BY NATHAN DOLE
Bulls, Tigers dominate contests
TOP teams Birchip-Watchem and Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers dominated play in Saturday’s 11th round of the Goldacres North Central senior footy action.
The unbeaten Birchip-Watchem made its way to Donald for a clash between first and third.
A closely-fought first half ended with the Bulls in front, 44-31.
The Trevor Ryan-coached Birchip-Watchem seized control for most of the final hour.
A score of 3.5 to 1.2 in the crucial third quarter put the Bulls up by 28 points.
Birchip-Watchem added 2.5 to a goal in the last to complete an 84-45 victory.
Ben Edwards again led the attack on four goals as Daniel Bell and Joseph Reid added three each.
Donald’s leading goalkickers were Noah Berry and Blake Grant on two.
Best for the Bulls were Charlie Frank, Joseph Reid, Nicholas Rippon, Ben Hogan, Ty Colbert and Daniel Bell.
Jesse Wallin, coach Josh Potter, Ryan Hards, Tom Heuson, Daniel Pearce and Jamie Papalia were Donald’s best.
Although it had home ground advantage at Donaldson Park, Wedderburn could not halt Sea Lake Nandaly’s charge to victory.
The Tigers led 15-13 at quarter-time and then slammed on 4.4 to a goal in the second.
Key forward Josh Jenkins was on the end of many passes into attack and finished with a match-high five goals as Sea Lake Nandaly kicked on for an 86-27 victory.
Wedderburn coach Tom Metherell kicked two goals.
Best for the Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes-coached Tigers were Wade Donnan, Bryce Delmenico, Thomas Cox, Adam Pattison, Will Simpson and Josh Jenkins.
The Redbacks’ best on a tough afternoon where it dropped out of the top four were Joe Lockhart, Jayden Jones, Mitch McEwen, Danny Benaim, Corey Lowry and Tom Metherell.
Wycheproof-Narraport climbed back to the fourth rung following a 17-point win at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Demons did not have all their way against the Saints.
Wycheproof-Narraport led 23-15 at half-time and then took control to score 4.3 as it kept St Arnaud to a goal in the third quarter.
The Scott Driscoll-coached Saints struck back to win the last, 27-15, but it was the Demons who took the four premiership points in a 65-48 result.
Josh Grabowski, Cody Green and Maysen Murgov kicked two goals for the red and blue.
The Saints’ attack was led by Torin Petrie, three; and captain Kurtis Torney, two.
Best for Wycheproof-Narraport were Koby Hommelhoff, George Turner, Jack Marlais, Trevor Rumbold, Maysen Murgov and Rick Allan.
Daniel Gifford, Matthew Goode, Scott Driscoll, Kurtis Torney, Mitch Egan and Ryan Lempa played well for St Arnaud.
Boort marked a 51-point win at Charlton Park.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort led 19-10 at quarter-time.
It was in the second where the Magpies broke free to score four goals as the Navies added a point.
Charlton won the third term, 12-9, before Boort added three goals to nil in the last.
At the final siren the Magpies led 75-24.
Ethan Coleman, Kieren Jaksic and Will Perryman kicked two goals for Boort.
There were no multiple goalkickers for Charlton.
Best for Boort were Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Tom Potter, Matt Austin, Alex Chamberlain, Jayden Dick and Will Perryman.
Charlton coach Mitch Collins was best along with Sam and Rhyen Woods, Elliott Fitzpatrick, Ben Lanyon and Bailey Dixon.
Nullawil had the bye.
In next Saturday’s 12th round, Nullawil will be at home against Donald for a 2.30pm showdown.
Wedderburn will be on home turf at Donaldson Park against Charlton.
Wycheproof-Narraport faces Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
Birchip-Watchem clashes with St Arnaud at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Boort has the bye.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 207 per cent, 38 points; Sea Lake Nandaly 224, 36; Donald 113, 26; Wycheproof-Narraport 95, 20; Wedderburn 109, 18; Boort 85, 18; Nullawil 89, 16; St Arnaud 43, 4; Charlton 40, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
61 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
33 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
28 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
28 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
26 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
25 Trent Grant, Donald.
21 Jack Exell, Nullawil.
21 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
20 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
19 Nicholas Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
19 James Keeble, Boort.
19 Anthony Zelencich, Wedderburn.
16 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
15 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
15 Blake Grant, Donald.
13 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Noah Berry, Donald.
13 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
13 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
12 Ty Colbert, Birchip-Watchem.
12 Will Perryman, Boort.
11 Noah Berry, Donald.
11 Josh Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
11 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
10 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
10 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
10 Maysen Murgov, Wycheproof-Narraport.
10 Torin Petrie, St Arnaud.
10 Rylee Smith, Nullawil.