Improvers are equals

By CHRIS EARL

A CODY Green goal in the final seconds of Saturday’s North Central clash squared the scoreboard for Wycheproof Narraport at Boort on Saturday after four pressurecooker quarters.

The Pies had recovered from a 15-minute game plan lapse in the second term to have the edge over Wycheproof Narraport in the second half.

Only inaccurate kicking by Boort had sustained any sniff of victory for the Demons, finishing with five more scoring shots for the day.

Tom Potter, Jesse Muscatello and Brayden Aitken were among Boort’s best in the bustling opening term.

The Pies were feeding the ball with efficiency into the forward zone where Shane Biggs, the former Western Bulldogs AFL premiership having his first game in black and white, Frasier Holland and Sam Green were among options to score.

A late goal to Demon Justin Bateson and another wobbly loose kick from the pack brought up much-needed majors to see the scoreboard belie on-field reality where Boort had dominated the term.

When Boort blocked the Demons’ corridor style of play, the Pies were in total control.

Boort’s pressure in the opening minutes of the second term had it constantly going forward but mis-kicks saw a heavy price paid.

Jed Bish, Spencer Allan and Matthew Beckmans were resolute in blocking the Pies until Potter slotted the ball down to Muscatello who took the contested mark and goaled from 15 metres out.

Both sides were good at scoring behinds for the next 10 minutes until Boort, left flat-footed across the centre and in defence, had no one near the Demons’ Rick Allan who took the uncontested and goaled.

Green popped up again to slot one of two final goals in the term that put Wycheproof Narraport in front for the first time.

A deadly accurate seven-goal third quarter had all the momentum back with the Pies. Chisari, Davis and Muscatello continued to prove their worth in what would normally have been a match-winning term.

Up by 12 points going into the final quarter, both sides had fumbles and misses as pressure stepped up further.

Wycheproof Narraport came back hard on the scoreboard, Biggs put his new club up by six points only to see Green shoot an equaliser seconds from the siren - the league’s two big improvers of 2023 remain equals for now.

Boort this Saturday takes on Donald and goal-accuracy will be key to fortunes.

Quick start Blues fade under final term pressure

WEDDERBURN has been left ruing a slow start and inaccurate final term kicking after its North Central clash with Donald.

The Royal Blues, last season’s grand finalists, jumped into attack from the first bounce and had the scoreboard ticking over before the visiting Wedderburn scored.

Sam Dunstan up forward was a focal point and remained key to Donald’s for-

Seniors

ward lunges all day, finishing with seven goals although quieter in the second half. Wedderburn defenders Brown and Jones were solid in the turnovers and would be among the Redbacks’ best while Darcy Jackson on a wing was also in the thick of play.

The suspension of Jordan Hargreaves saw veteran Adam Postle return to No 1 ruck duties and the Redbacks readjust to

In Front Of Goal

21 - (11) - Ben Edwards - Birchip Watchem

11 - (4) - Sam Barnes - Wedderburn

10 - (0) - Gedd Hommelhoff - Wycheproof N

10 - (7) - Sam a different dynamic. Coach Sam Barnes was key down forward, kicking four majors, one from 50 metres out, and now sits second on the league goalkicking. Wedderburn was only three goals down at the final change. Donald was held to just 1.1 in the last term while the Redbacks kept pushing deep - an inaccurate 1.4 ruining any chance of victory. Wedderburn has the bye this weekend.

GOALS - Boort: F. Holland, J. Fitzpatrick, S. Biggs, J. Muscatello 2, S. Green, R. McGhie, J. Starr, J. Wilson. Wycheproof Narraport: C. Green 4, R. Allan, K. Hommelhoff 2, D. McLennan, J. Turner, K. McNicol, J. Bateson.

BEST - Boort: M. Chisari, A. Davis, J. Muscatello, J. Smith, J. Starr, K. Wilson. Wycheproof Narraport: S. Allan, K. Hommelhoff, D. Horbury, J. Kenny, D. McLennan, J. Walsh.

Reserves

GOALS - Birchip Watchem: C. Goode 5, R. Doran 4, J. Goldsmith, D. Bertazzo, J. Boyle. Details incomplete. Charlton: J. Olive, N. Zagame.

BEST - Birchip Watchem: J. Boyle, T. Colbert, M. Finster, J. Goldsmith, C. Goode. Charlton: C. Boyle, L. Holmes-Brown, J. Olive, B. Sexton, D. Whykes,

GOALS - Boort: T. Rhook, P. O’Rourke, D. Hatcher, N. Gooding, W. Toose 2, C. Ross, E. Coleman, E. Lanyon Wycheproof Narraport: C. Duffy, Z. Cruse, R. Jones.

BEST - Boort: E. Coleman, D. Hatcher, C. Hatcher, J. Kerr, J. Mulquiny, J. Sheahan. Wycheproof Narraport: W. Allan, H. Connolly, M. Hall, R. Jones, S. Nicholls, T. Rumbold.

St Arnaud 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.6 (6)

Sea Lake N 8.3 11.8 15.15 20.19 (139)

GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: N. Wight 5, T. Mckenzie 4, D. Hickey 3, B. Poulton, D. Bailey, J. Clohesy 2, W. Conlan, C. Noonan.

BEST - St Arnaud: S. Elliott, J. Kell, R. Kirk, O. Lowe, Z. Notting, B. Williams. Sea Lake Nandaly: W. Conlan, D. Hickey, L. McClelland, T. McKenzie, B. Poulton, C. Roberts.

Wedderburn 1.0 5.0 6.0 6.1 (37)

Donald 4.3 6.7 10.11 11.15 (81)

GOALS - Wedderburn: G. Riley 5, K. Wright. Donald: B. Burke, N. Berry 3, J. Donnellon, E. Clapham, B. Griffiths, B. Dixon, M. Godkin.

BEST - Wedderburn: C. Hargreaves, D. Keuken, L.

Last, M. Lockhart, L. Price, G. Riley. Donald: N. Berry, H. Forrest, K. Green, B. Griffiths, R. Leeder, A. Schofield.