THE clash of the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Calder United Lions highlights Saturday’s round nine action in the Greenacres North Central senior footy season.
It’s third against second at Sea Lake from 2.25pm.
When these clubs met in round two it was the Tigers who charged to a 75-52 victory at Nullawil.
Both teams take winning form into this contest.
Sea Lake Nandaly won last Saturday’s match at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park by 51 points.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Adam Pattison with five goals and Josh Jenkins on four.
In-form players for SLN include Wade Donnan, co-coach Billy McInnes and Adam Pattison.
There will be plenty of key match-ups in the Tigers and Lions showdown.
Stars in Sea Lake Nandaly’s run to the past two premierships include ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan, co-coach Bryce Delmenico and Trent Donnan.
The Tigers also bolstered their line-up by recruiting former Geelong player Oscar Brownless.
The centre duel between Brownless and Lions’ co-captain Koby Hommelhoff will be a highlight.
It’s the first season of Calder United Lions which was formed through the amalgamation of Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport.
Joint coaches are Darryl Wilson, non-playing, and Jordan Humphreys, playing.
It’s been a six-two run by the Lions whose only defeats were to Birchip-Watchem, round four, and Sea Lake Nandaly, round two.
Calder United won Saturday’s match against Donald by 166 points.
A powerful attack for the Lions includes Jack Exell, Mitch Farmer, Cody Green and Kobe Lloyd.
Key players for the Lions include Steven Kennedy, Zane Keighran, Josh Walsh, Oscar Madden at centre half-back, and ruckman Dean Putt.
St Arnaud returns to its turf at Lord Nelson Park to take on Wedderburn.
In round two the Redbacks beat the Saints by 12 goals at Donaldson Park.
The Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud played well to finish within 37 points of Boort in last Saturday’s match at Boort Park.
Max Hungerford kicked three goals and was the Saints best player along with Bailey Durward, Mitch Birthisel and Kurtis Torney.
The St Arnaud line-up to tackle the Redbacks includes Thomas Bertalli and Darcy Schilder in defence, Jackson Needs and Daniel Gifford on the wings, Kurtis Torney and Brad Organ as on-ballers.
Wedderburn cannot afford consecutive defeats as it fights to keep finals hopes alive.
Mitch Jensen and Jye Mortlock kicked four and two goals in the 102-51 loss to Sea Lake Nandaly last Saturday.
In-form players for the red and black include Darcy Jackson, Joe Lockhart, Isaac Holt, Ben Bacon and Jackson McEwen.
The Tom Meterell-coached Wedderburn also has Danny Benaim, Noah Furlong, Oscar Holt and Adam Postle in the line-up.
Charlton tackles the fourth-placed Boort at Charlton Park.
In round two Boort kicked 33 goals in a 188-point victory against the Navies.
The Mitch Collins-coached Charlton will be determined to put in a much stronger showing this time.
Was a tough hit-out for Charlton last Saturday as it was kept to a goal by the unbeaten Birchip-Watchem on Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Best for the Navies against the Bulls were Jed and Rhys Thompson, Bailey Hooper-Dixon, Elliott Fitzpatrick, Patrick Soulsby and Archer Patterson.
Charlton’s team to tackle the Magpies includes co-captains Ben Lanyon, Billy Sexton, Aaron Schofield, Ben Xiriha and Seb Zagame.
The Dale Cameron-coached Boort has had Jhye Baddeley-Kelly cap many attacks to be third in the goalkicking race on 38.
Best for Boort against St Arnaud last round were Lachlan Hall, Harry Weaver, Peter Barbopoulos and James Keeble.
Other players to watch in the Magpies’ line-up include Malachi Coleman, Will Perryman, Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Ryan McGhie.
Donald will be on home turf against the unbeaten Birchip-Watchem.
Another huge test for the Royals and coach Daniel Pearce as the Bulls roared to a 223-point victory against Donald in round two.
Best for Donald in last week’s clash with Calder United Lions were Charlie Campbell, Brady Griffiths, Josh Smulders, Thomas Reekie and Dyson Bell-Warren.
The Royals welcome back on-baller and Feeny medallist Ross Young for his first match since the fourth round clash with St Arnaud.
The Donald defence is up against Ben Edwards who has kicked 64 goals in seven matches.
A formidable attack for the Ash Connick-coached Bulls includes Nicholas Rippon, Daniel Bell, Joseph Reid and Rhona Conboy.
Birchip-Watchem has ruckman Hamish Hosking, Lachlan Ryan, Ben Lakin and Cormacc Wilson in form.
The Bulls will be without Jack Lee who starts a two-match ban for rough conduct against Charlton.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 325 per cent, 32 points; Calder United Lions 313, 24; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 298, 24; Boort 154, 24; Wedderburn 127, 12; Charlton 23, 8; St Arnaud 41, 4;. Donald 11, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
64 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
42 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
38 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
23 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
21 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
20 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
20 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
20 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
18 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
18 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
17 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
17 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
16 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
15 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
14 Jordan Humphreys, Calder United Lions.
13 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
12 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
12 Carlos Egan, Boort.
11 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
10 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
10 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
10 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
10 Zane Keighran, Calder United Lions.
10 James Keeble, Boort.
10 Steven Kennedy, Calder United Lions.
10 Jye Mortlock, Wedderburn.