THE big cats in Goldacres North Central senior footy, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Calder United Lions will fight in this Saturday’s round seven clash.
Sea Lake has home-ground advantage at Sea Lake Recreation Reserve for a 2.30pm showdown with the reigning premier.
The Tigers are on the rebound from a 40-point loss to the unbeaten Wedderburn on the Redbacks’ turf at Donaldson Park.
As the Tigers were beaten for the first time this season, Calder United won the round six clash against Donald in Wycheproof by 19 points.
On-ball contests will be pivotal to the Lions and Tigers clash.
Sea Lake Nandaly has Connor Michael, Wade and Trent Donnan, and Boyd Bailey to take on Justin Laird, Rylee Smith, Steven Kennedy and Jordan Hughes.
A formidable SLN attack is led by Max Cahoon, Adam Pattison, Thomas Cox and Billy McInnes.
They will be up against Boe Bish, Oscar Madden, Jack Marlais and Jordan Humphreys.
Leading goalkickers for Calder United are Steven Stroobants and Dale Pearce.
The Lions are coached by Jordan Humphreys and Tom Bickley.
The yellow and black which is coached by Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan will need big games from Brodie Adcock and Billy Poulton.
Donald’s back on home turf to take on Birchip-Watchem.
Huge test for the fifth-placed Royals against the fourth-placed Bulls.
After a nil-three start the Birchip-Watchem Bulls have racked up a hat-trick of wins.
Latest hit-out for Donald was in Wycheproof against Calder United.
Key players for Donald include Daniel Pearce, Pala Kuma, Luca Rice, Kalon Green, Dyson Bell-Warren and Harry Forrest.
The Royals are coached by Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder.
Birchip-Watchem will be determined to build on the momentum of its past three wins and upcoming games against Sea Lake Nandaly, home; Calder United in Nullawil; and at Wedderburn.
Best for the Ash Connick-coached Bulls in the win against Charlton were Sam Simmons, Zane Connick, Dale Hinkley, Joseph Reid, Mac Lewis and Heath Smith.
Charlton is back on home turf at Charlton Park against Boort.
It’s eighth against seventh as Charlton chases its first win of the season, and the Boort Magpies eye back-to-back victories.
Been a tough run for the Carl Thiesz-coached Charlton which has faced Sea Lake Nandaly, Calder United and Birchip-Watchem the past three rounds.
Huge inclusion for Charlton is Brownlow medallist and Collingwood mid/on-baller Dane Swan.
This season Swan has flown across the country for matches with B.I.T.S. Saints, Murray Magpies, Paynesville, Oakleigh, and Kingsway.
Charlton has also gained Adam Baird, another superb mid/on-baller who is a multiple premiership winner with Golden Square and Mount Pleasant.
Best for the Navies against the Bulls were Jaydon Stiles, Jake Lawry, Ben Lanyon and Elliott Fitzpatrick.
Charlton’s squad to face Boort includes Jed Thompson, Zac Wescott and Billy Sexton.
The Andrew Rutley-coached Boort starts this round eight points behind the fourth-placed Birchip-Watchem.
Key players for the Magpies include Keiren Wilson, Harry Weaver, Kayne and Tyson Rutley, Danko Bzenic, Carlos Egan, Liam Bianco and Sam Toose.
St Arnaud will be striving to end Wedderburn’s unbeaten run on the Saints’ turf at Lord Nelson Park.
The Saints are on the rebound from a six-goal loss at Boort Park.
Wedderburn’s sixth win in a row was an 84-44 result at home against Sea Lake Nandaly.
Best for the Saints against Boort were Jay Kirwood, Sean Holroyd, Harrison Saunders, Lachlan O’Connell, Harley Durward and Matt Goode.
St Arnaud is coached by Harley Durward and Darby Schilder.
A strong squad representing the Redbacks includes Tyler Curtis, Noah Furlong, Hamish Lockhart, Jackson and Mitch McEwen, Zach Pallpratt, and coach Tom Metherell.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Wedderburn 262 per cent, 24 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 267, 20; Calder United Lions 209, 20; Birchip-Watchem 141, 12; Donald 87, 8; St Arnaud 69, 8; Boort 62, 4; Charlton 10, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
36 Max Cahoon, SLN.
32 Steven Stroobants, CU.
28 Dale Pearce, CU; Matt Perri, W.
20 Ricardo Liparota, BW.
17 Ashley Reed, D; Joseph Reid, BW.
14 Lachy McClelland, SLN.
11 Kayne Rutley, B; Rylee Smith, CU.
10 Tyler Curtis, W; Max Hungerford, SA.