BY NATHAN DOLE
SEA Lake Nandaly capped an unbeaten run to the Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy premiership on Saturday.
The Tigers went in as hot favourites against Nullawil in the clash at Boort Park.
Premier in 2022 in the Golden Rivers, Nullawil was chasing a unique feat of being back-to-back champions across two competitions.
It was not to be as the Tigers’ firepower and skilful midfield was able to control a lot of the contest.
Sea Lake Nandaly led 23-4 at quarter-time.
It was a closely-fought second term which went the way of the Tigers, 28-25.
The Brett Barker-coached Nullawil fought back to win the third quarter, 19-9.
Heat was on the Billy McInnes and Bryce Delmenico-coached Sea Lake Nandaly as it led by two goals going into the last term of the ’23 season.
The yellow and black scored 2.4 to 2.2 in the final quarter.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s players and officials celebrated a hard-fought 10.16 (76) to 9.8 (62) victory.
The Tigers’ attack was led by former Adelaide and Geelong forward Josh Jenkins with four goals as Tyson McKenzie added three.
Other goalkickers for the yellow and black were Charlie Cox, Matthew Farrelly and Austin Mertz.
Mitch Farmer booted three goals as Ben Brennan and Adam Thomson chipped in with two majors for Nullawil.
Maroons’ captain Jordan Humphreys and David Isbister were also on target.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Tyson McKenzie, Jack Poulton, John Summerhayes, Kane Donnan, Ryan O’Sullivan and Josh Jenkins.
Nullawil’s best were Ben Brennan, David Isbister, Dean Smith, Matt Quigley, Jonathan Casey and Daniel Watts.
Leg two of a premiership trifecta for Sea Lake Nandaly was completed as the Tigers won the Haesulers-backed reserves competition.
After being down 12-21 at quarter time of the clash with Nullawil, Sea Lake Nandaly hit back to win the second term, 21-12.
The Tigers clawed their way to a 47-46 lead going into the final term.
It was all SLN in the last as the yellow and black slammed on 5.3 and kept Nullawil scoreless to complete an 80-46 victory.
Goalkickers for Sea Lake Nandaly were Max Cahoon, Nathan Wight, three; Billy Poulton, two; Damon Bailey, Callan Noonan, Rylee McGarry and Will Simpson.
Nullawil’s attack was led by Sam Goldsmith, three; Charlie and Tom Fawcett, Will Hogan and Sol Kelly.
Best for the Tigers were Max Cahoon, Angus Collins, Connor Michael, Joel Donnan, Cooper Allan and Callan Noonan.
Mitchel Barry, Shane Barker, Charlie Fawcett, Jeremy Vearing, Sam Goldsmith and Matthew Hogan were Nullawil’s best.
Boort dominated after quarter-time of the clash with St Arnaud in the Charlton and District Community Bank-sponsored under-17s competition.
The Magpies led 18-13 at quarter-time and then scored 4.1 to a behind in the second.
A 29-point lead for Boort at the main break became 35 going into the final term of the season.
Boort won that quarter, 18-13, and the match, 73-33.
Brodie Wagner led the Magpies’ attack on three goals as Riley Wagner added two.
Other goalkickers for Boort were Liam Baker, Alex Cockerell, Lachlan Hall, Harold Malone, Nicholas Scott and Brady Whykes.
The Saints’ goals were kicked by Jackson Needs, two; Ben Greenaway, Frankie Donald and Aidan Wickham.
Boort’s best were Alex Cockerell, Lachlan Hall, Brodie Wagner, Max Beattie, Alex Chamberlain and Riley Wagner.
Owen Lowe, Mason Thomas, Ben Greenaway, Chase Zander, Kynan Torney and Tyson Funston were St Arnaud’s best.
Grand final day kicked off with a showdown between Donald and Sea Lake Nandaly in the Uniting Church-sponsored under-14s competition.
Donald led 15-6 at quarter-time and 16-6 by the main break.
In the third it was Sea Lake Nandaly which struck back to score 1.2 as the Royal Blues added three behinds.
The Tigers roared to victory as they outscored Donald in the last, 15-2.
At the final siren Sea Lake Nandaly led 4.5 (29) to 2.9 (21).
Hugo Warne kicked two goals for the Tigers as Taj Borlase and Coby Wight added one.
Donald vice-captain Luca Rice kicked two goals.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Scott Barbary, Hugo Warne, Angus Renney, Chad O’Sullivan, Charlie Winter-Goldman and Riley Allan.
Hugo Funcke, Baxter Donnellon, Luca Rice and Jesse Lydom were Donald’s best.
Photo – Blake Lee