A SHOWDOWN between Mallee Eagles and Woorinen highlights Saturday’s round 13 senior footy in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league.
It’s second against first in the Eagles’ nest at Lalbert from 2.30pm.
Mallee will be trying to end the unbeaten run of the Tim Free-coached Woorinen.
When these clubs met in round four it was the Tigers who roared in an 82-65 victory at Woorinen.
In defence, Mallee has Tom McGregor and Clinton Cummins to take on Doug Beames and Henry Thompson.
Eagles’ on-ballers Cameron Cook, co-coach Harry Allen and Troy Anderson face a huge challenge against Lachlan Gardner, Jye Barry and Blake Reid.
Mallee has Andrew Mead-Harding and Darcy Hourigan as key targets in attack for a team which has Brent Macleod as co-coach.
The Woorinen defence includes Ben Booth, Kane Reid and Tom Langford.
Another big match will be at Nyah where the Nyah Nyah West United Demons face Cohuna Kangas.
Both teams are locked on 32 points and sit fourth and third on the ladder.
In round four the Jack Geary-coached Kangas beat the Demons by 49 points.
The midfield duels will be a highlight.
Lucas and Jordan Iudica will team up with Demons’ team-mate Zak O’Shannassy against Noah Hore, Tom Toma and Jacob Mitchell.
Nyah Nyah West captain Dominic Gallo was named as rover to oppose the skilful Ricky Monti.
Demons’ defenders Joel Campbell, Nash Richman and Ben Shadbolt will take on Joel Helman, Jude Palmer and Riley Hird.
Nyah’s attack includes Alex Birch, Riley Daniels and Nick O’Neill up against Brodie Fry, Will Lee and Jarrod Findlay.
The Demons also have Jason Murphy as co-coach.
Lake Boga will be on home turf against Swan Hill for the clash of the Magpies and Swans.
The Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga won the round four clash in the Swans’ nest by 49 points.
Key players for Lake Boga include ruck-rover Braden Padmore, Zac Warne in the centre, Willem Pye and Dylan McCosh in defence, Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Jayden Lonergan and Rex Hickman in attack.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans will need big games from the likes of Tom Holdstock, ruckman Matt Pearse, Sonny Beasy in the centre, and Kallen Heslop in attack.
Another big test for a Swan Hill defence led by Thomas Corridan, Sunny Handy and Will Simpson.
Kerang and Koondrook Barham will clash at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
The Paul Grayling-coached Kerang won at Barham in round four by 11 points.
What would be Koondrook Barham’s eighth win of the season is likely to secure a top-five finish.
Kerang will be desperate to prove its win against the River Raiders was no fluke.
Key players for the Blues include ruck-rover Zak Bozanich, wingman Jordan Clingan, Martin Kelly and Thomas Hetherington in defence.
Kerang will look to Bohden and Flynn McKnight, and Rylee Gitsham to cap off the attacks with goals.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham has Jacob Barrington in the ruck, Harry Bremner in the centre, Kye Attwell, Patrick Goble and Nathan O’Toole in the forward line.
Other players to watch for the River Raiders include Harry Bremner, Jack Thrum and Benji Neal.
Tyntynder takes on Balranald at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
In round four it was Balranald which fought on for a 59-55 victory on its turf at Greenham Park.
Both teams are locked on two-nine records.
In-form players for Tyntynder include ruckman Josh Potter, full-forward Elia Ware, Mick Dedini at half-back, and Sam Tozer.
Will be a big test for Angus Crowe at centre half-back for the Bulldogs against Balranald’s gun recruit and former Western Bulldogs player Roarke Smith.
Tyntynder is jointly coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
The Balranald line-up has Cruz Jolliffe in the ruck, co-coach Jack Salau as rover, Cody Henness in the centre, and Lachlan Collihole and Tom Salau in attack.
Other big roles for a Kangaroos’ team which also has Ben Fuller and Ben Mahon as co-coaches will be played by Jarryd Stead, Ian Fuller and Brad Hartman.
Tooleybuc Manangatang has the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 283 per cent, 44 points; Mallee Eagles 266, 36; Cohuna Kangas 231, 32; Nyah Nyah West United 151, 32; Koondrook Barham 102, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 95, 20; Lake Boga 66, 16; Kerang 68, 12; Tyntynder 57, 8; Balranald 44, 8; Swan Hill 36, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
45 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
29 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
28 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
26 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
26 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
26 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
25 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
23 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
22 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
21 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
21 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
21 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
20 Corey Daniels, Nyah Nyah West United.
20 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
20 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
20 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
19 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
19 Kallen Heslop, Swan Hill.
19 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
18 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
17 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
17 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
17 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
17 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
17 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
16 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
15 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
15 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.
15 Kyle Skene, Woorinen.
14 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
13 Bohden McKnight, Kerang.
13 Ricky Monti, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Connor Mcdonald, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
12 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
12 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.
11 Alex Birch, Nyah Nyah West United.
11 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Josh Koster, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Roarke Smith, Balranald.
10 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Tristan Dalbon, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Riley Daniels, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Rex Hickman, Lake Boga.
10 Ethan Johnstone, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
10 Mardy McDonald, Lake Boga.
10 Darcy McGregor, Mallee Eagles.
10 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
10 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
10 Xavier Sherlock, Lake Boga.
10 Max Thompson, Nyah Nyah West United.