BY NATHAN DOLE
KERANG is on track to mark its 10th senior premiership in the Central Murray Football Netball League.
At the halfway mark of the 3SH-backed competition, Kerang is unbeaten in its quest for back-to-back premierships.
There have been plenty of challenges for the Troy Coates-coached Blues, but they have answered all so far.
A tough stretch for Kerang was rounds 5-7 where it fought to beat Tyntynder by four points; Balranald by eight; and Woorinen, by seven.
Those margins provide confidence for the Roos and Tigers who are second and third on win-loss tallies of 7-1 and 6-2.
Consecutive premierships is a feat Kerang achieved many times during its dominant run of 2012 to ’17.
The Blues’ greatest threats of staying number one are likely to be Balranald which as not won a senior premiership since 2009, and Woorinen whose wins in 2018 and ’19 ended Kerang’s golden era.
After a bye on June 24, Kerang’s streak is likely to roll on.
The lead-up to the finals includes an August 19 showdown on Balranald’s turf at Greenham Park, and then a home game against Woorinen.
It’s been a great rise by Balranald which was sixth in 2022 on an 8-8 record.
The Roos’ sole loss in the first half of this season was at Kerang.
A talented Balranald line-up includes Jaxon, Jydon and Matthew Neagle.
Next big test for the Roos is on July 8 at home against Cohuna Kangas.
A 6-2 run has Woorinen in third place and a serious contender to claim the premiership cup.
The Tigers have a strong attack led by Will Collicoat, Doug Beames and Danko Bzenic.
There will be plenty of interest across the second half of the season as to who qualifies for finals.
Last season’s runner-up, Cohuna Kangas are fourth on a 5-3 record.
The Tyson Findlay-coached Kangas were 2-3 after a 51-point loss to Swan Hill, but have struck back to win their past three matches.
Massive test in the next month includes away games Balranald and Woorinen.
A talented Cohuna line-up includes Jarrod Findlay, Rhys Free, Joel Helman, Tom Metherell and Will Thrum.
Swan Hill is fifth on a 5-3 record, but fighting to stay there.
The Swans are home to Lake Boga this Saturday.
A four-game winning streak by Swan Hill was followed by losses to Balranald by 34 points, and 88-point loss to Woorinen.
Key players for Swan Hill include ruckman Toby Thoolen, rover Matt Wade, and Jose Miliado.
Nyah Nyah West United and Lake Boga are locked on 4-4 records, but just a win behind Swan Hill.
The NNWU Demons have fired up to win three of their past four matches.
Heat is on next three rounds as Nyah Nyah West United hosts Balranald, travels to Woorinen, and then tackles Lake Boga at Nyah.
The Magpies from Lake Boga face a crucial match at Swan Hill this Saturday.
Are yet to beat any of the teams in the top five, so the Pies will be fired up to end that trend on the Swans’ turf.
The Lake Boga line-up includes former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward Angus Monfries, and also has the skill of David Gourdis, Lochie Laing, Lincoln Sieben and Jake Warren.
Although prospects of a top-five finish look shot, Tyntynder, Mallee Eagles, Tooleybuc Manangatang, and Koondrook Barham could mark an upset victory or two in the run to September.
Kerang, 9-0, 239%, 36 points, 1st:
So far – d Tooleybuc Manangatang 102-27, d Mallee Eagles 182-21, d Nyah Nyah West 82-31, d Cohuna 96-58, d Tyntynder 63-59, d Balranald 46-38, d Woorinen 57-50, d Koondrook Barham 124-39, d Lake Boga 80-24.
Run home – bye; v Swan Hill, home; v Mallee Eagles, away; v Tooleybuc Manangatang, h; v Nyah Nyah West United, h; v Cohuna, a; bye; v Balranald, a; v Woorinen, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Josh Nitschke, Josh Hann, Rylee Smith, Jesse Clark, Ryan Gillingham.
Leading goalkickers:
14 Bradlee Pay, Rylee Smith; 13 Hayden Hall, 12 Michael Runciman, 11 Troy Coates, 10 Michael Dalrymple, 9 Adam Hunter, 7 Ryan Gillingham, 5 Josh Hann, Josh Nitschke.
Balranald, 7-1, 184%, 28 points, 2nd:
So far – d Tyntynder 63-35, bye, d Woorinen 77-61, d Koondrook Barham 129-10, d Lake Boga 85-70, lt Kerang 38-46, d Swan Hill 75-41, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 65-48, d Mallee Eagles 84-22.
Run home – v Nyah Nyah West United, a; v Cohuna, h; bye; v Tyntynder, h; v Woorinen, a; v Koondrook Barham, h; v Lake Boga, a; v Kerang, h; v Swan Hill, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Ethan Gant, Jaxon Neagle, Jordan Wilkins, Ryan Middlebrook, Matthew Neagle, Jack Salau.
Leading goalkickers:
19 Ben Fuller, 15 Jydon Neagle, 11 Drew Lloyd, 9 Seth Connell, 8 Ethan Gant, 6 Matt Neagle.
Woorinen, 6-2, 229%, 24 points, 3rd:
So far – d Cohuna 68-23, d Tyntynder 153-40, lt Balranald 61-77, bye; d Koondrook Barham 129-36, d Lake Boga 69-24, lt Kerang 50-57, d Swan Hill 122-34, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 108-40.
Run home – v Mallee Eagles, a; v Nyah Nyah West United, h; v Tyntynder, a; v Cohuna, h; v Balranald, h; bye; v Koondrook Barham, a; v Lake Boga, h; v Kerang, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Lachlan Gardner, Jye Barry, Josh Domaille, Lachlan Warburton, Doug Beames, Angus Butterfield, Taylor Cameron.
Leading goalkickers:
23 Will Collicoat, 18 Doug Beames, 13 Danko Bzenic, 9 Jye Barry, 6 Thomas Isma.
Cohuna, 5-3, 106%, 20 points, 4th:
So far – lt Woorinen 23-68, d Koondrook Barham 116-43, d Lake Boga 109-63, lt Kerang 58-96, lt Swan Hill 37-88, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 101-79, d Mallee Eagles 88-70, d Nyah Nyah West United 75-62, bye.
Run home – v Tyntynder, h; v Balranald, a; v Koondrook Barham, h; v Woorinen, a; bye; v Kerang, h; v Swan Hill, a; v Tooleybuc Manangatang, h; v Mallee Eagles, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Joel Helman, Daniel Paterson, Luke Conca, Chris Anderson, Tom Metherell, Will Thrum.
Leading goalkickers:
24 Rhys Free, 12 Jack Donat, 10 Jarrod Findlay, 8 Luke Conca, Joel Helman, Dylan Johnstone, 6 Daniel Coates.
Swan Hill, 5-3, 89%, 20 points, 5th:
So far – bye; lt Tooleybuc Manangatang 43-114, d Mallee Eagles 101-88, d Nyah Nyah West United 89-57, d Cohuna 88-37, d Tyntynder 52-36, lt Balranald 41-75, lt Woorinen 34-122, d Koondrook Barham 63-42.
Run home – v Lake Boga, h; v Kerang, a; v Tooleybuc Manangatang, a; bye; v Mallee Eagles, h; v Nyah Nyah West United, a; v Cohuna, h; v Tyntynder, a; v Balranald, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Toby Thoolen, Matthew Wade, Xavier Moloney, Jarvis Keogh, Jose Miliado.
Leading goalkickers:
12 Jose Miliado, 9 Zach Mihocek, 7 Toby Thoolen, 6 Matthew Wade, 4 Sonny Beasy, Wilhem Bennett, Brandon Houlihan, Michael Hurley, Luke Phelan.
Nyah Nyah West United, 4-4, 123%, 16 points, 6th:
So far – d Koondrook Barham 132-18, lt Lake Boga 64-65, lt Kerang 31-82, lt Swan Hill 57-89, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 107-79, d Mallee Eagles 130-68, bye; lt Cohuna 62-75, d Tyntynder 93-73.
Run home – v Balranald, h; v Woorinen, a; v Lake Boga, h; v Koondrook Barham, a; v Kerang, a; v Swan Hill, h; v Tooleybuc Manangtang, a; v Mallee Eagles, h; bye.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Joel Walsh, Nicholas O’Neill, Zack Threadgold, Kayne Davidson, Riley Daniels, Jarrod Stokes.
Leading goalkickers:
15 Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, 12 Charlie Boulton, 8 Liam White, 6 Jarrod Stokes, Joel Walsh, 5 Brayden Bigham, Riley Daniels, Alex Erlandson, Dominic Gallo, Brandyn Grenfell.
Lake Boga, 4-4, 96%, 16 points, 7th:
So far – d Mallee Eagles 69-37, d Nyah Nyah West United 65-64, lt Cohuna 63-109; d Tyntynder 95-46; lt Balranald 70-85, lt Woorinen 24-69, d Koondrook Barham 98-39, bye, lt Kerang 24-80.
Run home – v Swan Hill, a; v Tooleybuc Manangatang, h; v Nyah Nyah West United, a; v Mallee Eagles, h; bye; v Tyntynder, a; v Balranald, h; v Woorinen, a; v Koondrook Barham, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Jake Warren, Jacob Simpson, Lochie Laing, Lincoln Sieben, Tyle Williams.
Leading goalkickers:
16 David Gourdis, 6 Jayden Lonergan, Angus Monfries, Matthew Payne, 5 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Tyle Williams.
Tyntynder, 2-7, 77%, 8 points, 8th:
So far – lt Balranald 35-63, lt Woorinen 40-153, d Koondrook Barham 149-39, lt Lake Boga 46-95, lt Kerang 59-63, lt Swan Hill 36-52, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 63-51, lt Mallee Eagles 35-80, lt Nyah Nyah West United 73-93.
Run home – v Cohuna, a; bye; v Woorinen, h; v Balranald, a; v Koondrook Barham, a; v Lake Boga, h; bye; v Swan Hill, h; v Tooleybuc Manangatang, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Matt Gilbee, Elliot Broad, Liam Whelan, Matt Corney, Zac Denham, Roy George.
Leading goalkickers:
13 Jason Eagle, 10 Matt Corney, Liam Whelan, 9 Roy George, 6 Justin Ellis, 4 Tyrone Bean, Isaiah Bull, Zac Denham.
Mallee Eagles, 2-6, 64%, 8 points, 9th:
So far – lt Lake Boga 37-69, lt Kerang 21-182, lt Swan Hill 88-101, d Tooleybuc Manangatang 87-39, bye, lt Nyah Nyah West United 68-130, lt Cohuna 70-88, d Tyntynder 80-35, lt Balranald 22-84.
Run home – v Woorinen, h; v Koondrook Barham, a; v Kerang, h; v Lake Boga, a; v Swan Hill, a; v Tooleybuc Manangatang, h; bye; v Nyah Nyah West United, a; v Cohuna, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Zac O’Meara, Harrison Allen, Brett Thomas, Darcy McGregor, Beau Bennett, Paul Davis, Shaun Harrison.
Leading goalkickers:
14 Paul Davis, 13 Brent Macleod, 8 Jacob O’Meara, 6 Shaun Harrison, 4 Harrison Allen, Harry McGregor, Zac O’Meara, Ethan Pinchen.
Tooleybuc Manangatang, 1-7, 70%, 4 points, 10th:
So far – lt Kerang 27-102, d Swan Hill 114-43, bye, lt Mallee Eagles 39-87, lt Nyah Nyah West United 79-107, lt Cohuna 79-101, lt Tyntynder 51-63, lt Balranald 48-65, lt Woorinen 40-108.
Run home – v Koondrook Barham, h; v Lake Boga, a; v Swan Hill, h; v Kerang, a; bye; v Mallee Eagles, a; v Nyah Nyah West United, h; v Cohuna, a; v Tyntynder, h.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Blake Grant, Jaicob Kenny, Ethan Goldfinch, Jack Mazzarella, Josh Williams.
Leading goalkickers:
32 Josh Williams, 5 Mitchell Grant, 4 Liam Baldwin, Brayden Pitcher.
Koondrook Barham, 0-8, 28%, 0 points, 11th:
So far – lt Nyah Nyah West United 18-132, lt Cohuna 43-116, lt Tyntynder 39-149, lt Balranald 10-129, lt Woorinen 36-129, bye, lt Lake Boga 39-98, lt Kerang 39-124, lt Swan Hill 42-63.
Run home – v Tooleybuc Manangatang, a; v Mallee Eagles, h; v Cohuna, a; v Nyah Nyah West United, h; v Tyntynder, h; v Balranald, a; v Woorinen, h; bye; v Lake Boga, a.
Players to watch, based on votes in best list:
Mitch Christensen, Scott Wood, Patrick Goble, Eli Boyd, Colin McVeigh.
Leading goalkickers:
5 Cameron Moore, 4 Lachlan Laursen, 3 Jacob Barrington, Mitch Christensen, Reagan Hamilton.