BY NATHAN DOLE
Tigers book grand showdown with Bulls
THE Goldacres North Central premier teams of the past two seasons, Sea Lake Nandaly and Birchip-Watchem will clash in next Saturday’s grand final in Donald.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s pursuit of back-to-back premierships was kept alive as it scored a 32-point victory against Wedderburn in the preliminary final at Charlton Park.
The Tigers led 20-2 at quarter-time and then won the second quarter, 19-13.
Tigers’ fans were already looking forward to another grand final appearance after the yellow and black dominated the third term of the clash wit the Redbacks.
As SLN scored 4.2 it kept Wedderburn to a tally of four behinds.
A Sea Lake Nandaly team jointly coached by Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes led 65-19 going into the final term.
Wedderburn kept on fighting and won the last, 21-7.
At the final siren Sea Lake Nandaly led 72-40.
Jackson McMahon capped a great match for the Tigers with five goals as Thomas Cox and Tyson McKenzie added two.
Wedderburn’s only multiple goalkicker was Oscar Holt on two.
This season’s Feeny medallist, Wade Donnan was best afield and had great support from Jackson McMahon, Jack Poulton and Max Cahoon.
Best for Wedderburn were Hamish Lockhart, Danny Benaim, Joe Lockhart and Jordan Hargreaves.
It was a disappointing end to Wedderburn’s season, but there was plenty to like from Tom Metherell’s first year in charge of the Redbacks.
Wedderburn kicked off its finals campaign by scoring a two-goal win against Donald in the first semi-final on Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Now the focus is on Saturday’s grand final showdown between the Bulls and Tigers.
It was a two-point thriller when they met in the second semi-final in Donald.
The Trevor Ryan-coached Bulls fought on for a 75-73 victory.
In the Haeuslers reserves competition, Sea Lake Nandaly won its way to the grand final.
The Tigers overcame a nine-point deficit at half-time to beat Boort in the preliminary final by 16 points.
Joel Clohesy, Billy Poulton and Felix Warne all kicked two goals in the 69-53 victory.
Boort’s attack was led by Alex Cockerell and Frasier Holland on three goals each.
Best for the Tigers were Cooper Allan, Joel Clohesy, Wayne Landry and Felix Warne.
The Magpies’ best were Alex Cockerell, Fraser Millar, Harry Weaver and Cameron Ross.
Sea Lake Nandaly will tackle Nullawil in the second semi-final.
The Maroons marked a 50-32 win against the Tigers in the second semi-final.
A big day grand final day for Sea Lake Nandaly includes the Tigers’ cubs in the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s grand final.
The Tigers clawed their way back from a 15-point deficit at half-time of the preliminary final clash with Boort to mark a 61-54 victory.
Ethan Ellis kicked five goals for the yellow and black as Hugo Warne booted two.
Boort’s attack was led by Lachlan Hall on three as Cooper Gooding and Sam McClelland added two goals.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Cruz O’Sullivan, Brayden Allan, Judd Durie and Ethan Ellis.
The Magpies’ best were Lachlan Hall, Jackson Bird, Brodie Arnold and Harold Malone.
Boort won its way into the grand final of the Uniting Church under-14s competition.
The young Magpies won the preliminary final against Donald by 37 points.
Brodie McPherson kicked three goals as Boort led 44-7 at the final siren.
Best for Boort were Jacob Malone, Tristan Broad, Noah Howe and Chaise Hird.
Myles Hollis, Daniel Cooper, Ryan Needs and Oakley Brennan were Donald’s best.
On grand final day it will be Sea Lake Nandaly chasing four victories.
The Tigers’ charge will start with the under-14s against Boort.
North Central footy preliminary finals scoreboard:
Goldacres seniors:
Sea Lake Nandaly 3.2 6.3 10.5 11.6 (72)
Wedderburn 0.2 2.3 2.7 5.10 (40)
GOALS – Sea Lake Nandaly: Jackson McMahon 5, Thomas Cox, Tyson McKenzie 2, Bryce Delmenico, Chase Tait. Wedderburn: Oscar Holt 2, Louis Holt, Darcy Jackson, Junior Miller.
BEST – Sea Lake Nandaly: Wade Donnan, Jackson McMahon, Jack Poulton, Max Cahoon, Thomas Cox, Jai Wright. Wedderburn: Hamish Lockhart, Danny Benaim, Joe Lockhart, Jordan Hargreaves, Darcy Jackson.
Haeuslers reserves:
Sea Lake Nandaly 4.3 4.4 9.6 10.9 (69)
Boort 3.1 6.1 7.4 8.5 (53)
GOALS – Sea Lake Nandaly: Joel Clohesy, Billy Poulton, Felix Warne 2, Wayne Landry, Cruz O’Sullivan, Zach Wemyss, Nathan Wight. Boort: Alex Cockerell, Frasier Holland 3, Chris O’Rourke, Harry Weaver.
BEST – Sea Lake Nandaly: Cooper Allan, Joel Clohesy, Wayne Landry, Felix Warne, Zach Wemyss, Isaac Durie. Boort: Alex Cockerell, Fraser Millar, Harry Weaver, Cameron Ross, Jack Dowling, Mitch Buchanan.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s:
Sea Lake Nandaly 2.1 3.4 7.6 9.7 (61)
Boort 3.0 6.1 7.3 8.6 (54)
GOALS – Sea Lake Nandaly: Ethan Ellis 5, Hugo Warne 2, Jacob Cox, Cruz O’Sullivan. Boort: Lachlan Hall 3, Cooper Gooding, Sam McClelland, 2, Brodie McPherson.
BEST – Sea Lake Nandaly: Cruz O’Sullivan, Brayden Allan, Judd Durie, Ethan Ellis, Chad O’Sullivan, Jet Newick. Boort: Lachlan Hall, Jackson Bird, Brodie Arnold, Harold Malone, Cooper Gooding, Samual Toose.
Uniting Church under-14s:
Boort 2.0 4.0 6.3 6.8 (44)
Donald 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 (7)
GOALS – Boort: Brodie McPherson 3, Harry Clapp, Connor McNally, Darby Perryman. Donald: Daniel Cooper.
BEST – Boort: Jacob Malone, Tristan Broad, Noah Howe, Chaise Hird, Connor McNally, Cooper Gould. Donald: Myles Hollis, Daniel Cooper, Ryan Needs, Oakley Brennan, Nullah Clapham, Jack Reilly.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Donald Recreation Reserve:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: Sea Lake Nandaly v Boort.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: St Arnaud v Sea Lake Nandaly.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Nullawil v Sea Lake Nandaly.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Birchip-Watchem v Sea Lake Nandaly.