WEDDERBURN won its way to another Goldacres North Central senior footy grand final after Saturday’s preliminary final win against Birchip-Watchem Bulls.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks set up a showdown with Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers as it outran the Bulls in a 79-58 victory at Boort Park.
Birchip-Watchem led 14-10 at quarter-time after goals by Meyrick Buchanan and Zane Connick in reply to the first goal being kicked by Noah Furlong for the red and black.
The Redbacks raced to a 35-20 by the 11th minute of the second term as Mitch McEwen, Matt Perri, Hamish Lockhart and Oscar Holt were on target.
Birchip-Watchem’s only reply in the run of four majors by Wedderburn was off the boot of Buchanan.
A Joseph Madio goal in the 18th minute put the Bulls back within nine points.
At half-time Wedderburn was up 35-26.
The Bulls were first to goal in the third quarter through Joseph Reid.
Goals by Zach Pallpratt, Tom Campbell and Matt Perri put the Redbacks in control.
It was the Ash Connick-coached Bulls who finished the quarter strongly with goals by Buchanan and Rhona Conboy.
Perri replied for Wedderburn, but a Zane Connick goal just a minute later put the Bulls within nine points.
The Redbacks led 62-51 going into the final term.
When Ben Lakin was on target for Birchip-Watchem in the 15th minute the Bulls were a goal down.
Wedderburn responded to the pressure with goals by Oscar and Isaac Holt to seal a 79-58 victory.
Best for Wedderburn were Rory Lehmann, Zach Pallpratt, Lachie Raymond, Corey Lowry, Isaac Holt and Jackson McEwen.
Birchip-Watchem’s best were Heath Smith, Angus Butterfield, Harry Cook, Ben Lakin, Dale Hinkley and Meyrick Buchanan.
It’s two-one in favour of Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers from this season’s meetings with Wedderburn.
The Redbacks marked an 84-44 victory in their web at Donaldson Park in round six.
A 118-56 win by Sea Lake Nandaly in Tigers’ territory in the 13th round ended Wedderburn’s unbeaten run.
The Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan-coached Tigers won the second semi-final against Wedderburn in Wycheproof by three goals.
It was a sensational finish to the Haueslers reserves preliminary final between St Arnaud and Wedderburn.
The Saints raced to a 21-nil lead by quarter-time after goals by Josh Hicks, Aidan Wickham and Jake Hicks.
Wedderburn won the second, 13-nil as Aaron Smith and Noah Winslett were on target.
An Aaron Smith goal at 17 minutes to go in the third put the Redbacks within two points.
St Arnaud struck back with goals by Kurtis Torney and Heath McNally to lead 35-19.
A Younghusband goal at just over 80 seconds to go in the third quarter lifted Wedderburn.
Jacob Piccoli turned up the heat with a Redbacks goal.
Majors by Jake Hicks and Jacob Tillig gave the Saints a 15-point buffer at just on 11 minutes to play.
Wedderburn refused to give in as Evan Cole goaled to make it 47-38 at 9 ½ minutes left.
It took until the final seconds for a Callum Goode goal to put Wedderburn within three points.
Moments later the siren sounded as St Arnaud’s players, coaches and fans celebrated a 49-45 victory and a chance to play Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers for the cup.
Best for the Saints were Kurtis Torney, Riley Burke, Simon Elliott, Tristan Ward, Jack Walker and Ben Greenaway.
Joe Lockhart, Rhordan Holt, Aaron Smith, Mitch Woods, Noah Winslett and Ashley Younghusband were Wedderburn’s best.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers dominated the preliminary final of the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s competition.
The Tigers roared to a 93-2 victory against St Arnaud.
The yellow and black’s attack was led by Angus Renney on three goals as Riley Allan, Taj Borlase and Hugo Warne added two each.
Oscar Conlan, Cooper Kelly, Hamish Landry, Ryder Newick and Cooper Symes were also on target for Sea Lake Nandaly.
Best for the Tigers were Nate McClelland, Jacob Cox, Oscar Conlan, Hugo Warne, Riley Allan and Angus Renney.
St Arnaud’s best were Will Thomas, Stefan Murdzevski, Chad Hendy, Austin Lowe, Jack Batters and Rylan Leach.
It will be the Magpies against the Tigers as Boort tackles Sea Lake Nandaly in the under-17s grand final.
Birchip-Watchem Bulls charged clear in the second half to record a 23-point win against Charlton in the Uniting Church under-14s preliminary final.
An evenly-fought first half ended with the Bulls in front, 27-24.
Birchip-Watchem then scored 2.5 and kept the Navies to a tally of three behinds in the crucial third quarter.
The Bulls won the last, 21-15, on the way to a 65-42 result.
Oscar Sharp and Liam Spezza led Birchip-Watchem’s attack on three goals each as Morgan Greenaway kicked two.
Goalkickers for Charlton were Andrei Acantilado on two each as Sam Cossar and Hudson McGrath added a goal.
Best for Birchip-Watchem were Morgan Greenaway, Eligh Dean, Desmond Coffey, Ryan Goss, Denley Tyler and Liam Spezza.
Charlton’s best were Liam Monaghan, Chace Dixon, Hudson McGrath, Andrei Acantilado, Sam Cossar and Flynn Zagame.
It will be the Saints and Bulls who kick off grand final day as St Arnaud meets Birchip-Watchem in the under-14s contest.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Lord Nelson Park in St Arnaud:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: St Arnaud v Birchip-Watchem.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: Boort v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v St Arnaud.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Wedderburn.