BY NATHAN DOLE
Royals fight Redbacks to stay in flag race
DONALD and Wedderburn will fight to stay in the race for the premiership flag when they clash in Saturday’s first semi-final in the Goldacres North Central senior footy action.
The Royals and Redbacks will clash at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip from 2.30pm.
It’s season over for the defeated as the winner gains a week’s rest and will then meet the loser of the second semi-final between Sea Lake Nandaly and Birchip Watchem in the September 7 preliminary final.
Just a week ago it was Wedderburn which won on Donald’s turf by 10 points to clinch a finals berth.
Tom Campbell, Noah Furlong, Oscar Holt and Mitch McEwen all kicked two goals for the red and black.
First-year coach Tom Metherell was best afield for the Redbacks and had great support from Noah Furlong, Joe Lockhart, Oscar Holt, Jacob DeAraugo and Darcy Jackson.
Donald’s attack was led by Ross Young, three, and Noah Berry, two.
A triple premiership player at North Bendigo, Metherell brings plenty of big-game experience to the Wedderburn team.
Best for the Josh Potter-coached Royals last round were Andrew Browne, Ross Young, Hayden Geddes, Blake Grant, Dyson Bell-Warren and Cooper Anderson.
The Redbacks and Royals achieved a win-loss tally of nine-six and also drew a match across the home-and-away series.
Donald’s run included a 99-42 victory at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park in round nine.
A tally of 46 goals meant Tom Campbell was a runaway leader in Wedderburn’s goalkicking race.
The Redbacks have had Oscar Holt kick 32 goals.
Key players for Wedderburn include captain Joe Lockhart, Junior Miller, Darcy Jackson, Jordan Hargreaves, and Isaac and Louis Holt.
Leading goalkickers for Donald are Noah Berry and Trent Grant on 26; and Blake Grant on 22.
A strong team from Donald includes captain Hayden Geddes, Ryley Barrack, Ryan Hards, Ryan Leeder, Jamie Papalia and Jesse Wallin.
It will be Boort against Birchip-Watchem in the Haeuslers reserves match at 12.35pm.
A 13-3 record meant Boort finished the regular season in third place as Birchip-Watchem had an eight-eight record.
The Boort Magpies will start favourite following wins against the Bulls by 61 and 26 points in rounds six and 15.
It’s one-all between Sea Lake Nandaly and Birchip-Watchem going into the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s clash at 10.55am.
The SLN Tigers finished third on an 11-3 record.
The Bulls have a seven-seven record.
In round four it was Birchip-Watchem which beat the Tigers by 38 points in the Bulls’ pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
Next time around the Tigers ripped through the Bulls defence to score a 117-2 victory at Sea Lake.
Finals action kicks off with the Uniting Church under-14s match at 9.30am between Donald and St Arnaud.
A 12-4 run by Donald included wins against the Saints by eight and 14 points in rounds five and 14.
Schedule for Saturday’s first semi-finals at George Cartwright Oval, Birchip:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: Donald v St Arnaud.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip-Watchem.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Boort v Birchip-Watchem.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Wedderburn v Donald.
The North Central FL second semi-finals will be played on August 31 at Donald.
Seniors: Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip-Watchem.
Reserves: Nullawil v Sea Lake Nandaly.
Under-17s: Boort v St Arnaud.
Under-14s: Sea Lake Nandaly v Boort.
Preliminary finals will be on September 7 at Charlton Park.