BY NATHAN DOLE
Nullawil fights to stay in contention
NULLAWIL will fight to stay in contention for a top-four finish when it takes on Donald in Saturday’s round 12 action in the Goldacres North Central senior footy action.
The Daryl Wilson-coached Nullawil will start the day’s play four points behind the fourth-placed Wycheproof-Narraport.
The Maroons will be on home turf at Nullawil for the 2.30pm showdown with the Royals.
It’s a fiercely-fought contest as Wedderburn and Nullawil vie to take Wycheproof-Narraport’s place in the four.
The sixth-placed Boort has the bye.
When Donald hosted Nullawil in round three it was the Josh Potter-coached Royals who marked a 109-70 victory.
Runner-up in its debut season in the NCFL in ’23, Nullawil faces a fight to qualify for finals.
The Maroons had the bye last Saturday following a 100-plus point loss to the ladder-leading Birchip-Watchem in the 10th round.
Key players for Nullawil include Mitch Farmer, Hunter Lawrence, Andrew Oberdorfer, David Isbister, Matt Wade and Rylee Smith.
Donald will be keen to bounce back after a 39-point loss to Birchip-Watchem on the Royals ground last round.
The Donald line-up bound for Nullawil includes Feeny medallist and gun on-baller Ross Young, Ryley Barrack, captain Hayden Geddes, Blake Grant, Jamie Papalia and Ryan Hards.
It’s fourth against second as Wycheproof-Narraport tackles Sea Lake Nandaly at Wycheproof.
The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Wycheproof-Narraport moved to the fourth rung following last week’s win against St Arnaud as Sea Lake Nandaly won at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Huge test for the Demons against an opponent which beat them by 119 points in round three.
Wycheproof-Narraport will be determined to show how much it has improved after being held to a goal on Sea Lake Nandaly’s turf in the previous meeting.
The Demons are bolstered by the inclusion of Gedd Hommelhoff for his first game of the season.
Corey Jones is also back after having not played since round two against St Arnaud.
The former North Melbourne forward has kicked eight goals in two matches this season.
Other key players for the red and blue include Koby Hommelhoff, Maysen Murgov, captain Spencer Allan, Trevor Rumbold and Josh Walsh.
Massive test for the Demons defence against a Sea Lake Nandaly attack that includes Will Simpson, co-coach Billy McInnes and Lachy McClelland.
A formidable team in yellow and black includes Ryan O’Sullivan, Kane and Wade Donnan, co-coach Bryce Delmenico and Thomas Cox.
Wedderburn will be back on home turf at Donaldson Park to take on Charlton.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks will be keen to bounce back from a 59-point loss to Birchip-Watchem.
Wedderburn looks to have too much scoring power for Charlton to hold across four quarters.
Key players for the Redbacks include Tom Campbell, captain Joe Lockhart, Jackson McEwen, Darcy Jackson and Jordan Hargreaves.
Charlton’s Mitch Collins has led the way in every match in his first season as Navies coach.
The play of Anthony Judd, Patrick Soulsby, Thomas Finlay, Jed Thompson, Kade Blow and Sam Woods will be vital to Charlton keeping the heat on the opposition for longer.
Birchip-Watchem is home at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval to take on St Arnaud.
The Trevor Ryan-coached Bulls marked a 69-point win against the Saints in round three.
A St Arnaud line-up coached by Scott Driscoll will have gained plenty of confidence from last week’s clash with Wycheproof-Narraport.
Although beaten by 17 points there was plenty to like about the Saints play.
Massive test this Saturday against the unbeaten Bulls.
Ben Edwards has kicked 61 goals for Birchip-Watchem to be a runaway leader in the league goalkicking race.
A talented Bulls squad includes Ty Colbert, Nicholas Rippon, Joseph Reid, Lachy Foott, Hamish Hosking and Charlie Frank.
Best for St Arnaud against the Demons included Mitch Egan, Daniel Gifford, Matthew Goode and Kurtis Torney.
The Saints’ squad includes Jacob Tillig, Torin Petrie, Ryan Lempa, Bailey and Harley Durward, and Mitch Birthisel.
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 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.