BY NATHAN DOLE
Wedderburn puts Donald out of race
WEDDERBURN kicked Donald out of the Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy premiership race as it won Saturday’s first semi-final in Birchip.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks marked back-to-back victories against Donald.
Wedderburn will now meet Sea Lake Nandaly or Birchip-Watchem in the preliminary final on September 7 at Charlton Park.
Little separated the Redbacks and Royals in the first semi-final at George Cartwright Oval.
Wedderburn led 14-6 at quarter-time and 25-21 by the main break.
Both teams added two goals in the third as the red and black held a seven-point buffer going into the last quarter.
A tally of 2.2 as Donald scored 1.3 in the final term ensured Wedderburn’s players and fans would celebrate a hard-fought 55-43 victory.
The Redbacks’ attack was led by Louis Holt on two goals.
Donald’s leading goalkickers were Noah Berry and Blake Grant two.
Best for Wedderburn were captain Jackson McEwen, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Danny Benaim, Jacob DeAraugo in defence, Darcy Jackson and Corey Lowry.
On-baller Ross Young, the consistent Ryley Barrack, Blake Grant, Logan Geddes, Jesse Wallin and Dale Kerr were best for the Josh Potter-coached Donald.
In the Haeuslers reserves competition, Boort kicked away for a five-goal win against Birchip-Watchem.
The Magpies led 40-13 at half-time and then added 6.3 to 2.4 in the second half.
At the final siren Boort led 79-49.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Alex Cockerell and Chris O’Rourke on three goals as Mitch Buchanan chipped in with two.
There were no multiple goalkickers for the Bulls.
Boort’s best were Jack Dowling, Jordan Sheahan, Mitchell O’Donoghue, Alex Cockerell, Harry Weaver and Frasier Holland.
Best for Birchip-Watchem were Cormacc Wilson, Matthew Rickard, Nick Ryan, Jack Ryan, Bodie Colbert and Alex Noonan.
Sea Lake Nandaly stayed in the race for the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s premiership as it marked a nine-point win against Birchip-Watchem.
Goalkicking accuracy was a key factor as the Tigers scored 9.4 against a tally of 6.13 by the Bulls.
The SLN line-up led 38-23 at half-time.
Both teams scored three goals in the third as the Tigers clung on to a 25-point lead going into the last.
Birchip-Watchem fought on brilliantly to score 2.5 and held the yellow and black to a point.
When the final siren sounded it was Sea Lake Nandaly which led 58-49.
Multiple goalkickers for the Tigers were Archie Alday, Chad O’Sullivan and Angus Renney on two.
The Bulls’ leading goalkicker was Jack Knights with two.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Cruz O’Sullivan, Judd Durie, Hugo Warne, Jet Newick, Scott Barbary and Taj Borlase.
Birchip-Watchem’s best were Riley Hogan, Austin Dean, Oliver Cook, Harry Cook, Jack Knights, Kobe Hamilton.
First match in the finals series was the match between Donald and St Arnaud in the Uniting Church under-14s competition.
St Arnaud led 14-13 at quarter-time before Donald hit back to score 2.3 and held the Saints to a goal in the second term.
An eight-point buffer for the Royals at half-time became 21 at a quarter to play when it scored 2.4 and kept St Arnaud to a tally of three behinds in the third.
Noah Michael capped a best on ground performance with four goals in a 63-29 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for Donald were Oakley Brennan and Jack Reilly on two.
The Saints’ attack was led by Declan Kay on three.
Donald’s best included Jack Reilly, Oakley Brennan, Jhak Burke, Samuel Mortlock and Emmett Geddes.
Best for St Arnaud were Nathan Saludes, Finn Evans, Arley Reyne, Declan Kay, Finn Green and Lewis Lowe.
North Central FNL first semi-final scoreboard:
Goldacres seniors:
Wedderburn 2.2 3.7 5.11 7.13 (55)
Donald 1.0 3.3 5.4 6.7 (43)
GOALS – Wedderburn: Louis Holt 2, Tom Campbell, Noah Furlong, Oscar Holt, Hamish Lockhart, Junior Miller. Donald: Noah Berry, Blake Grant 2, Ryan Hards, Ross Young.
BEST – Wedderburn: Jackson McEwen, Jordan Hargreaves, Danny Benaim, Jacob DeAraugo, Darcy Jackson, Corey Lowry. Donald: Ross Young, Ryley Barrack, Blake Grant, Logan Geddes, Jesse Wallin, Dale Kerr.
Haeuslers reserves:
Boort 3.2 6.4 7.5 12.7 (79)
Birchip-Watchem 1.1 2.1 4.5 4.5 (29)
GOALS – Boort: Alex Cockerell, Chris O’Rourke 3, Mitch Buchanan 2, Frasier Holland, Mitchell O’Donoghue, Harry Weaver. Birchip-Watchem: Connor Boyle, Riley Doran, Callum Goode, Nick Ryan.
BEST – Boort: Jack Dowling, Jordan Sheahan, Mitchell O’Donoghue, Alex Cockerell, Harry Weaver, Frasier Holland. Birchip-Watchem: Cormacc Wilson, Matthew Rickard, Nick Ryan, Jack Ryan, Bodie Colbert, Alex Noonan.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s:
Sea Lake Nandaly 4.0 6.2 9.3 9.4 (58)
Birchip-Watchem 2.2 3.5 4.8 6.13 (49)
GOALS – Sea Lake Nandaly: Archie Alday, Chad O’Sullivan, Angus Renney 2, Brayden Allan, Taj Borlase, Jet Newick. Birchip-Watchem: Jack Knights 2, Harry Cook, Jeswin Daniel, Austin Dean, Koby Hamilton.
BEST – Sea Lake Nandaly: Cruz O’Sullivan, Judd Durie, Hugo Warne, Jet Newick, Scott Barbary, Taj Borlase. Birchip-Watchem: Riley Hogan, Austin Dean, Oliver Cook, Harry Cook, Jack Knights, Kobe Hamilton.
Uniting Church under-14s:
Donald 2.1 4.4 6.8 9.9 (63)
St Arnaud 2.2 3.2 3.5 4.5 (29)
GOALS – Donald: Noah Michael 4, Oakley Brennan, Jack Reilly 2, Jake Italia. St Arnaud: Declan Kay 3, Finn Wilson.
BEST – Donald: Noah Michael, Jack Reilly, Oakley Brennan, Jhak Burke, Samuel Mortlock, Emmett Geddes. St Arnaud: Nathan Saludes, Finn Evans, Arley Reyne, Declan Kay, Finn Green, Lewis Lowe.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Donald:
Under-14s at 9.30am: Sea Lake Nandaly v Boort.
Under-17s at 10.55am: Boort v St Arnaud.
Reserves at 12.35pm: Nullawil v Sea Lake Nandaly.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip-Watchem.