BY NATHAN DOLE
NULLAWIL ended Birchip-Watchem’s quest for back-to-back senior footy premierships in the Goldacres North Central FNL preliminary final on Saturday.
A premier in the Golden Rivers in ’22, Nullawil will now tackle Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in next Saturday’s clash for North Central’s premiership cup.
The Brett Barker-coached Nullawil faced a 19-point deficit at quarter-time of the preliminary final played at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
In the second it was Nullawil which took control to score 4.3 to a point.
By half-time the Maroons led the Bulls, 28-21.
An evenly-fought third term was won by the Trevor Ryan-coached Birchip-Watchem, 15-13, but the Maroons led by five points going into the final term.
Inspired by the play of David Isbister, Matt Quigley and Dean Smith it was Nullawil which scored 4.3 to 3.1 in the last.
At the final siren Nullawil led 10.8 (68) to 8.7 (55).
Mitch Farmer kicked a match-high four goals for Nullawil.
The Marons also had Andrew Oberdorfer and Andrew Thomson kick two goals apiece.
The Bulls’ attack was led by Ben Edwards, three, and Nicholas Rippon, two.
Daniel Batarilo, Lachy Foott, and captain Dale Hinkley also goaled for the Bulls.
Nullawil’s best included Adam Thomson, Dean Putt and Patrick Kelly.
Nicholas Rippon, Nathan Gordon, Lachlan Ryan, Dale Hinkley, Cameron Williams and James Lindeback were Birchip-Watchem’s best.
First meeting of this season’s grand finalists was in round four at Sea Lake where the Tigers marked a 91-47 victory.
In the 13th round, Sea Lake Nandaly won 82-55 on Nullawil’s turf.
Nullawil’s reserves team will take on Sea Lake Nandaly in the grand final of the Haeuslers-backed competition.
The Maroons marked an 84-46 win against Birchip-Watchem in the preliminary final.
The Bulls led 39-34 at half-time before Nullawil dominated most of the third term.
As Nullawil scored four straight goals, Birchip-Watchem was held to a major.
The Maroons led 58-45 at the last change and then scored 4.2 to a point in the last to seal an 84-46 victory.
Sam Goldsmith and Matt Poyner led Nullawil’s attack on three goals as Angus Forrester added two.
The Bulls’ attack was led by Tison Wiantara on three as captain Jack Ryan booted two.
Nullawil’s best were Sol Kelly, Matt Hogan, Tom Fawcett, Dude Kelly, Shane Barker and Jack Barry.
Alex Noonan, Lachy Randall, Jack Ryan, Ty Colbert and William Marks were Birchip-Watchem’s best.
St Arnaud won through to the grand final in the Charlton and District Community Bank-sponsored under-17s competition.
The Saints took on Birchip-Watchem in the preliminary final.
Playing at home, St Arnaud raced to an 18-8 lead by quarter-time and then scored 3.2 to just two points in the second.
Birchip-Watchem charged back in the third.
The Bulls turned up the heat and scored 3.3 to a goal.
A 13-point buffer for St Arnaud at the start of the final term was 34 by the end as the Saints scored 3.4 to a point.
Frankie Donald and Jackson Needs kicked three goals apiece in a 66-32 victory for the Saints.
Other goalkickers for St Arnaud were captain Tyson Funston, Bob Donald, Mason Thomas and Aidan Wickham.
Connor Lee kicked two goals for the Bulls as Austin Dean and Jack Knights added one.
Best for St Arnaud were Tyson Funston, Owen Lowe, Mason Thomas, Frankie Donald, Jackson Needs and Ben Greenaway.
The Bulls’ best were Riley Hogan, Harry Cook, Austin Dean, Charlie Frank and Chriswin Daniel.
First of Sea Lake Nandaly’s teams in action on grand final day will be the under-14s.
The Tigers marked a 40-point victory against Boort in the preliminary final of the Uniting Church-sponsored competition.
Sea Lake Nandaly led 13-nil at quarter-time and scored 2.1 to a goal in the second.
The Tigers’ defensive work was superb as it kept Boort scoreless in the third term.
Sea Lake Nandaly led 35-6 at the last break and then charged clear to score 3.1 to 1.2.
At the final siren the Tigers led 54-14.
Henry Cox kicked three goals for the yellow and black as Huge Warne chipped in with two.
Other goalkickers for SLN were Taj Borlase, Zander Wight and Charlie Winter-Goldman.
Liam King and Jake O’Flaherty goaled for Boort.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Hugo Warne, Chad O’Sullivan, Charlie Winter-Goldman, Angus Renney, Henry Cox and Coby Wight.
Boort’s best were Jake O’Flaherty, Jacob Malone, Sam McClelland, Chaise Hird and Cooper Gooding.
Schedule for Saturday’s footy grand finals at Boort Park:
Under-14 at 9.30am: Donald v Sea Lake Nandaly.
Under-17 at 10.55am: Boort v St Arnaud.
Reserves at 12.35pm: Sea Lake Nandaly v Nullawil.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Sea Lake Nandaly v Nullawil.