BY NATHAN DOLE
Plenty of contenders for Central Murray flag
THERE’S plenty of contenders in the race for the finals and the ultimate prize of the premiership in this season’s Radio 3SH-backed senior footy competition across the Central Murray.
As clubs approach the 11th round it’s Nyah Nyah West United which leads the pack.
The Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill Demons have been defeated just once.
A six-game winning streak was ended in an 11-point loss at Kerang’s Riverside Park in round eight.
It’s been 23 years since the Demons have raised the premiership cup.
A century goalkicker in consecutive seasons as Marong dominated the Loddon Valley in ’22 and ’23, Brandyn Grenfell is one of the recruits of the year.
It’s not all about Brandyn as the Demons have shown they have plenty of goalkicking options.
Reigning premier Kerang is well-placed for another crack at the title.
The Troy Coates-coached Blues started this season with a four-point loss to Balranald in the grand final rematch.
Since then Kerang has marked six wins and drew with Mallee Eagles.
Mallee Eagles have soared to the third rung.
The Brent Macleod-coached Eagles have played inspired footy to have chalked up five victories and a draw in the past six rounds.
Mallee’s run includes a 43-all draw with Kerang and 88-83 victory against season’s runner-up, Balranald.
The Eagles are yet to win a CMNFL senior premiership since they joined the league in 1997.
A 6-3 record has the Jydon Neagle-coached Balranald in fourth place.
The Kangaroos are aiming to end a 15-year premiership drought.
Woorinen has dropped to the fifth rung and can expect a fight to stay there.
Huge challenge for the Marcus Demaria-coached Tigers on Mallee’s turf at Lalbert this Saturday.
Out of the top five by 12 per cent, Tooleybuc Manangatang marked one of its best wins of ’24 when it beat Woorinen by 46 points in Tigers’ territory last Saturay.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints have the bye this round and then take on Swan Hill at home, Mallee at Lalbert, and Kerang at home.
Tyntynder is only a win outside the top five.
The Jack O’Rourke-coached Bulldogs will need an upset win or two against the top teams in the run to September.
Tyntynder plays at Nyah this Saturday.
Although they are unlikely to play finals, Cohuna Kangas can have a big say on who gets there and the order.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas host Balranald in this Saturady’s play.
Pride is at stake for the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga to rack up a couple more wins.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swan Hill and Will Callow-coached Koondrook Barham are winless going into the 11th round.
The Swans have home-ground advantage for this Saturday’s clash with the River Raiders at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
There will be no play on July 6 as the league takes a break for school holidays.
A club-by-club look at the run home and season so far:
Nyah Nyah West United – 8 won, 1 lost, 144 per cent, 32 points.
Run home: Tyntynder, home; Woorinen, a; Koondrook Barham, h; Swan Hill, h; Mallee, a; Tooleybuc Manangatang, h; bye; Cohuna, a.
So far: d Koondrook Barham 103-57, d Woorinen 110-79, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 94-60, d Mallee Eagles 125-71, d Swan Hill 71-58, bye, d Cohuna 85-60, lt Kerang 55-66, d Lake Boga 91-57, d Balranald 75-53.
Leading goalkickers:
37 Brandyn Grenfell; 13 Charlie Boulton; 12 Nic O’Neill; 8 Liam White; 7 Dominic Gallo; 6 Corey Daniels.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Jordan Iudica, Dominic Gallo, Brandyn Grenfell, Charlie Boulton, Lucas Iudica, Joel Walsh.
Kerang 6 won, 1 lost, 1 draw, 151, 26.
Run home: Lake Boga, h; Tyntynder, a; Balranald, h; Tooleybuc Manangatang, a; Woorinen, a; Koondrook Barham, h; Mallee, a; Swan Hill, h.
So far: lt Balranald 105-109, d Tyntynder 57-42, d Koondrook Barham 100-37, d Woorinen 64-44, bye, dr Mallee 43-43, d Swan Hill 109-26, d Nyah Nyah West United 66-55, d Cohuna 121-84, bye.
Leading goalkickers:
13 Jordan McNeil; 11 Sean Hunter; 10 Archer Dibsdale; 7 Tyson Clingan, Brett Kennedy, Brad Pay, Jarryd Pertzel; 6 Caleb Nitschke; 5 Harry Bremner, Thomas Hetherington,
Leading players as per club best each round:
Sean Hunter, Josh Hann, Tyson Clingan, Martin Kelly, Josh Nitschke.
Mallee Eagles – 6, 2, 1, 106, 26.
Run home: Woorinen, h; bye; Tooleybuc Manangatang, h; Cohuna, a; Nyah Nyah West United, h; Swan Hill, a; Kerang, h; Lake Boga, a.
So far: lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 67-76, bye, d Swan Hill 94-71, lt Nyah Nyah West United 71-125, d Cohuna 63-41, dr Kerang 43-43, d Lake Boga 79-37, d Balranald 88-83, d Tyntynder 84-76, d Koondrook Barham 112-90.
Leading goalkickers:
32 Darcy Hourigan; 13 Andrew Mead-Harding; 7 Jayden Post; 6 Brent Macleod; 5 Beau Bennett, Darcy McGregor.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Harrison Allen, Brent Macleod, Joe Halloran, Darcy McGregor, Harry McGregor.
Balranald 6, 3, 134, 24.
Run home: Cohuna, a; Lake Boga, h; Kerang, a; Koondrook Barham, h; Tyntynder, a; bye; Woorinen, a; Tooleybuc Manangatang, h.
So far: d Kerang 109-105, d Lake Boga 134-48, bye, d Tyntynder 115-61, d Koondrook Barham 69-66, lt Woorinen 88-89, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 92-65, lt Mallee Eagles 83-88, d Swan Hill 119-78, lt Nyah Nyah West United 53-75.
Leading goalkickers:
25 Drew Lloyd; 18 Colin Andrews; 17 Jydon Neagle, Matt Neagle; 11 Lachlan Lellman; 6 Seth Connell.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Drew Lloyd, Kobe Lloyd, Harrison Soraggi, Jaxon Neagle, Matt Neagle, Ryan Middlebrook.
Woorinen – 6, 3, 135, 24.
Run home: Mallee, a; Nyah Nyah West United, h; Swan Hill, a; Lake Boga, a; Kerang, h; bye; Balranald, h; Tyntynder, a.
So far: d Swan Hill 119-79, lt Nyah Nyah West United 79-110, d Cohuna 80-43, lt Kerang 44-64, d Lake Boga 122-50, d Balranald 89-88, d Tyntynder 99-63, d Koondrook Barham 109-49, bye, lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 62-108.
Leading goalkickers:
17 Lachlan Gardner; 12 Arnold Kirby; 11 Clayton McCartney; 8 Will Collicoat; 7 Josh Stone; 6 Jye Barry; 5 Josh Domaille, Jason Iannucci, Tom Langford, Lachlan Warburton.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Henry Thompson, Taylor Cameron, Jye Barry, Arnold Kirby, Regan Vesty, Lachlan Warburton.
Tooleybuc Manangatang– 6, 3, 103, 24.
Run home: bye; Swan Hill, h; Mallee, a; Kerang, h; Cohuna, h; Nyah Nyah West United, a; Lake Boga, h; Balranald, a.
So far: d Mallee Eagles 76-67, d Swan Hill 91-48, lt Nyah Nyah West United 60-94, d Cohuna 80-61, bye, d Lake Boga 72-28, lt Balranald 65-92, lt Tyntynder 23-81, d Koondrook Barham 84-62, d Woorinen 108-62.
Leading goalkickers:
18 Josh Williams; 12 Connor Nutting; 11 Kai Kearns, Johnathan Marsden; 5 Harrison Maher.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Connor McDonald, Harrison Maher, John Wardle, Kai Kearns, Elliot Chalmers, Josh Williams.
Tyntynder – 5, 4, 102, 20.
Run home: Nyah Nyah West United, a; Kerang, h; Cohuna, a; bye; Balranald, h; Lake Boga, a; Koondrook Barham, a; Woorinen, h.
So far: d Cohuna 71-69, lt Kerang 42-57, d Lake Boga 66-43, lt Balranald 61-115, bye, d Koondrook Barham 84-44, lt Woorinen 63-99, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 81-23, lt Mallee Eagles 76-84, d Swan Hill 103-97.
Leading goalkickers:
22 Jason Eagle; 16 Roy George, Jayden Magro; 7 Marcus Wattie; 5 Patrick Blake, Zac Denham, Matt Gilbee.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Roy George, Elia Ware, Harry Simpson, Matt Gilbee, Ned Lay, Jayden Magro, Marcus Wattie.
Cohuna Kangas– 3, 6, 92, 12.
Run home: Balranald, h; Koondrook Barham, a; Tyntynder, h; Mallee, h; Tooleybuc Manangatang, a; bye; Swan Hill, a; Nyah Nyah West United, h.
So far: lt Tyntynder 69-71, d Koondrook Barham 98-28, lt Woorinen 43-80, lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 61-80, lt Mallee Eagles 41-63, d Swan Hill 103-78, lt Nyah Nyah West United 60-85, bye, lt Kerang 84-121, d Lake Boga 82-31.
Leading goalkickers:
13 Izaac Johnson, Dylan Johnstone; 12 Joel Helman; 9 Ryan Semmel; 5 Jacob Mitchell, Jude Palmer.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Jack Geary, Joel Helman, Jack Donat, Xavier Mitchell, Chris Anderson, Zac Poole.
Lake Boga– 2, 7, 61, 8.
Run home: Kerang, a; Balranald, a; bye; Woorinen, h; Koondrook Barham, a; Tyntynder, h; Tooleybuc Manangatang, a; Mallee, h.
So far: bye, lt Balranald 48-134, lt Tyntynder 43-66, d Koondrook Barham 80-39, lt Woorinen 50-122, lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 28-72, lt Mallee 37-79, d Swan Hill 62-53, lt Nyah Nyah West United 57-91, lt Cohuna Kangas 31-82.
Leading goalkickers:
9 David Gourdis; 7 Jayden Lonergan, Koben Ryan; 5 Xavier Sherlock,
Leading players as per club best each round:
Zac Warne, Josh Wills, Fraser Colville, Koben Ryan, Brodie Tonkin.
Swan Hill – 0, 9, 67, 0.
Run home: Koondrook Barham, h; Tooleybuc Manangatang, a; Woorinen, h; Nyah Nyah West United, a; bye; Mallee, h; Cohuna, h; Kerang, a.
So far: lt Woorinen 79-109, lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 48-91, lt Mallee 71-94, bye, lt Nyah Nyah West United 58-71, lt Cohuna 78-103, lt Kerang 26-109, lt Lake Boga 53-62, lt Balranald 78-119, lt Tyntynder 97-103.
Leading goalkickers:
14 Michael Herlihy; 11 Ned McKeown; 10 Toby Thoolen; 8 Luke Phelan; 7 Michael Hurley; 6 Kallen Heslop; 5 Brandon Houlihan, Joe Miliado.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Toby Thoolen, Ned McKeown, Cooper Angus, Michael Herlihy, Jose Miliado.
Koondrook Barham– 0, 9, 52, 0.
Run home: Swan Hill, a; Cohuna, h; Nyah Nyah West United, a; Balranald, a; Lake Boga, h; Kerang, a; Tyntynder, h; bye.
So far: lt Nyah Nyah West United 57-103, lt Cohuna 28-98, lt Kerang 37-100, lt Lake Boga 39-80, lt Balranald 66-69, lt Tyntynder 44-84, bye, lt Woorinen 49-109, lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 62-84, lt Mallee Eagles 90-112.
Leading goalkickers:
10 Kye Attwell; 9 Mitch Christensen; 5 Reagan Hamilton.
Leading players as per club best each round:
Mitch Christensen, Jack Shannon, Jack Thrum, Kye Attwell, Cambell Davison, Scott Wood.