Donald tries to tame Tigers at Charlton Park
WIN and it’s a grand final appearance for Donald or Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers after they contest Saturday’s senior footy preliminary final in the Goldacres North Central Football League.
The Royals and Tigers will clash at Charlton Park from 2.30pm.
Footy fans will make the trek knowing it’s likely to be another great battle between these clubs.
It’s one-all in this season’s showdowns between the Royals and Tigers.
In round seven, the Joel Donnan-coached Sea Lake Nandaly won 104-62 at Sea Lake.
The Tigers led 54-29 at half-time before Donald hit back to win the third term, 22-21.
Sea Lake Nandaly then surged clear in the final quarter as it scored 4.5 to 1.5.
Trent Donnan and Billy McInnes kicked three goals as John Summerhayes added two for SLN.
Donald’s attack was led by Ryley Barrack and Sam Griffiths on two each.
Best for the Tigers were Trent Donnan, Ryan O’Sullivan, Luke Martin and Bryce Delmenico.
Donald’s best were Ryan Hards, Brody Haddow, Sam Griffiths and Ross Young.
The Rohan Brown-coached Donald fired up for a 75-54 win at home against the Tigers in the 14th round.
This time it was the Royals who charged to a 33-19 lead by the main break.
It was 14-all in the third before Donald scored 4.4 to 3.3 in the last term.
Feeny medallist and gun on-baller Ross Young kicked three goals as Leigh Burke added two for Donald.
Multiple goalkickers for the Tigers were Matt Elliott and Justin Ellis on two.
Ryley Barrack was best afield as Ryan Hards, Josh Potter and James Wall played key roles in Donald’s run.
The Tigers’ best were Trent Donnan, Ryan O’Sullivan, Ben Daniels and Luke Martin.
Sea Lake Nandaly kicked off the finals with a 67-point win against Wedderburn in the first semi.
Matt Elliott and Will Simpson kicked five goals apiece.
The Tigers’ were best Will Simpson, Ryan O’Sullivan, Brodie Adcock and Austin Mertz.
Donald was beaten 110-73 by Birchip Watchem in last Saturday’s second semi-final.
Brody Haddow kicked three goals and Leigh Burke added two for the Royals.
Donald’s best were Ryley Barack, Brody Haddow, Josh Potter and Dyson Bell-Warren.
The Bulls led 53-41 at half-time and then scored 5.1 to 3.5 in crucial third term.
It was 4.2 to 1.3 in favour of Birchip Watchem in the last as the Bulls charged to the September 10 grand final at Wycheproof.
Donald’s line-up for Saturday is bolstered by the return of vice-captain and midfielder Rian McGough.
It’s a showdown between Donald and Birchip Watchem in the Haeuslers reserves preliminary final.
The Royals won on the Bulls’ turf at Birchip in round three by 46 points and then claimed a 76-18 victory at Donald in the 10th round.
After being down 58-47 at three quarter of the first semi-final, Birchip Watchem scored 3.2 to nil in the last for a 67-58 win against Wedderburn.
Joe Boyle kicked three goals and Callum Goode chipped in with two as Cormacc Wilson, Jak Goldsmith, Jacob Gleeson and Matt Rickard were Birchip Watchem’s best.
Donald is on the rebound from an 82-42 loss to Sea Lake Nandaly in the second semi-final.
Vice-captain Brenton Dixon kicked two goals in last Saturday’s match as Tom Letts, Brenton Dixon, Brady Griffiths and Ryan Bath were Donald’s best.
In the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s competition, Boort and Birchip Watchem will vie for a grand final berth.
The Bulls fought back from being 49-40 at the start of the last quarter in the first semi against Charlton to win 60-56.
Charlie Frank and Connor Lee kicked three goals to be among Birchip Watchem’s best with Riley Hogan and Austin Dean.
Boort will be keen to hit back from a 60-49 loss to Sea Lake Nandaly in the second semi-final.
Frasier Holland kicked four goals and Max Beattie kicked two in the Magpies’ clash with the Tigers.
Boort’s best were Alex Cockerell, Jack Potter, Sam Barraclough and Lachlan Hall.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Magpies and Bulls.
In round three, Birchip Watchem won 57-51 at Boort, and the Pies triumphed 109-34 in the ninth round at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Alex Cockerell kicked five goals to be among Boort’s best with Tom Potter, three goals; Brodie Wagner and Jett Hird.
First up on Saturday will be Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and St Arnaud in the Uniting Church under-14s match at 9.30am.
The Saints scored a 50-15 win against Boort in the first semi as Frankie Donald and Chad Hendy kicked two goals apiece to be among the best with Chase Zander and Abby Weir.
Accuracy was a key in Sea Lake Nandaly’s second semi-final showdown with Donald.
The Tigers led 18-13 at half-time, but Donald scored 2.2 to a point in the third.
Sea Lake Nandaly fought back to win the final term, 7-1, but Donald marked a 3.10 (28) to 4.1 (25) victory.
In the run to the finals, the Tigers won 62-2 at St Arnaud in round five, while the 12th round clash at Lord Nelson Park in St Arnaud ended in a 26-all draw.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Charlton Park:
Under-14s at 9.30am: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v St Arnaud
Under-17s at 10.55am: Boort v Birchip Watchem.
Reserves at 12.35pm: Donald v Birchip Watchem.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Donald v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Written by Nathan Dole.
