BY NATHAN DOLE
Nullawil aims to tame in-form Tigers
NULLAWIL will be aiming to tame the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in this Saturday’s 14th round of senior footy action in the Goldacres North Central FNL season.
The Daryl Wilson-coached Nullawil has home-ground advantage for the showdown with the new ladder leaders from 2.30pm.
Beating SLN is a task few teams have done across last season and this.
Nullawil starts the round in fifth place and just two points behind the fourth-placed Donald.
An upset victory will significantly lift the chances of the Maroons reaching the finals.
Doing so is an incredibly tough task.
When the Maroons and Tigers met in round five at Sea Lake it was the yellow and black which charged to a 28-point victory.
Nullawil marked a 70-point win at St Arnaud last Saturday, but pressure in this contest will be much higher.
Mitch Farmer kicked five goals against the Saints last round and will again play a crucial role.
The Maroons’ squad includes Matt Wade, Charlie Fawcett, Dean Putt, Andrew Oberdorfer, Zach Caccaviello, David Isbister and Adam Thomson.
A 90-58 win at home against Birchip-Watchem meant Sea Lake Nandaly claimed top spot on the ladder.
Players to watch for the Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes-coached Tigers include Brodie Adcock, Kane and Wade Donnan, captain Ryan O’Sullivan, Charlie Cox and Will Simpson.
Birchip-Watchem will be determined to bounce back from its first defeat of the season when it plays Charlton at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
The Trevor Ryan-coached Bulls beat the Navies by 115 points in round five.
Confidence in the Charlton line-up will be high after an 88-all draw with Wycheproof-Narraport last Saturday.
A formidable attack for Birchip-Watchem is led by Ben Edwards, 76 goals, and includes Joseph Reid, Nicholas Rippon and Ty Colbert.
Other players to watch for the Bulls include ruckman Hamish Hosking, Marshall Rippon, Lachlan Ryan and Sam Simmons.
Although it has just the one draw there is plenty for the Mitch Collins-coached Charlton to play for.
Winning a quarter or more against one of the league’s best is a goal for the Navies to strive for.
Charlton’s line-up bound for Birchip includes Kade Blow, Thomas Finlay, Chris Gavaghan, Mason Heenan, Bailey Kemp, Patrick Soulsby, and captain Jed Thompson.
Refreshed by the bye, Donald will be back on its turf against St Arnaud.
The Josh Potter-coached Royals will start favourite against the Saints.
In round five it was Donald which won 94-50 on St Arnaud’s ground at Lord Nelson Park.
Victory is a must for Donald which would move to the third run by beating the Saints.
Players to watch for the Royals include Ryley Barrack, captain Hayden Geddes, Jamie Papalia, Ryan Hards, Jesse Wallin, Cooper Anderson and Andrew Browne.
Best for the Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud last round included Mitch Egan, Daniel Gifford, Jake Male and Bailey Nicholas.
Wycheproof-Narraport will be home at Wycheproof to take on Boort.
A draw at Charlton was a severe jolt to the finals aspirations of the Wayne Mitrovic-coached Wycheproof-Narraport.
After facing the Magpies the Demons play Wedderburn, away; have a bye; then meet Birchip-Watchem, home, and Nullawil, away, to complete the home and away series.
The Demons will rely a lot on the play of Koby Hommelhoff, Josh Walsh, Maysen Murgov, Joe Kenny, Joel Turner, Boe and Jed Bish, and Lachlan Van Schaik.
In round five it was Boort which beat the Demons by two points at Boort Park.
The Dale Cameron-coached Magpies are on the rebound from a six-goal loss to the Wedderburn Redbacks.
Best for Boort last round included Alex Chamberlain, Jacob Coleman, James Keeble and Tom Potter.
The Magpies’ squad includes James and Keiren Wilson, Ethan and Malachi Coleman, and Jarrod Starr.
Wedderburn has the bye.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Sea Lake Nandaly 222 per cent, 44 points; Birchip-Watchem 205, 42; Wedderburn 124, 26; Donald 108, 26; Nullawil 100, 24; Wycheproof-Narraport 88, 22; Boort 83, 18; St Arnaud 38, 4; Charlton 42, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
76 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
38 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
38 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
35 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
29 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
25 Trent Grant, Donald.
24 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
23 James Keeble, Boort.
21 Jack Exell, Nullawil.
21 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
21 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
19 Nick Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
19 Anthony Zelencich, Wedderburn.
16 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
16 Blake Grant, Donald.
15 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Rylee Smith, Nullawil.
14 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
13 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Noah Berry, Donald.
13 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly.
13 Ty Colbert, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Josh Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
13 Maysen Murgov, Wycheproof-Narraport.
13 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
12 Wayne Mitrovic, Wycheproof-Narraport.
12 Will Perryman, Boort.
12 Brody Weir, Sea Lake Nandaly.
11 Torin Petrie, St Arnaud.
10 Wade Donnan, Sea Lake Nandaly.
10 Chris Gavaghan, Charlton.
10 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
10 Junior Miller, Wedderburn.
10 Josh Potter, Donald.
PHOTO – Blake Lee