BY NATHAN DOLE
Many clubs feature as finals begin
PLENTY of clubs are represented across this weekend’s start to the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league’s senior footy series.
Action begins with Saturday’s qualifying finals at Lake Boga and rolls on to Sunday’s elimination finals at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
In the senior footy, Nyah Nyah West United takes on Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final from 2.30pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Demons and Eagles.
A Nyah Nyah West United team coached by Jason Murphy and Nic O’Neill marked a nine-goal win against the Eagles in round nine at Nyah.
Accuracy was a highlight as the Demons scored 20.5.
Mallee Eagles soared to an 85-72 win against NNWU in round 15 at Lalbert.
A 12-4 record meant Nyah Nyah West United finished the 18-round home-and-away series in second place.
The Eagles had an 11-4 record and also drew with reigning premier Kerang on the Blues’ ground at Riverside Park in round six.
There are plenty of crucial match-ups for Saturday’s showdown between NNWU and Mallee.
The Demons’ attack is led by Brandyn Grenfell who has kicked 73 goals.
Grenfell spent the previous two seasons with Marong where he passed the century mark both times and was a key factor in back-to-back premiership victories.
The Brent Macleod-coached Eagles named Joe Halloran at full-back.
Other targets in the NNWU attack include Nic O’Neill, Charlie Boulton and Riley Daniels.
Mallee’s leading goalkicker Darcy Hourigan was not named.
The Eagles will rely a lot on Andrew Mead-Harding Paul Davis and Jacob O’Meara to kick a winning score.
In midfield, Brayden Bigham sets up a lot of the Demons’ attacks and will play a crucial role against Brent Macleod.
Other players to watch for the Demons include rover Jordan Iudica, ruckman Blake Larkings, Corey Daniels, and key defenders Joel Campbell and Joel Walsh.
The Eagles have co-captains Beau Bennett and Zac O’Meara on a wing and half-forward, Matthew Despott at centre half-back, and Jai Middleton and Harrison Allen to team up as ruck and ruck-rover.
It will be the Demons or Eagles who advance to the second semi-final against Kerang on September 7.
On Sunday it will be Cohuna Kangas and Balranald fighting to stay in the seniors premiership race.
It’s two mobs of Kangaroos to clash at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
The Jack Geary-coached Cohuna is on an eight-game winning streak.
After a 37-point loss at home to Kerang in round nine, Cohuna was on a two-six record.
Since then the Kangas have bounced backed brilliantly.
The streak includes a 68-57 win against Balranald in the 11th round at Cohuna.
A first-year coach at Cohuna, Geary has brought plenty of premiership-winning experience to the club.
A brilliant career with Golden Square included six premierships and also a Michelsen Medal as league fairest and best.
Whether he’s in an on-ball role, midfield or across half-back, Geary’s skill and running ability puts him among the best in country Victorian football.
Whoever is given the task of opposing Geary will be in for a tough afternoon.
Key players in the Cohuna line-up include Will Lee at full-back, Sam McGlone and Brenton Conforti in defence, captain Joel Helman in the centre, and ruck-rover Jackson Williams.
The Cohuna attack incudes Izaac Johnson, Daniel Coates and Riley Hird.
Balranald finished the home-and-away series on a 10-6 record, but brings plenty of experience from last season’s finals campaign.
The Jydon Neagle-coached Balranald has a strong attack led by Drew Lloyd, Colin Andrews, Seth Connell and Lachlan Lellman.
In the centre it will be Harrison Soraggi up against Joel Helman.
Balranald has Matt Neagle ruck-rover, Jaxon Neagle at centre half-back, Jack Jones and Jack Salau in defence, and Ian Fuller on a wing.
In the reserves competition, Woorinen takes on Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final.
Their only meeting was in the 11th round where Mallee won 46-28 at Lalbert.
Kerang awaits the winner of the Tigers and Eagles clash in a second semi-final.
On Sunday it’s Lake Boga against Swan Hill in the reserves elimination final.
They met in round eight where Lake Boga won 38-35 at home.
In the Colts competition, Swan Hill tackles Kerang in the qualifying final.
The Swans beat the Blues, 91-45 in the seventh round at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Latest meeting was the 18th round which went the Swans’ way, 77-50 at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
It will be Swan Hill or Kerang which advances to the second semi-final against Lake Boga.
It’s the clash of the Saints and Tigers as Tooleybuc Manangatang faces Woorinen in the Colts elimination final on Sunday.
They met in round 10 where Tooleybuc Manangatang won 63-47 on the Tigers’ turf.
First match in the finals series will be the under-15 qualifying final between Tooleybuc Manangatang and Swan Hill.
Just a goal separated the Swans and Saints at Swan Hill in the second round of the Mildura Health Fund-backed competition.
Tooleybuc Manangatang fought on for a 58-52 on the Swans’ ground.
Next time was in round 12 at Manangatang where the Saints kicked on a for a 51-21 victory.
The unbeaten Lake Boga will meet the Saints or Swans in the second semi-final.
It will be Koondrook Barham against Kerang in the under-15 elimination final on Sunday.
The River Raiders from Koondrook Barham marked a 49-6 win against the Blues in round three at Barham Recreation Reserve.
Scores were 23-all at the end of the round 16 match in Kerang.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Lake Boga:
Under-15 at 9am: Tooleybuc Manangatang v Swan Hill.
Colts at 10.20am: Swan Hill v Kerang.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Woorinen v Mallee Eagles.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Nyah Nyah West United v Mallee Eagles.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Balranald’s Greenham Park:
Under-15 at 9am: Koondrook Barham v Kerang.
Colts at 10.20am: Tooleybuc Manantang v Woorinen.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Cohuna Kangas v Balranald.
Netball
Saturday’s qualifying finals at Lake Boga:
15-and-under at 9am, court one: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
13-and-under at 10.25am, court two: Woorinen v Lake Boga.
17-and-under at 10.25am, court one: Woorinen v Tooleybuc Manangatang.
B-grade at 11.50am, court two: Koondrook Barham v Swan Hill.
A-reserve at 1.15pm, court one: Mallee Eagles v Swan Hill.
B-reserve at 1.15pm, court two: Cohuna Kangas v Tyntynder.
A-grade at 2.40pm, court one: Swan Hill v Balranald.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Balranald’s Greenham Park:
15-and-under at 9am, court one: Woorinen v Kooondrook Barham.
13-and-under at 10.25am, court two: Koondrook Barham v Balranald.
17-and-under at 10.25am, court one: Kerang v Lake Boga.
B-grade at 11.50am, court two: Nyah Nyah West United v Cohuna Kangas.
A-reserve at 1.15pm, court one: Cohuna Kangas v Woorinen.
B-reserve at 1.15pm, court two: Lake Boga v Balranald.
A-grade at 2.40pm, court one: Mallee Eagles v Tyntynder.
Teams through to second semi-finals on September 7 at Woorinen are Balranald, A-reserve; Cohuna Kangas, 17-and-under; Lake Boga, A-grade; Swan Hill, B-reserve; Tooleybuc Manangatang, 13-and-under; Tyntynder, 15-and-under; Woorinen, B-grade.