BY NATHAN DOLE
THE ’22 grand finalists Donald and Birchip-Watchem clash in Saturday’s round 14 action in the Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy season.
The Royal Blues have home-ground advantage at Donald as they take on the reigning premier from 2.30pm.
Both teams are in great form and have marked up eight wins apiece.
When they met in round five it was the Rohan Brown-coached Donald which won 75-70 on the Bulls’ turf at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
A Donald attack led by Sam Dunstan and Trent Grant will test the Bulls.
The Royals also named Rian McGough and Brady Griffiths in the forward line.
At the other end of the field, Donald defenders Peter Faulks, James Wall and Hayden Geddes are up against Nathan Gordon, Daniel Castellano and Sam Simmons.
On-ball duels will be crucial.
Donald has captain and ruckman Josh Potter to team up with Stephen Dinnell and Feeny medallist and gun rover Ross Young.
The Trevor Ryan-coached Bulls have Jonty Randall, Marshall and Nicholas Rippon in great form.
Wedderburn takes on Boort at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
The round five clash ended in a 69-67 win for Wedderburn at Boort Park.
Top-four hopes are gone, but there’s still plenty for the Redbacks and Magpies to play for.
A Wedderburn victory will give it a six-point break on Boort, but a Magpies win will result in flying above the Redbacks.
Key players for Wedderburn include coach Sam Barnes, Jordan Hargreaves, Danny Benaim, Tom Campbell, Jordan Rosengren, Jacob DeAraugo and Adam Postle.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort has had Jarrod Fitzpatrick play well all season.
Other players to watch in the Magpies’ line-up include Brayden Aitken, Natnael McLaren, Darcy Hawker, Cameron Ross and Angus Trethowan.
Charlton is home at Charlton Park to take on Nullawil.
The Navies played well to win at St Arnaud by 34 points last round.
In round five, Nullawil beat Charlton by 15 goals.
Huge challenge for the Navies this round against the Brett Barker-coached Nullawil on the rebound from a 27-point loss at home to the ladder-leading Sea Lake Nandaly.
In last week’s play it was Jed and Nick Thompson who led the way for Charlton.
Other key players for the Andy Nisbet-coached Navies include Travis Baird, Jaydon Cowling, Cobi Fitzpatrick, Chris Gavaghan, Riely Thiesz and Aaron Walklate.
Nullawil’s best against the Tigers were Dean Putt, Jordan Humphreys, Dean Smith, Patrick Kelly, Matt Quigley and Jonathan Casey.
Wycheproof-Narraport tackles St Arnaud at Wycheproof.
Sea Lake Nandaly has the bye.
The Demons won by 47 points at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park in round five.
Players to watch for the Boe Bish-coached Wycheproof-Narraport include Josh Walsh, Gedd and Koby Hommelhoff, Lachlan Van Schaik, Aaron and Justin Bateson, and Jed Bish.
St Arnaud’s best in last week’s clash with Charlton were Zac Notting, Jake Hicks, Daniel Gifford, coach Anthony Bourke, Brad Organ and Kurtis Torney.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Sea Lake Nandaly 247 per cent, 48 points; Birchip-Watchem 162, 32; Donald 119, 32; Nullawil 157, 28; Wycheproof-Narraport 93, 26; Wedderburn 92, 16; Boort 87, 14; Charlton 53, 12; St Arnaud 30, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
57 Sam Dunstan, Donald.
43 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
34 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
32 Sam Barnes, Wedderburn.
32 Nathan Gordon, Birchip-Watchem.
31 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
30 Nick Thompson, Charlton.
25 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
25 Daniel Castellano, Birchip-Watchem.
24 Gedd Hommelhoff, Wycheproof-Narraport.
24 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
23 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
23 John Summerhayes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
20 Jarrod Fitzpatrick, Boort.
19 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
19 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
17 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
16 Danny Benaim, Wedderburn.
16 Jordan Humphreys, Nullawil.