BY NATHAN DOLE
NULLAWIL is bracing for a charge from the Birchip-Watchem Bulls in Saturday’s 10th round of senior footy in the Goldacres North Central FNL season.
It’s second against third as Nullawil strives to move eight points clear of the reigning premiers.
A win for the Bulls will put them in second place in the premiership race.
Nullawil marked its first match in the NCFL when it triumphed at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval in round one by 41 points.
Since then the Brett Barker-coached Maroons have achieved a 5-2 record.
Last hit-out for Nullawil ended in an 89-43 victory at home against Boort.
On a day suited to wet-weather specialists it will be workrate at centre ball-ups and stoppages that coaches will place a high premium on.
Key players for Nullawil include Zach Caccaviello, Dean Putt, Andrew Casey, Patrick Kelly, Adam Thomson and Mitch Farmer.
Birchip-Watchem scored a big win at St Arnaud last round, but know the pressure will be much higher in this contest.
Players to watch for the Bulls include Daniel Castellano, Nathan Gordon, captain Dale Hinkley, Marshall and Nicholas Rippon, and Sam Simmons.
Another big match is at Wycheproof where Wycheproof-Narraport takes on Donald.
The fifth-placed Demons go into the contest just two points behind the fourth-placed Royal Blues.
In round one it was the Boe Bish-coached Wycheproof-Narraport which won 49-36 on the Royals’ turf.
The Demons have been refreshed by the bye and will look to Gedd and Koby Hommelhoff, James Coatsworth, Justin Bateson, Joel Turner and Josh Walsh to lead the way to victory.
Will not be an easy task against a Donald line-up which won at Charlton by 10 goals last Saturday.
A talented line-up for the Royal Blues includes Ryley Barrack, Rory O’Shannessy, Will Burke, Blake Grant, Josh Potter and Ross Young.
The unbeaten Sea Lake Nandaly is at home to take on Boort.
A hard-fought contest at Boort Park in round one ended in a 52-27 win for the Tigers.
Captain and ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan is likely to give his team first use of the ball on many occasions.
An attack that includes co-coach Billy McInnes, Thomas Cox and Will Simpson caps off the hard work by the likes of co-coach Bryce Delmenico, Austin Mertz, and Kane, Trent and Wade Donnan.
Boort is on the rebound from a 46-point loss at Nullawil.
Best for the Dale Cameron-coached Magpies in that match were Keiren Wilson, Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Nathan Twigg and Jonathan Lanyon.
Charlton is at home to take on Wedderburn.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
In round one it was Wedderburn which beat the Navies by 10 goals at Donaldson Park.
Nick Thompson kicked three goals for Charlton in last week’s clash with Donald and looms as a danger to the Redbacks.
Other key players for the Andy Nisbet-coached Navies include Tim Hill, Chris Gavaghan, Jed Thompson, Jaydon Cowling and Mason Heenan.
Wedderburn has captain-coach Sam Barnes and Tom Campbell as key targets in attack.
The Redbacks will also look to Jordan Hargreaves, Jacob DeAraugo, Luke Holt, Darcy Jackson and Jordan Rosengren to win many contests.
St Arnaud has the bye.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Sea Lake Nandaly 268 per cent, 32 points; Nullawil 169, 24; Birchip-Watchem 196, 20; Donald 105, 20; Wycheproof-Narraport 94, 18; Boort 106, 14; Wedderburn 91, 12; Charlton 39, 4; St Arnaud 29, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
40 Sam Dunstan, Donald.
32 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
28 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
24 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
22 Sam Barnes, Wedderburn.
21 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
21 Nathan Gordon, Birchip-Watchem.
21 Gedd Hommelhoff, Wycheproof-Narraport.
19 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
18 Daniel Castellano, Birchip-Watchem.
18 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
17 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
15 Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Boort.
14 Cody Green, Wycheproof-Narraport.
14 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
13 Nick Thompson, Charlton.
12 Danny Benaim, Wedderburn.
12 John Summerhayes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
10 Natnael McLaren, Boort.