-By Nathan Dole
THE Saints from Tooleybuc Manangatang will try to break Woorinen’s unbeaten run in Saturday’s seventh round of Radio 3SH-backed senior footy across the Central Murray.
The showdown between the Saints and Tigers starts at 2.30pm in Tooleybuc.
It’s sixth against first as the Brad Morris-coached Saints aim to bounce from a 15-point loss to Koondrook-Barham last round.
Huge task for Saints’ defenders John Wardle, Josh Williams, Rydar Morris and Jesse Wilson against Matt Perry, Doug Beames, Will Collicoat and Elijah Miliado.
In the on-ball duels, Tooleybuc Manangatang has ruckman Connor McDonald to team up with Seb Rogers, Blake Grant and Eliot Chalmers.
A strong Woorinen line-up coached by Tim Free includes Jose Miliado, Jye Barry, Henry Thompson and Taylor Cameron.
The second-placed Mallee Eagles will be on their turf at Lalbert against Tyntynder.
Darcy Hourigan kicked 10 goals in Mallee’s win at Balranald and will be eyeing another big haul.
Key players for the Brent Macleod and Harry Allen-coached Eagles include rover Matthew Rankine, Zac O’Meara and Harry McGregor in defence, Toby Sheahan and Andrew Mead-Harding in attack.
Tyntynder worked hard in a 41-66 loss to Nyah Nyah West United at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve last Saturday.
Best for the Bulldogs were Elliot Broad, Elia Ware, Coady Gorringe and co-coach Charlie Ford.
A Tyntynder team which also has Darcy Bibby and Justin Ellis as co-coaches includes ruckman Josh Potter, Angus and Patrick Crowe, and Sam Bull.
Lake Boga meets Cohuna Kangas at Lake Boga Sports Club.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga will be fired up after a 135-point loss at Woorinen.
Massive test for Magpies’ on-ballers Hunter Hartland, Braden Padmore, Nelson Ibbs and Marty Parsons against Chris Anderson, Ricky Monti, Sam McGlone and Joel Helman.
A two-three record has Lake Boga in seventh place, but just a victory behind the fourth and fifth-placed Koondrook Barham and Nyah Nyah West United.
The Magpies’ line-up to tackle Cohuna has Andrew McDonald at centre half-back, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown at half-forward, and Rex Hickman and Mardy McDonald as key targets in attack.
Lake Boga will be without Ryan Fox who was handed a one-match ban after an early guilty plea to striking against Woorinen.
Cohuna Kangas kick off this round in third place on a four-one record.
The Jack Geary-coached Kangas marked a 53-point win at home against Kerang last round.
Best for Cohuna included Jarrod Findlay, Daniel Coates and Tyson Farrant.
Cohuna’s match committee named Tom Toma at full-forward, Jayden Cordy in a back pocket, Brenton Conforti at half-back, and Will Lee at full-back.
Kerang tackles Balranald at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
The Paul Grayling-coached Kerang leads the Kangaroos by a win as these two clubs are on the ninth and 10th rungs of the ladder.
Best for Kerang in last Saturday’s match on the Kangas ground at Cohuna were Tyson Clingan, Cooper Meehan, Martin Kelly and Cody Makeham.
The Blues team to play Balranald’s mob of Kangaroos includes Nicholas Murray in the centre, Rylee Gitsham in the ruck, Thomas Hetherington and Archer Dibsdale in attack.
Kerang named four of the McKnight clan – Bohden, Ethan, Flynn and Jonah in attack.
It was a tough day for Balranald against Mallee Eagles.
Best for the Roos in that match were Seth Connell, Daniel Harris, Tim Marsh and Ryan Middlebrook.
Balranald’s team bound for Kerang includes former Western Bulldogs midfielder Roarke Smith in his third match for the Kangaroos.
Balranald’s team jointly coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau includes Ryan Middlebrook, Colin Andrews, Cruz Jolliffe, Ian Fuller and Jarryd Stead.
Swan Hill takes on Koondrook Barham at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans are back in action after a bye followed 98-point loss to Tooleybuc Manangatang in round five at Tooleybuc.
Another big test for the Swans as Koondrook Barham has jumped to fourth place in the premiership race.
Swan Hill’s squad includes Cooper Angus, Sunny Handy, Tom Holdstock, captain Luke Phelan, Will Simpson and Darcy Uebergang.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham fought on for a 75-60 win against Tooleybuc Manangatang at Barham last Saturday.
Best in the River Raiders fourth win of the season were Jacob Barrington, Patrick Goble, Ethan Reeves and Nick Frankling.
The KB line-up to play the Swans includes captain Jack Thrum, Kye Attwell, Matt Bilton, Benji Neal, Kyall Parker and Jack Shannon.
Nyah Nyah West United has the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 247 per cent, 24 points; Mallee Eagles 270, 20; Cohuna Kangas 253, 16; Koondrook Barham 89, 16; Nyah Nyah West United 136, 12; Tooleybuc Manangatang 107, 12; Lake Boga 74, 8; Kerang 72, 8; Balranald 26, 4; Tyntynder 54, 0; Swan Hill 36, 0.
KOONDROOK Barham strengthened its place in the top five as it beat Tooleybuc Manangatang in Saturday’s sixth round of senior footy in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league.
The River Raiders were on their turf at Barham against the Saints.
At half-time Koondrook Barham led 36-19.
The Raiders won the third, 21-9, and then withstood a spirited fightback from the Saints who scored 5.2 in the final term.
At the siren the Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham led 75-60.
Kye Attwell, Patrick Goble and Cameron Moore led the KB attack on two goals each.
Best for Koondrook Barham were Jacob Barrington, Patrick Goble, Ethan Reeves, Nick Frankling, Jack Shannon and Lachlan Bates.
Swan Hill had the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 247 per cent, 24 points; Mallee Eagles 270, 20; Cohuna Kangas 253, 16; Koondrook Barham 89, 16; Nyah Nyah West United 136, 12; Tooleybuc Manangatang 107, 12; Lake Boga 74, 8; Kerang 72, 8; Balranald 26, 4; Tyntynder 54, 0; Swan Hill 36, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
22 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
20 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
18 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
17 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
15 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
14 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
12 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Nick O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
12 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
11 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
10 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
10 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
10 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
10 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
10 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
9 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
9 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
9 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
8 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
8 Tristan Dalbon, Nyah Nyah West United.
8 Lee Dale, Koondrook Barham.
8 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
8 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
8 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
8 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
7 Jonah Devlin, Mallee Eagles.
7 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
7 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
7 Darcy McGregor, Mallee Eagles.
7 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
7 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.
7 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
6 Harry Allen, Mallee Eagles.
6 Alex Birch, Nyah Nyah West United.
6 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
6 Riley Daniels, Nyah Nyah West United.
6 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
6 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
6 Connor McDonald, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
6 Bohden McKnight, Kerang.
6 Flynn McKnight, Kerang.
6 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.