Defence flood diverted in final quarter burst

WEDDERBURN pulled off the upset of Saturday’s North Central round with five-goal final term to defeat Nullawil.

The Redbacks put in a stunner against the side destined to play finals in its debut season.

Nullawil had kicked away to 25-point lead in the third quarter, maximising opportunities at the silo end.

And in true Nullawil form, Maroons players had been constantly flooding defence to hamper and hinder the hungry Redbacks.

While Wedderburn had matched the home side early, an inaccurate second term diminished prospects of picking up the points.

Hopes were further dashed in that crucial third quarter with just two scoring shots - shocking summed up how Wedderburn was diverted from its game plan and allowed the home side to dictate terms.

Play was slow, one dimensional and bottled up as Humphreys, Kelly and Smith dictated terms.

Humphreys would end the game with four goals but was outdone by Wedderburn coach Sam Barnes who had another six goals to his season’s tally.

Luke and Louis Holt saw reward for their efforts as the final term unfolded.

Tom Campbell was part of the constant Wedderburn effort for the day while Robert Whyman found even more space to make lively contributions.

Stringing together 10 games in the seniors this season, he was busy, measured and controlled around the ground and was named among the best for the first time. Again, Whyman had lined up for a second game on the same day, earlier taking the field in the under 17s.

As coach Barnes said after the match: “He flies for the marks, lands on his feet and gets on with the game.”

Wedderburn’s final term plan also turned the tables a bit on Nullawil. For those last 30 minutes, it was the Redbacks who bottled up defence and stifled the Demons who can consider themselves lucky not to be facing Wedderburn again in the finals.

Boort broke through for a long-awaited fourth win of the season, accounting for St Arnaud by 44 points at Lord Nelson Park.

The scrappy affair showed again the challenges Boort has in front of goal - 18 behinds for the day, McLaren with five and Holland three.

Davis, who has been swung into the backline as the Pies continue juggling an injured list, was named best while Chisari’s presence for a second week back on the fit list aided the midfield.

Tom Potter also gave good support in defence and Fitzpatrick was invaluable around the ground all day as the Pies had a reward for effort this season.

Hope shines through as tough seasons draw to close

WEDDERBURN and Boort draw their senior seasons to close on Saturday with tough final assignments.

For the Redbacks, they will likely finish in sixth spot on the ladder with a positive percentage.

Their form over the last month has demonstrated the capacity to match it with top sides, boosted by the upset victory over Nullawil.

However, Saturday may prove a bridge too far for a Redbacks’ lineup that was

SENIORS

Seniors

GOALS - St Arnaud: T. Petrie 4, J. Hicks, J. Tillig 2, W. Jackson, B. Organ, A. Bourke. Boort: N. McLaren 5, F. Holland 3, J. Fitzpatrick, H. Weaver, E. Coleman 2, D. Hawker, M. Chisari.

BEST - St Arnaud: K. Torney, B. Organ, T. Petrie, W. Jackson, J. Tillig, Z. Notting. Boort: A. Davis, R. McGhie, T. Potter, J. Fitzpatrick, M. Chisari, N. McLaren.

GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Jenkins 5, B. McInnes 4, J. Summerhayes 3, R. O’Sullivan, T. Donnan, M. Elliott, M. Cahoon, B. Delmenico, T. McKenzie, C. Cox. Donald: S. Dunstan 4, R. Bath, J. Papalia.

BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: B. McInnes, T. McKenzie, B. Weir, A. Mertz, T. Cox, J. Bath. Donald: J. Potter, S. Dunstan, N. Berry, J. Wall, R. Bath, R. Young.

(80)

GOALS - Charlton: N. Thompson 5, C. Gavaghan 4, J. Taylor 2, T. Hill, K. Clifford, M. Heenan, S. Woods. Wycheproof Narraport: C. Jones 6, B. Fraser, G. Hommelhoff 2, D. McLennan, R. Allan.

BEST - Charlton: S. Woods, J. Cowling, C. Gavaghan, R. Thiesz, N. Thompson, B. Lanyon. Wycheproof Narraport: A. Hogan, T. Trewin, S. Allan, J. Bateson, M. Beckmans, G. Hommelhoff.

(74)

GOALS - Nullawil: J. Humphreys 4, A. Thomson, A. Casey 2, Z. Kelly, Z. Caccaviello, D. Watts. Wedderburn: S. Barnes 6, D. Benaim, J. Jones, T. Campbell, M. McEwen, Louis Holt.

BEST - Nullawil: J. Humphreys, P. Kelly, D. Smith, B. Brennan, L. Caccaviello, J. Bamford. Wedderburn: Luke Holt, T. Campbell, S. Lockhart, R. Whyman, Louis Holt, S. Barnes.

Reserves

hit by injuries and player availability for much of the season.

The Redbacks take on undefeated Sea Lake Nandaly who ran out 79-point victors back in June.

On home turf and a much-more settled side, Wedderburn can be expected to make some serious inroads on that margin in its season farewell.

Boort, another team that has battled the loss of key players all season, there’s a chance of going a full four quarters

In Front Of Goal

79 - (4) - Sam Dunstan - Donald 69 - (0) - Ben Edwards - Birchip Watchem

56 - (6) - Sam Barnes - Wedderburn 43 - (4) - Billy Mcinnes - Sea Lake Nandaly

41 - (5) - Nick Thompson - Charlton 38 - (0) - Nathan Gordon - Birchip Watchem 38 - (2) - Adam Thomson - Nullawil 36 - (5) - Joshua Jenkins - Sea Lake Nandaly

33 - (1) - Tom Campbell - Wedderburn

Best, fairest counts

CLUBS across the Loddon will start holding their best and fairest counts from this weekend.

The Loddon Herald will publish details as they are made available by clubs.

Details of your club awards for season 2023 can be emailed to loddonherald@gmail.com

32 - (3) - John Summerhayes - Sea Lake N

30 - (2) - Gedd Hommelhoff - Wycheproof N RESERVES

50 - (6) - Billy Poulton - Sea Lake Nandaly

40 - (5) - Patrick O’Rourke - Boort

38 - (6) - Ben Brennan - WycheproofM

38 - (0) - Callum Goode - BirchipWatchem

34 - (8) - Jarrod Taylor - Nullawil

30 - (0) - Gerald Riley - Wedderburn against Nullawil. Coach Dale Cameron has elevated some of the Pies’ promising juniors in recent weeks as the club sets its senior sights on 2024.

The Pies will be challenged again in the ruck with Nathan Twigg now confirmed as out for the season.

While the seniors prepare to bow out, further strength for the future will emerge with Boort locked in to contest finals in reserves, under 17 and under 14 grades.

In Front Of Goal

LODDON HERALD TIPS

Birchip Watchem v St Arnaud

Boort v Nullawil

Wedderburn v Sea Lake Nandaly

Donald v Charlton

Wycheproof Narraport bye

Celebration in Feeny Medal change

CLUBS across North Central will hold celebration functions on Saturday to watch a livestream of the Feeny Medal count.

League officials last month decided to change the date and format of the 2023 best and fairest count.

Originally slated for August 30, league president Tim Lockhart said the new date and format would allow players who travelled to play with local clubs each weekend the opportunity to be part of the count and lap up its atmosphere at after-game functions.

Meanwhile, a close finish is likely in the league goalkicking award.

Donald’s Sam Dunstan is currently 10 ahead of Ben Edwards (Birchip Watchem).

Dunstan will look to add to his current 79 goals against Charlton while Edwards could be in for a big day against bottom side St Arnaud on Saturday.

GOALS - Charlton: M. Campbell, E. Needs. Wycheproof Narraport: B. Brennan 6, C. Duffy, D. Turner. BEST - Charlton: B. Sexton, T. Catherine, S. O’Connor, H. Bourke, P. Soulsby, J. Zagame. Wycheproof Narraport: R. Jones, T. Rumbold, D. Murray, L. Bish, D. Turner, S. Rodda.

GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: B. Poulton 6, N. Wight 5, D. Hickey, D. Bailey, J. Donnan, J. Hatcher 2, R. McGarry, J. Clohesy, C. Elliott.

BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: C. Michael, C. Allan, R. McGarry, J. Donnan, C. Tait, J. Clohesy. Donald: N. Clark, K. Green, C. Anderson, J. Sullivan, J. Adams, E. Clapham.

St Arnaud 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 (9) Boort 3.3 5.11 13.15 18.23 (131)

GOALS - St Arnaud: H. McNally. Boort: P. O’Rourke 5, N. Gooding 4, E. Lanyon 3, C. O’Rourke, T. Rhook 2, J. Kane, M. Buchanan.

BEST - St Arnaud: H. McNally, D. Needs, S. Male, D. Clohesy, R. Burke, C. Snell. Boort: M. Buchanan, B. Slatter, P. O’Rourke, E. Lanyon, J. Mulquiny, J. Dowling.

Nullawil

(0)

- Nullawil: J. Taylor 8, W. Hogan, L. Braine 5, J. Perry, N. Williams 2, D. Kelly, J. Barry, J. Morrison, A. McGrath, G. Forrester, C. Fawcett.

BEST - Nullawil: C. Fawcett, J. Taylor, L. Braine, J. Barry, M. Hogan, W. Hogan. Wedderburn: J. Hayes, A. Brett, F. Turnbull, C. Lang, K. Wright, S. Carroll.