BY NATHAN DOLE
THE Mallee Eagles step into the den of the Nyah Nyah West United Demons for Saturday’s preliminary final in the Radio 3SH-backed senior footy in the Central Murray league.
At stake is a place against Kerang in the grand final.
Two weeks ago it was the Brent Macleod-coached Eagles which beat the NNWU Demons in Lake Boga.
A Demons line-up jointly coached by Jason Murphy and Nic O’Neill will be wary of a slow start.
The Eagles flew out of the blocks to lead 54-29 at half-time of their most recent clash.
Although it hit back strongly to lead 46-43 at a quarter to play, NNWU could not stop Mallee as it won the last term, 25-18 and the match, 68-64.
Mallee is on the rebound from a 19-point loss to Kerang in the second semi-final played in Woorinen.
The Demons fired up to win last Sunday’s first semi-final against Balranald by 26 points on the ground of the Cohuna Kangas mob.
Key players for Mallee Eagles include co-captains Beau Bennett and Zac O’Meara, Darcy McGregor, Billy and Jacob O’Meara, Darcy Hourigan, and former Richmond player Jayden Post.
Gun forward Brandyn Grenfell kicked seven goals in the Demons’ win against Balranald for a season tally of 82 in 18 matches.
Other players to watch in the red and blue are Dominic Gallo, Jordan and Lucas Iudica, Corey and Riley Daniels, Joel Walsh, and Ethan Saville.
It’s the Tigers against the Eagles as Woorinen faces Mallee Eagles in the reserves clash from 12.25pm.
They met in the qualifying final which went the way of the Tigers, 49-16.
Woorinen must regroup after an 82-point loss to Kerang in the second semi-final played in Tigers’ territory.
Mallee won the first semi-final against Lake Boga by 44 points.
In the Colts competition, Swan Hill takes on Woorinen from 10.20am.
The Tigers have fought their way from an elimination final to be a victory away from playing in a grand final against Lake Boga.
Woorinen’s run in the finals began with a 33-point victory against Tooleybuc Manangatang in the elimination final and was followed by a 69-47 win against Kerang in the first semi-final.
The Swans won the qualifying final against Kerang by 41 points, but now have to bounce back from a 62-43 loss to Lake Boga in the second semi-final.
Preliminary final day kicks off with the Mildura Health Fund under-15s match between Swan Hill and Koondrook Barham from 9am.
The Swans won the qualifying final against Tooleybuc Manangatang by five points, but could not halt the Lake Boga Magpies swooping for a 76-40 victory in the second semi-final.
Koondrook Barham beat Kerang by eight points in the elimination final and stayed in the cup race as won the first semi-final against Tooleybuc Manangatang Saints by a goal.
Schedule for the Central Murray footy preliminary finals on Saturday at Nyah Recreation Reserve:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 9am: Swan Hill v Koondrook Barham.
Colts at 10.20am: Swan Hill v Woorinen.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Woorinen v Mallee Eagles.
Radio 3SH seniors at 2.30pm: Mallee Eagles v Nyah Nyah West United.
Nine clubs will be represented across the netball preliminary finals.
In A-grade, Swan Hill takes on Mallee Eagles from 2.40pm on court one.
These teams first met in Anzac Round where the Swans won 44-38 in Lalbert.
In round 16, Swan Hill scored a 50-40 victory against Mallee at Alan Garden Reserve.
The Swans won the qualifying final against Balranald by eight goals.
Last Saturday it was Swan Hill against Lake Boga in the second semi-final in Woorinen.
A brilliant match ended in a 44-43 win for the Magpies.
The Mallee Eagles have fought their way from a 16-goal win against Tyntynder in the elimination final to then beat Balranald by nine goals in the first semi-final.
Schedule for the Central Murray netball preliminary finals on Saturday at Nyah Recreation Reserve:
15-and-under, court one at 9am: Tyntynder v Swan Hill.
17-and-under, court one at 10.25am: Tooleybuc Manangatang v Kerang.
13-and-under, court two at 10.25am: Tooleybuc Manangatang v Woorinen.
B-grade, court two at 11.50am: Woorinen v Koondrook Barham.
A-reserve, court one at 1.15pm: Balranald v Woorinen.
B-reserve, court two at 1.15pm: Tyntynder v Cohuna Kangas.
A-grade, court one at 2.40pm: Swan Hill v Mallee Eagles.