Tigers try to deny Nyah back-to-back titles
WOORINEN will be fighting to deny Nyah Nyah West United back-to-back premierships in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy grand final on Saturday in Swan Hill.
The Tigers and Demons will fight for glory from 2.45pm on the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve turf.
In a 15-1 run across the home-and-away series, Woorinen beat the reigning premier in Nyah by 21 points in round three, and in Tigers’ territory in the 14th round by 51 points.
The Tim Free-coached Woorinen marched into the grand as it won the second semi-final against Mallee Eagles in Barham by 27 points.
Toughened up by finals is one way to describe the NNWU team.
The Demons have made their way from a 37-point win against Koondrook Barham in Barham to now be in the season’s biggest match.
A great run by the Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy-coached NNWU includes a 26-point victory against Cohuna Kangas in the first semi-final at Tooleybuc.
The Demons then faced Mallee Eagles in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
Nyah Nyah West United fired up in the Eagles’ nest in Lalbert to win by four points.
Woorinen is in a senior grand final for the first time since its victory in the 2019 season.
The Tigers are stalking a 10th premiership.
Last September’s grand final by NNWU was its first since the back-to-back triumphs of 2000 and ’01.
There is plenty of goalkicking power in both line-ups for Saturday’s clash.
The Woorinen attack is led by Matt Perry, 41 goals; Will Collicoat, 34; Jose Miliado, 33; Doug Beames, 32; and Kyle Skene, 24.
They will be up against Joel Campbell, Parick Veszpremi, Jaydyn Stirling, Joel Walsh and Zack Threadgold.
It’s been a brilliant finals series by Demons’ co-coach Corey Daniels who kicked eight goals in the elimination final, four in the first semi, and three in the preliminary final.
Daniels rolls into this match on 43 goals in 11 matches.
Named on a back-flank, the experienced Patrick Veszpremi has kicked 25 goals for the red and blue.
The Demons also have Nic O’Neill, 21 goals; Charlie Boulton, 17; and Riley Daniels, 15, to test the Tigers’ defence.
Talented teen Max Thompson kicked four goals in NNWU’s preliminary final win.
A huge year for Thompson has included being Victoria Country’s best at the AFL national under-16 championships, five matches with Latrobe University Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League, and two finals games for CMC.
The Demons take on a Tigers’ defence led by Ben Booth, Matt Gardner, Taylor Cameron and Mitch Uhlhorn.
In midfield, Woorinen has Tom Langford, Henry Thompson and Robert Rush to take on Ben Shadbolt, Jordan Iudica and Mitch Grinham.
On-ball contests are crucial at any level of the game.
Woorinen ruckman Lachlan Gardner will team up with Lachlan Warburton and Jye Barry.
The Demons’ starting on-ball group was named as Alex Erlandson in the ruck, Brayden Bigham as ruck-rover, and Dominic Gallo roving.
Woorinen:
B: Mitch Uhlhorn, Ben Booth, Kane Reid.
Hb: Blake Reid, Matt Gardner, Taylor Cameron.
C: Tom Langford, Henry Thompson, Robert Rush.
Hf: Will Collicoat, Doug Beames, Jose Miliado.
F: Josh Stone, Matt Perry, Kyle Skene.
Foll: Lachlan Gardner, Lachlan Warburton, Jye Barry.
Inter: Elijah Miliado, Jamie Nicholas, Daniel Maser, Xavier Johnson.
Emerg: Zack Ryan, Hugh Thompson.
Nyah Nyah West United:
B: Nash Richman, Joel Campbell, Zack Threadgold.
Hb: Patrick Veszpremi, Joel Walsh, Jaydyn Stirling.
C: Ben Shadbolt, Jordan Iudica, Mitch Grinham.
Hf: Max Thompson, Nic O’Neill, Riley Daniels.
F: Liam White, Corey Daniels, Charlie Boulton.
Inter: Nic Threadgold, Blake Larkings, Lucas Iudica, Tristan Dalbon.
Emerg: Oliver Boulton, Murndarr McInnes.
Coaches: Corey Daniels, Jason Murphy.
Woorinen’s run to the grand final:
Rd 1: d Balrnald, 117-50 at Greenham Park.
Rd 2: d Tyntynder, 113-52 at Woorinen.
Rd 3: d Nyah Nyah West United, 52-31 at Nyah.
Rd 4: d Mallee Eagles, 82-65 at Woorinen.
Rd 5: d Kerang, 113-31 at Riverside Park.
Rd 6: d Lake Boga, 166-31 at Woorinen.
Rd 7: d Tooleybuc Manangatang, 143-59 at Tooleybuc.
Rd 8: d Swan Hill, 172-22 at Woorinen.
Rd 9: d Koondrook Barham, 87-42 at Barham.
Rd 10: d Cohuna Kangas, 102-41 at Woorinen.
Rd 11: bye.
Rd 12: d Balranald, 156-35 at Woorinen.
Rd 13: lt Mallee Eagles, 57-99 at Lalbert.
Rd 14: d Nyah Nyah West United, 82-31 at Woorinen.
Rd 15: d Tyntynder, 145-40 at Alan Garden Reserve, Swan Hill.
Rd 16: bye.
Rd 17: d Lake Boga, 151-8 at Lake Boga.
Rd 18: d Tooleybuc Manangatang, 130-26 at Woorinen.
2nd semi-final: d Mallee Eagles, 99-72 at Barham.
Nyah Nyah West United’s journey to another Cup decider:
Rd 1: d Swan Hill, 108-48 at Nyah.
Rd 2: lt Koondrook Barham, 74-83 at Barham.
Rd 3: lt Woorinen, 31-52 at Nyah.
Rd 4: lt Cohuna Kangas, 59-108 at Cohuna.
Rd 5: d Balranald, 164-37 at Nyah.
Rd 6: d Tyntynder, 66-41 at Alan Garden Reserve, Swan Hill.
Rd 7: bye.
Rd 8: d Mallee Eagles, 70-64 at Nyah.
Rd 9: d Kerang, 129-70 at Riverside Park, Kerang.
Rd 10: d Tooleybuc Manangatang, 89-48 at Manangatang.
Rd 11: d Lake Boga, 146-63 at Nyah.
Rd 12: d Swan Hill, 83-58 at Swan Hill.
Rd 13: lt Cohuna Kanga,s, 69-103 at Nyah.
Rd 14: lt Woorinen, 31-82 at Woorinen.
Rd 15: d Koondrook Barham, 91-76 at Nyah.
Rd 16: d Balranald, 124-60 at Greenham Park.
Rd 17: d Tyntynder, 121-18 at Nyah.
Rd 18: bye.
Elimination final: d Koondrook Barham, 124-87 at Swan Hill.
1st semi-final: d Cohuna Kangas, 103-77 at Tooleybuc.
Preliminary final: d Mallee Eagles, 78-74 at Lalbert.
Woorinen will also chase the reserves premiership when it tackles Lake Boga from 12.30pm.
The Tigers beat the Magpies by 16 and 32 points in the home-and-away series.
A three-goal win against Mallee Eagles in the second semi-final put Woorinen into the grand final.
It’s been an exhaustive run by Lake Boga to feature on that one day in September.
The Magpies won the elimination final against Nyah Nyah West United in Swan Hill by four points.
The Magpies soared to a 98-39 win against Koondrook Barham in the first semi-final at Tooleybuc.
Last Saturday it was Lake Boga which won the preliminary final against Mallee Eagles by three goals.
Woorinen’s squad:
Tyler Beasy, Jake Butler, Zac Cordwell, Xavia Elford, Tim Gammon, Adam Hendy, Ben Hunt, Jason Iannucci, Matthew Iannucci, Joseph Kelly, Bailey Kruger, Andrew Lolicato, Lachie Martin, Billy Matthews, Jordy McInnes, Coady Notting, Darren Rushton, Kade Spencer, Elwood Stacey, Kyle Steicke, Oscar Thornton.
Lake Boga’s squad:
Sam Baber, Kyle Brawn, Charlie Bryan, Harry Bull, Bodi Clune, Fraser Colville, Gary Goodes, Daniel Haines, Jake Hepburn, Brady Hogan, Kadek Irvan, Jai Kempen, Nash McDonald, Cody Mirtschin, Shannon O’Reilly, Corey Oxley, Zac Palmer, Adam Quigley, Jacson Stewart, Patrick Storer, Jarrod Taylor, Jayden Trebilcock.
The Colts grand final at 10.25am will feature Swan Hill and Lake Boga.
It was one-all in the home-away-series between the Swans and Magpies.
Lake Boga won at Swan Hill in round four by 79 points.
In the 11th round the Swans marked a 75-52 victory in the Magpies’ nest.
After an 83-47 win against Woorinen in the qualifying final, Swan Hill then beat Lake Boga in the second semi-final by 17 points.
The Magpies struck back in a 96-67 result against Balranald in the preliminary final.
Swan Hill’s squad:
Mitch Bannam, Sonny Beasy, Wilhem Bennett, Jack Brown, Sam Brown, Jaron Cardenas, Lane Cardenas, Harry Graham, Clem Harris, Mitch Hinton, Paddy Hufer, Bodhi Kelly, Jimmy Kelly, Tyler Marold, Charlie Maskell, Cody McIntyre, Noah Pearson, Kaedan Purcell, Tom Robertson, Harry Scott, Sam Scott, Bryce Townsend, Darcy Uebergang, Lachlan Vrolijks.
Lake Boga’s squad:
Bryce Anderson, Rylan Barnes, Harrison Brown, Harry Bryan, Lachlan Bull, Darcy Butler, Maximus Caruso, Bailey Clarke, Novak Demarchi, Cooper Doolan, Kai Everett, Ryan Fraser, Connor Frazzica, Lachlan Heil, Willem Holmes, Zavier Mayes, Kelly Mulligan, Reef Mulligan, Noah Noble, Max O’Reilly, Chad O’Sullivan, Hamish Pickering, Willem Pye, Morgan Ryder, Gus Tonkin.
First up on grand final day will be Swan Hill and Kerang in the Mildura Health Fund under-15s match at 8.50am.
The Swans beat the Blues by 29 and 21 points in the home-and-away series.
Kerang marked a five-goal win against Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final.
A week later and Swan Hill scored a 60-9 win against Kerang in the second semi-final.
The Blues bounced back for a 46-41 win against Mallee Eagles in the preliminary final at Lalbert.
Swan Hill’s squad:
Hugh Angus, Archie Brown, Jaron Cardenas, Tyler D’Orsa, Ethan Germaine, Lucas Germaine, Charlie Gracia, Cooper Graham, Clem Harris, Tallen Hinton, Finn Hufer, Harry Hunter, Jimmy Kelly, Jace Lloyd, Byron Loates, Henry O’Bryan, Emmanuel Osunneye, Noah Pearson, Dayne Purcell, Maximus Renda, Tom Robertson, Zach Robertson, Lenny Ryan, Owen Uebergang, Ryder Wilkins.
Kerang’s squad:
Xavier Edwards, Harrison Gitsham, Oliver Gitsham, Bryce Gordy, Cooper Gray, Charlie Greenwood, Oscar Greenwood, Harrison Gurnett, Braxton Hayes, Declan Heffer, Jack Hogg, Deklyn Jolly, Thomas Maskell, Campbell McAlpin, Chase McKenzie, Ronjay Ocampo, Beau Roberts, Kai Roberts, Hudson Taylor, Lincoln Taylor, Austin Verhey, Madden Walker, Saxon Walker.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 8.50am: Swan Hill v Kerang.
Colts at 10.25am: Swan Hill v Lake Boga.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Woorinen v Lake Boga.
Radio 3SH seniors at 2.45pm: Woorinen v Nyah Nyah West United.