A NEW premier in the Goldacres North Central senior footy league will be declared at Wedderburn this season.
The decider between Calder United Lions and Birchip-Watchem will start at 2.30pm.
In its debut year Calder United Lions will be aiming for the ultimate prize.
The Lions were formed by the amalgamation of Nullawil and Wycheproof Narraport.
Standing in Calder United’s drive toward glory are the Birchip Watchem Bulls.
There’s plenty of big-game experience on the respective coaching panels.
Calder United’s non-playing co-coach, Darryl Wilson was a multiple premiership-winning coach with Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Non-playing co-coach in Sandhurst’s run to the premiership in ’24, Ash Connick made his way to lead Birchip-Watchem’s run.
After an unbeaten run of 16 matches in the home-and-away series the Bulls run was broken as Calder United scored a 65-54 victory in the second semi-final at Boort Park.
The Lions’ run was led by Daniel Watts, Charlie Fawcett, key defender Oscar Madden, and Zane Keighran.
Stung by defeat the Bulls bounced back to win the preliminary final against the premier of the previous two seasons, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers by 10 points.
The play of Ben Hogan, Ben Lakin, Meyrick Buchanan and Dale Hinkley ensured Birchip-Watchem would stay in the premiership race.
The grand finalists first met in round four of this season.
The Bulls fought on for an 89-87 victory in the pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
Another showdown in the 11th round at Nullawail ended in a 105-63 victory for Birchip-Watchem.
Among the most crucial match-ups for the Lions will be at full-back where Josh Walsh takes on Ben Edwards.
It’s been another brilliant season by Edwards as he has kicked 126 goals in 17 matches.
Other key players in the Bulls’ attack are Tom Gibson, Rhona Conboy and Marshall Rippon.
The Lions’ defence includes Oscar Madden who was recruited from Eaglehawk teaming up with co-coach Jordan Humphreys, Boe Bish and Jack Marlais.
On-ball duels will play a big part in determining the result.
The Lions have Dean Putt, Steven Kennedy, Zane Keighran and Matt Wade at the centre ball-ups and stoppages.
Gun ruckman Hamish Hosking often provides first use of the footy for Sam Simmons, Nicholas Rippon and Meyrick Buchanan.
On the wings the Lions have Charlie Fawcett and captain Rylee Smith to take on Lachy Foott and Daniel Bell.
A talented attack for Calder United includes Jack Exell, Mitch Farmer, co-captain Koby Hommelhoff and Dale Pearce.
That quartet will keep a Bulls’ defence led by Lachlan Ryan, Angus Butterfield, Cormacc Wilson and Jacob Noonan busy all match.
Calder United Lions
B: Boe Bish, Josh Walsh, Daniel Watts.
Hb: Jordan Humphreys, Oscar Madden, Jack Marlais.
C: Charlie Fawcett, Matt Wade, Rylee Smith.
Hf: Jack Exell, Matthew Trzeciak, George Turner.
F: Koby Hommelhoff, Dale Pearce, Mitch Farmer.
Foll: Dean Putt, Steven Kennedy, Zane Keighran.
Inter: Rick Allan, Kobe Lloyd, Zac Caccaviello.
Coaches: Jordan Humphreys, playing; Darryl Wilson, non-playing.
Birchip-Watchem:
B: Cormacc Wilson, Jacob Noonan, Angus Butterfield.
Hb: Lachlan Ryan, Ben Lakin, Dale Hinkley.
C: Lachy Foott, Meyrick Buchanan, Daniel Bell.
Hf: Jacob Christie, Tom Gibson, Rhona Conboy.
F: Marshall Rippon, Ben Edwards, Charlie Frank.
Foll: Hamish Hosking, Sam Simmons, Nicholas Rippon.
Inter: Austin Dean, Harry Cook, Ben Hogan.
Coach: Ash Connick.
It’s also the Lions and Bulls in the grand final of the Haesulers reserves from 12.35pm.
A 15-1 record across the home-and-away series meant Calder United was top of the ladder.
The Lions scored a 58-33 win against Boort in the second semi-final at Boort Park as Jack Morrison, Joel Turner, Sol Kelly and Billy Forrester led the way.
The Bulls finished the regular season in third place on a 12-4 record.
Birchip-Watchem kicked off the finals by scoring a 16-point win against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the first semi played in the Lions’ den in Birchp.
The winning run kept rolling as the Bulls beat Boort by 28 points in the preliminary final.
Stefan Pye, Riley Hogan Jr and Ben Edelsten were Birchip-Watchem’s best.
When the grand finalists met in round four it was Calder United which powered to a 120-24 victory in Birchip.
The round 11 clash at Nullawil ended in an 82-44 victory for the Bulls against the Lions.
Calder United Lions
Spencer Allan, Brett Barker, Rhylie Botheras, Hunter Connolly, Les Cooper, Angus Forrester, Billy Forrester, George Forrester, Cody Green, James Ison, Rowan Jones, Sol Kelly, Zac Kelly, Dane McLennan, Jack Morrison, Darcy Munro, Daniel Murray, Heath Senior, Thomas Trewin, Joel Turner, Tiger Vearing.
Birchip Watchem
George Addis, Matt Berry, Connor Boyle, Bodie Colbert, Ty Colbert, Riley Doran, Ben Edelsten, Callum Goode, Riley Hogan Jr, Patrick Lakin, Connor Lee, Jack Lee, James Lindeback, Alex Noonan, Stefan Pye, Joseph Reid, Ed Rickard, Matt Rickard, Tison Wiantara, Josh Woods.
It will be Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers against Boort in the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s grand final from 10.55am.
The Boort Magpies swooped for a 36-19 win against Calder United Lions in the first semi-final.
A 39-28 win against St Arnaud in the second semi-final meant Sea Lake Nandaly was first to the grand final.
First meeting of Boort and Sea Lake Nandaly this season was in round four at Boort Park.
The Magpies won 60-37.
In the 11th round the Tigers defeated the Magpies, 44-28 at Sea Lake Oval.
In-form players in the yellow and black include Nate McClelland, Judd Durie, Angus Renney, Hugo Warne, Brayden Allan and Jacob Cox.
Best for Boort in the first semi-final were Luke Boyd, Riley Wagner, Brodie McPherson, Rylan Chislett, Cooper Gooding and Darby F Perryman.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers
Archie Alday, Brayden Allan c, Riley Allan, Taj Borlase, Jack Brown, Ewan Conlan, Oscar Conlan, Henry Cox, Jacob Cox, Judd Durie c, Seth Halliday, Brody Kelly, Cooper Kelly, Jack Leo, Nate McClelland, Charlie Mitchell, Callum Mott, Ryder Newick, Cruz O’Sullivan, Angus Renney, Cooper Symes, Hugo Warne, Coby Wight, Zander Wight.
Boort
Not supplied.
First of the grand finals will be the Uniting Church under-14s from 9.30am where St Arnaud takes on Boort.
A 14-2 record put the Saints atop the ladder at the end of the home-and-away series.
St Arnaud then fought on for a 37-34 win against Sea Lake Nandaly in the second semi-final.
Patrick Zsigmond, Chase Hendy, Jesse James, Duncan Kirk and Arley Reyne led the way.
After finishing fourth on a 9-7 record, Boort has won consecutive finals.
The Magpies won the first semi-final against Donald by 22 points.
A 55-27 victory against Sea Lake Nandaly in the preliminary final put Boort into the biggest game of the season.
Best for the Magpies against the SLN Tigers were Seth Muller, Archer Lee, Connor McNally, Jed Perryman, Tristan Broad and Liam King.
St Arnaud
Charlie Baldwin, Finn Evans, Oliver Goode, Zach Green, Sam Greenaway, Noah Hando, Chase Hendy, Jesse James, Isaac Johns, Spencer Kay, Kayden Keating, Charlie Kirk, Duncan Kirk, Lewis Lowe, Arley Reyne, Maddox Stewart, Xavier Taylor, Jack Wait, Sami Weir, Finn Wilson, Patrick Zsigmond.
Boort
Not supplied.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: St Arnaud v Boort.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Boort.
Haeusler’s reserves at 12.35pm: Calder United Lions v Birchip-Watchem.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Calder United Lions v Birchip-Watchem.