WEDDERBURN stands in the way of the Birchip-Watchem Bulls reaching another senior footy grand final when they play in Saturday’s preliminary final in Goldacres North Central action.
The Rebacks and Bulls will lock horns at Boort Park at 2.30pm.
The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn is on the rebound from a three-goal loss to Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in last Saturday’s second semi-final played in Wycheproof.
Birchip-Watchem kicked off the finals by winning the first semi against Calder United Lions at Sea Lake Oval by 71 points.
The Redbacks beat the Ash Connick-coached Bulls in both home-and-away matches.
Wedderburn won 93-42 in the Bulls’ pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip in round three.
The Redbacks claimed a 106-62 victory against Birchip Watchem in round 10 at Donaldson Park in Wedderburn.
Players to watch for Wedderburn include captain Jackson McEwen, Tom Campbell, Matt Perri, Dane Keuken, Zach Pallpratt, Noah Furlong, and Isaac, Louis and Oscar Holt.
Best for Birchip-Watchem in the first semi against the reigning premier were Meyrick Buchanan, Joseph Madio, Daniel Bell, Ben Lakin, Charlie Frank and Sam Simmons.
The Bulls’ squad includes Rhona Conboy, Zane Connick, Lachy Foott and captain Dale Hinkley.
Since it joined the NCFL in 1950, Wedderburn has won eight premierships.
The most recent in 2014 capped four grand final wins in a row.
Birchip-Watchem joined the league in 1997 and has won premierships in 2001 and ’22.
The winner of Saturday’s match meets Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers on September 19 at Lord Nelson Park in St Arnaud.
In the Haueslers reserves it’s St Arnaud against Wedderburn from 12.35pm.
The Saints will be keen to bounce back from a 36-35 loss to Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the second semi-final.
Wedderburn scored a 98-33 victory in the first semi against Calder United Lions.
The Saints will start favourite as they beat the Redbacks at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park in round seven by 75 points and won the 14th round clash at Donaldson Park by 11 points.
St Arnaud’s squad includes Beau Knight, Simon Elliott, Jake and Josh Hicks, Jacob Tillig, Daniel Gifford, Heath McNally and Kurtis Torney.
Best for Wedderburn in the first semi-final were Thomas Hawke, Mitch Woods, Mackenzie Smith, Chris Hargreaves, Matt Lockhart and Mark Robinson.
The Redbacks’ squad includes Jacob DeAraugo, Rhordan Holt, Finn and Josh Turnbull, and Ash Younghusband.
It’s the Saints against the Tigers as St Arnaud tackles Sea Lake Nandaly in the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s match from 10.55am.
The Saints are on the rebound from a 67-29 loss to Boort in the second semi-final.
Best for St Arnaud against the Magpies were Chad Hendy, Nathan Saludes, Austin Lowe, Will Thomas, Chase Hendy and Jesse James.
Day one of the finals featured a 70-45 win by the Tigers against Donald in the first semi-final.
Best for the yellow and black were Nate McClelland, Riley Allan, Taj Borlase, Jacob Cox, Coby Wight and Oscar Conlan.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between St Arnaud and Sea Lake Nandaly.
The Saints won 57-47 at Sea Lake Oval in round three.
The Tigers roared to a 49-22 win at Lord Nelson Park in the 10th round.
Preliminary final action begins at 9.30am with the Uniting Church under-14s match between Birchip-Watchem and Charlton.
The Bulls will be keen to have another crack at St Arnaud after a 28-24 loss in the second semi-final.
Best for Birchip-Watchem last Saturday were Jed Coffey, Morgan Greenaway, Archie Tyler, Eligh Dean, Des Coffey and Ned McLoughlan.
Charlton kicked on for a 27-14 win against Sea Lake Nandaly in the first semi.
In-form players for the Navies include Andrei Acantilado, Chace Dixon, Hudson McGrath, Liam Monaghan, Darcy Olive and Isaac Roberts.
The Bulls beat the Navies in both home-and-away matches by 32 and 60 points.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Boort Park:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: Birchip-Watchem v Charlton.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: St Arnaud v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: St Arnaud v Wedderburn.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Wedderburn v Birchip-Watchem.