BY NATHAN DOLE
NCFL pauses for Maddi’s Round
Round 9 of the Goldacres North Central FL, saw the League join forces with the NCNA & NCHA to show support to all families in local communities impacted by cancer, currently or in the past, be it themselves or loved ones.
This round is dedicated to the memory of Maddi Fitzpatrick who lost her gallant battle against cancer early this year.
THE race for a top-four berth in the Goldacres North Central senior footy competition is heating up after Saturday’s ninth round contests.
Just two points separates the fourth-placed Nullawil from the seventh-placed Boort.
On Saturday it was Wycheproof-Narraport which scored a crucial win at home against Nullawil.
The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Demons played inspired football from the first ball-up.
Wycheproof-Narraport led 27-8 at quarter-time and then scored 6.6 as it held the Maroons to a tally of two goals in the second term.
By half-time the Demons led 69-20.
The Daryl Wilson-coached Nullawil hit back to win the third term, 21-19, but it was the red and blue which finished the match with plenty of run.
Wycheproof-Narraport scored 5.3 to 3.4 in the last to complete a 121-63 victory.
An eight-goal haul by Nicholas Grabowski earned best on ground honours.
The experienced Mitrovic slotted five goals.
Nullawil’s attack was led by Mitch Farmer, five, and Adam Thomson, two.
The Demons did well to hold Collingwood premiership player Travis Cloke to a goal.
Best for Wycheproof-Narraport were Nicholas Grabowski, Chris Cox, Morgan Fawcett, Josh Grabowswki, Maysen Murgov and Jed Bish.
Daniel Watts, Mitch Farmer, Ben Brennan, Billy Forrester and Dude Kelly played well for Nullawil.
At Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park it was Donald which marked the trek into Redbacks’ territory by scoring a 57-point victory.
The Royals took the spoils on the day Adam Postle played his 300th senior match for Wedderburn.
The Redbacks led 21-19 at quarter-time before the Josh Potter-coached Donald fired up to score five goals and keep the hosts scoreless in the second term.
A 28-point lead at the long break became six goals at a quarter to go.
The Royals kicked on to record a 99-42 win against the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn.
Trent Grant kicked a match-high five goals for Donald as Noah Berry slotted four and Jamie Papalia added two.
Noah Furlong and Darcy Jackson kicked two goals for the Redbacks.
Best for Donald were Noah Berry, Jesse Wallin, Trent Grant, Andrew Browne, Blake Grant and Ryan Hards.
The Redbacks’ best were Jackson McEwen, Joe Lockhart, Danny Benaim, Noah Furlong, Jayden Jones and Darcy Jackson.
Boort marked a 16-goal win at home against St Arnaud.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort turned a 10-point lead at quarter-time into a 58-point buffer by half-time after it scored 7.6 to nil in the second term.
James Keeble went on to kick six goals as Natnael McLaren added three in a 118-22 result for the Magpies.
Goalkickers for the Saints were Jarryd Kell, Jackson Needs and Bailey Nicholas.
Boort’s best were Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Tom Potter, Ethan Coleman, James Keeble, James Wilson and Natnael McLaren.
Harley Durward, Owen Lowe, Daniel Gifford, Matt Goode, Hamish Darby and Kurtis Torney worked hard for the Scott Driscoll-coached Saints.
It was a tough afternoon for Charlton at home against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
The Navies had to contend with a powerful Tigers’ attack that included former Adelaide and Geelong key forward Josh Jenkins.
After SLN scored 5.4 to a point in the first quarte rit scored 4.4 to 2.2 in the second.
A 47-point lead at half-time was 98 at a quarter to go after the Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes-coached Tigers slammed on 9.3 to a goal in the third.
Jenkins went on to kick 10 goals as Tyson McKenzie, three; Will Simpson and Brody Weir, two, were other multiple goalkickers in a 139-35 result.
Charlton’s goalkickers were Kade Blow, coach Mitch Collins, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Chris Gavaghan and Jackson Zagame.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Josh Jenkins, Ryan O’Sullivan, Tyson McKenzie, Bryce Delmenico, Luke Martin and Jack Poulton.
Patrick Soulsby, Sam and Rhyen Woods, Deek Roberts, Billy Sexton and Kade Blow played well for the Navies.
Birchip-Watchem had the bye.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 196 per cent, 30 points; Sea Lake Nandaly 205, 28; Donald 120, 22; Nullawil 102, 16; Wycheproof-Narraport 95, 16; Wedderburn 115, 14; Boort 89, 14; St Arnaud 40, 4; Charlton 41, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 10 action, Wycheproof-Narraport is back home to play Donald from 2.30pm.
Birchip-Watchem takes on Nullawil at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Boort and Sea Lake Nandaly meet in the battle of Magpies and Tigers at Boort Park.
Wedderburn faces St Arnaud at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Charlton has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
49 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
28 Josh Jenkins, Sea Lake Nandaly.
27 Mitch Farmer, Nullawil.
25 Trent Grant, Donald.
24 Tom Campbell, Wedderburn.
24 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
21 Jack Exell, Nullawil.
19 Anthony Zelencich, Wedderburn.
18 James Keeble, Boort.
17 Nicholas Grabowski, Wycheproof-Narraport.
17 Billy McInnes, Sea Lake Nandaly.
14 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
12 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
11 Blake Grant, Donald.
11 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
10 Will Perryman, Boort.
9 Noah Berry, Donald.
9 Ty Colbert, Birchip-Watchem.
9 Chris Gavaghan, Charlton.
9 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
9 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
9 Will Simpson, Sea Lake Nandaly.
8 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
8 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
8 Corey Jones, Wycheproof-Narraport.
8 Steven Kennedy, Wycheproof-Narraport.
8 Mitchell McEwen, Wedderburn.
8 Natnael McLaren, Boort.
8 Wayne Mitrovic, Wycheproof-Narraport.
8 Maysen Murgov, Wycheproof-Narraport.
8 Josh Potter, Donald.
8 Rylee Smith, Nullawil.
8 Adam Thomson, Nullawil.