wedderburn.
The Tigers will be without former Geelong player Oscar Brownless who kicked three goals and was best afield in his SLN debut.
A powerful line-up in yellow and black includes co-captain Wade Donnan, Ryan O’Sullivan, Trent Donnan, Jarvis Keogh and Jordan Bath.
Will be a huge test for Tigers defenders Cooper Roberts, co-captain Jack Poulton and Billy Poulton against Mitch Farmer, Matthew Trzeciak and Jack Exell.
A talented on-ball division for the Lions is Dean Putt in the ruck, Steven Kennedy as ruck-rover, and Matthew Wade as rover.
In defence the Lions will look for big games from Oscar Madden, Josh Walsh and Zane Keighran.
The Birchip Watchem Bulls are on their ground at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval against Donald.
Co-coach of Sandhurst’s premiership-winning team last season, Ash Connick is now in charge at Birchip Watchem.
The Bulls scored 192 points in their season opener at Charlton Park.
Ben Edwards kicked 13 goals against the Navies and looms as a huge threat to the Royal Blues.
Other key players in the Bulls squad are ruckman Hamish Hosking, Marshall and Nicholas Rippon, Will Lee, Meyrick Buchanan and Ty Colbert.
The Daniel Pearce-coached Donald will be aiming to raise the pressure from the start of this contest.
Best for the Royals against Calder United were Dyson Bell-Warren, Daniel Pearce, Darcy Harrison and Charlie Campbell.
Donald’s team aiming to rein in the Bulls includes Eddie Landwehr, Ryan Leeder, and Harry Forrest.
The Royals’ recruits include Ben Arho from Tallygaroopna, Luca Rice from Golden Square, and Robert Walker from Horsham Saints.
Boort takes on Charlton at Boort Park.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort won last Saturday night’s match at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park by 69 points.
Players to watch for the Magpies include Jhye Baddeley-Kelly at full-forward, Keiren Wilson at centre half-back, Tom Potter at centre half-forward, and wingmen Lachlan Hall and Chris Hatcher.
A talented on-ball group for Boort is James Wilson in the ruck, Jarrod Fitzpatrick as ruck-rover, and Carlos Egan as rover.
It was a tough afternoon for the Mitch Collins-coached Charlton at home against Birchip-Watchem.
The Navies scored three goals in a match where Ben Xiriha, Patrick Soulsby and Luke Dunne were best.
Big roles to be played by Charlton’s Jed Thompson and Thomas Finlay in defence, Ben Lanyon in the ruck, captain Billy Sexton and Rhys Thompson in attack.
In midfield the Navies have Luke Dunne and Jackson Zagame to team up with their coach.
Wedderburn is on home turf at Donaldson Park against St Arnaud.
The Redbacks and Saints are on the rebound from defeat.
Was a tough start for the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn as it played at Sea Lake in round one.
Best for the red and black were Mitch Jensen, Zach Pallpratt, Isaac Holt and Jye Mortlock.
Wedderburn’s team to tackle the Saints includes Jake Pallpratt at half-back, Zach Pallpratt in the centre, Noah Furlong and Isaac Holt on the wings, Adam Postle, Mitch Jensen, Darcy Jackson, and Oscar Holt.
Playing coach of St Arnaud, Scott Driscoll leads a team which includes co-captains Mitch Egan and Kurtis Torney, and the skilful Daniel Gifford, Bailey and Harley Durward.
The Saints best against Boort were Torin Petrie, Max Hungerford, Jay Kirwood and Brad Organ.
Goldacres North Central senior footy ladder:
Calder United Lions 1261 per cent, 4 points; Birchip-Watchem 914, 4; Sea Lake Nandaly 271, 4; Boort 240, 4; St Arnaud 41, 0; Wedderburn 36, 0; Charlton 10, 0; Donald 7, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
13 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
8 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
5 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
4 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
4 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
3 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
3 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
3 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
3 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
3 Jacob Tillig, St Arnaud.
2 Meyrick Buchanan, Birchip-Watchem.
2 Zach Caccaviello, Calder United Lions.
2 Carlos Egan, Boort.
2 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
2 James Keeble, Boort.
2 Zane Keighran, Calder United Lions.
2 Kobe Lloyd, Calder United Lions.
2 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
2 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly.
2 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
2 Matthew Wade, Calder United Lions.