BY NATHAN DOLE
Huge match on Wedderburn’s turf
FOURTH spot and a likely finals berth is the prize as Wedderburn tackles Nullawil in Saturday’s round 17 action in the Goldacres North Central footy action.
The fifth-placed Wedderburn will be on home turf at Donaldson Park to face the Maroons from 2.30pm.
Just two points separate the teams at two rounds to go in the home-and-away series.
Last week’s loss at Birchip meant Wedderburn dropped to the fifth rung and Nullawil climbed to fourth after a one-goal win against Boort.
Back in round eight it was Nullawil which marked a 28-point win against Wedderburn in the King’s Birthday weekend match.
There are many crucial match-ups for another showdown between the Redbacks and Maroons.
Key players for the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn include Tom Campbell, Oscar Holt, Joe Lockhart, Noah Furlong, Darcy Jackson, Jordan Hargreaves and Adam Postle.
Best for the Darryl Wilson-coached Nullawil last round were Adam Thomson, Matthew Wade, Daniel Watts and Rylee Smith.
Nullawil’s squad includes Mitch Farmer, Dean Putt, Andrew Oberdorfer, Dude and Sol Kelly, and captain Jordan Humphreys.
Just who claims the wooden spoon is also up for grabs as Charlton faces St Arnaud at Charlton Park.
The Mitch Collins-coached Charlton has drawn one match this season.
The round eight showdown between the Navies and Saints ended in a 77-34 win for the Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud at Lord Nelson Park.
Charlton will look to captain Jed Thompson, Chris Gavaghan, Bailey Kemp, Patrick Soulsby, Kade Blow, Thomas Finlay and Mason Heenan to lead the way to a long-awaited victory.
St Arnaud’s best in last Saturday’s clash with Sea Lake Nandaly were Ryan Lempa, Thomas Bertalli, Zac and Brayden Phillips.
The Saints’ squad includes Mitch Egan, Jackson Needs, Torin Petrie and Harley Durward.
It’s a big day at Wycheproof as Wycheproof-Narraport takes on Birchip-Watchem in the WorkSafe Country Club series.
Part of the day includes a $5000 injection for Wycheproof-Narraport, plus new footballs, netballs and goal post padding through WorkSafe’s support.
Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Boyd and Melbourne Vixens star Kate Eddy were at Demons’ training on Thursday night.
Another gun netballer in Shelly O’Donnell will be at Wycheproof for Saturday’s match.
On the footy field the Wayne Mitrovic-coached Demons will be keen to upset the Bulls’ charge.
It will be Wycheproof-Narraport’s final home as the Demons going into next season’s merger with Nullawil to become Calder United Lions.
Wycheproof-Narraport’s line-up for this round includes captain Spencer Allan, Rick Allan, George Turner, Josh Walsh, Koby Hommelhoff, Lachlan Van Schaik, and Cody Green.
Best for the Trevor Ryan-coached Birchip-Watchem in last Saturday’s win againt Wedderburn were Darcy Reid, Meyrick Buchanan, James Lindeback and Daniel Bell.
.Gun goalkicker Ben Edwards needs 10 goals to reach the century mark in the home-and-away series as the Bulls have the bye in the 18th round.
A talented squad from Birchip-Watchem includes Marshall and Nicholas Rippon, Ty Colbert, Patrick Veszpremi, Hamish Hosking, and Sam Simmons.
Boort tackles Donald at Boort Park.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort cannot make finals, but showed at Nullawil it’s not an easy team to play.
It was 73-all when these clubs met in the eighth round.
Best for the Magpies in a top contest at Nullawil were Keiren Wilson, James Keeble, Tom Potter and Jhye Baddeley-Kelly.
Boort’s squad includes Malachi and Ethan Coleman, Natnael McLaren, Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Will Perryman.
The third-placed Donald will be determined to keep the winning run rolling.
Players to watch for the Josh Potter-coached Royals include Andrew Browne, Ryley Barrack, Blake Grant, Jamie Papalia and Hayden Geddes.
Donald regains Feeny medallist and classy on-baller Ross Young.
Sea Lake Nandaly has the bye.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 209 per cent, 54 points; Sea Lake Nandaly 211, 52; Donald 118, 38; Nullawil 113, 32; Wedderburn 119, 30; Wycheproof-Narraport 86, 22; Boort 83, 22; St Arnaud 37, 4; Charlton 38, 2.
Leading goalkickers:
90 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
46 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
42 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
40 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
32 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
28 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
27 James Keeble, Boort.
27 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.
25 Trent Grant, Donald.
24 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
23 Noah Berry, Donald.
22 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
22 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
21 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
21 Jack Exell, Nullawil.
21 Nick Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
21 Blake Grant, Donald.
19 Anthony Zelencich, Weddeburn.
18 Rylee Smith, Nullawil.
17 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
15 Josh Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
11 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
14 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Wayne Mitrovic, Wycheproof-Narraport.
14 Maysen Murgov, Wycheproof-Narraport.
13 Ty Colbert, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Josh Potter, Donald.
13 Tom Potter, Boort.
13 Brody Weir, Sea Lake Nandaly.
12 Wade Donnan, Sea Lake Nandaly.
12 Chris Gavaghan, Charlton.
12 Jamie Papalia, Donald.
12 Will Perryman, Boort.
12 Torin Petrie, St Arnaud.
11 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
11 Junior Miller, Wedderburn.
10 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
10 Andrew Casey, Nullawil.
10 Cody Green, Wycheproof-Narraport.
10 Natnael McLaren, Boort.
10 Matthew Wade, Nullawil.