-By Nathan Dole
FOURTH in the premiership race, Koondrook Barham tackles the unbeaten Woorinen in this Saturday’s ninth round of senior footy in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league.
The River Raiders have home-ground advantage at Barham for the clash which starts at 2.30pm.
It’s been in incredible rise by Koondrook Barham from just one victory last season to now be fourth on a win-loss tally of five-two.
A key to the chances of the Marcus Demaria-coached River Raiders against the Tigers will be at centre ball-ups and stoppages.
The KB line-up has Jacob Barrington, Patrick Goble and Lee Dale to take on Jye Barry, Daniel Mase and Matt Perry.
In the centre Benji Neale will link up with wingmen Corey Barrington and Jack Thomas.
The River Raiders’ attack includes Matt Bilton, Kye Attwell and Nathan O’Toole.
Woorinen has dominated most matches this season.
The Tim Free-coached Tigers have Doug Beames, Henry Thompson, Will Collicoat, Jose Miliado, Robert Rush and Mitchell Uhlhorn capable of winning many contests.
After a breakthrough win last Saturday, Swan Hill is back at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve to take on Cohuna Kangas.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans won the stand-alone match with Tyntynder on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend by 23 points.
Former Essendon player Michael Hurley kicked three goals, but is not in the Swans team this round.
Massive challenge for Swans’ on-ballers Perry Roberts, Tom Holdstock and Cooper Angus against Chris Anderson, Sam McGlone and Ricky Monti.
In the centre, Swan Hill captain Luke Phelan takes on the brilliant Tom Toma.
Other players to watch for the Swans include Shannon Polglase, Kallen Heslop, Lane Cardenas and Sunny Handy.
A six-one record has the Jack Geary-coached Cohuna Kangas in second place.
The Kangas have the experience and skill of Jayden Cordy, Brenton Conforti and Jarrod Findlay.
Kerang will be on its turf at Riverside Park to play Nyah Nyah West United.
The Paul Grayling-coached Kerang was beaten in the round eight clash with Tyntynder by 25 points.
The Blues now take on the NNWU Demons who have a four-three record and determined to strengthen its position in the top five.
Key match-ups for Kerang include Archer Dibsdale at centre half-back against Nic O’Neill, Zak Bozanich ruck-roving against Ethan Curran, and Nick Oliver in the centre opposed to Jordan Iudica.
Other players to watch for Kerang include Rylee Gitsham, Cody Makeham, Tyson Clingan and Thomas Hetherington.
The Demons fired up to win their latest hit-out with Mallee Eagles at Nyah by six points.
Best for the Demons were Jaydyn Stirling, Joel Walsh, Ben Shadbolt and Dominic Gallo.
The NNWU line-up to play at Kerang includes Corey and Riley Daniels, Dean Harrop, Lucas Iudica, and captain Joel Walsh.
The Demons are jointly coached by Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy.
Lake Boga and Tyntynder clash on Lake Boga’s ground.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga won the round eight match at Balranald by 28 points.
Key players for the Magpies include ruckman Hunter Hartland, rover Koben Ryan, Jayden Lonergan, Rex Hickman, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Kadek Irvan, Rory Colville and Andrew McDonald.
Tyntynder’s best in last Saturday night’s match with Swan Hill were Bailey Reeves, Elliot Broad, Kyle Doran and Josh Potter.
The Bulldogs will look to Coady Gorringe, Elia Ware, Angus and Patrick Crowe to lead the way to victory.
Tyntynder’s joint coaches are Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
It’s the Saints against the Kangaroos at Manangatang as Tooleybuc Manangatang faces Balranald.
The Brad Morris-coached Tooleybuc Manangatang starts this round in sixth place on a three-four record.
The Saints were beaten by 51 points in the round eight match by the league’s other Kangas, Cohuna in Cohuna.
Tooleybuc Manangatang named Seb Rogers in the centre, Isaac Franks and Lochlan Prentice as key targets in attack.
Other players to watch for the Saints are ruckman Connor Mcdonald, Josh Williams, Kallum Hazlett and Blake Grant.
Balranald finished within 28 points of Lake Boga in the eighth round at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
The Kangaroos have co-coach Jack Salau in the centre, former Western Bulldogs player Roarke Smith at centre half-back, Cruz Jolliffe in the ruck, and Ryan Middlebrook as rover.
A squad which is also jointly coached by Ben Fuller and Ben Mahon includes Colin Andrews, Ian Fuller, Jye Hogan, Yodok Soille and Jarryd Stead.
Mallee Eagles has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 280 per cent, 32 points; Cohuna Kangas 266, 24; Mallee Eagles 256, 24; Koondrook Barham 111, 20; Nyah Nyah West United 132, 16; Tooleybuc Manangatang 84, 12; Kerang 81, 12; Lake Boga 70, 12; Tyntynder 53, 4; Swan Hill 34.5, 4; Balranald 34.2, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
31 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
25 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
22 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
22 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
19 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
18 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
17 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
16 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
15 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
14 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
14 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
14 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
14 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
14 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
12 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
12 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
12 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
11 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
11 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
10 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.