Loddon Derby: Pride goes on line for rivals

THE 2024 North Central season hasn’t exactly gone to plan for Loddon rivals Wedderburn and Boort.

Their chances of making finals are all but non-existent thanks to that early season draw between Boort and Wycheproof Narraport that creates 10 premiership points gap and has the Wyche half a game outside the four, ready for a Nullawil slip.

This Saturday, the clash of Wedderburn and Boort at Donaldson Park will be the chance for some Loddon bragging rights.

Last time they met back in May, the Redbacks stumbled over the line by two points.

Seniors

GOALS - Nullawil: J. Humphreys 2, A. Oberdorfer, J. Bamford, D. Smith, A. Casey, M. Quigley, N. Grigg.

Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Summerhayes 4, T. McKenzie, T. Donnan 2, B. McInnes, W. Simpson, A. Mertz, T. Cox.

BEST: Nullawil Seniors: D. Putt, J. Humphreys, D. Smith, P. Kelly, M. Quigley, J. Casey, BEST: Sea Lake Nandaly Seniors: M. Farrelly, R. Osullivan, T. Mckenzie, C. Roberts, J. Poulton, J. Summerhayes.

(73)

GOALS - St Arnaud: J. Hicks 2, B. Organ, J. Needs, J. Beavis. Charlton: N. Thompson 7, C. Gavaghan 2, J. Zagame, H. Taylor.

BEST- St Arnaud: Z. Notting, J. Hicks, D. Gifford, A. Bourke, B. Organ, K. Torney. Charlton: J. Thompson, N. Thompson, C. Fitzpatrick, J. Taylor, R. Thiesz, T. Baird.

Birchip Watchem 4.2 8.2 10.3 12.11 (83) Wycheproof N 0.0 3.2 6.6 9.6 (60)

GOALS - Birchip Watchem: D. Castellano 4, N. Gordon 2, C. Wilson, M. Rippon, D. Batarilo, L. Foott, J. Reid, N. Rippon. Wycheproof Narraport: B. Fraser, D. McLennan, D. Horbury 2, G. Hommelhoff, L. Van Schaik, A. Hogan.

BEST - Birchip Watchem: D. Reid, D. Hinkley, D. Castellano, N. Rippon, L. Ryan, C. Frank. Wycheproof Narraport: K. Hommelhoff, J. Bateson, L. Van Schaik, A. Hogan, J. Turner, G. Hommelhoff.

GOALS - Boort: P. O’Rourke, B. Aitken, N. McLaren, L. Moss, J. Fitzpatrick, A. Davis. Donald: S. Dunstan 8, L. Geddes, C. Anderson, J. Potter, R. McGough, J. Wall.

BEST - Boort: J. Smith, R. McGhie, B. Aitken, D. Hawker, A. Davis, M. Hodoras. Donald: S. Dinnell, S. Dunstan, N. Berry, T. Grant, H. Geddes, W. Burke down Barnes but also negate the influence of fellow veteran Danny Benaim and the flamboyant Tom Campbell.

On the flip side, Boort’s fortunes will come down to three things - who is fit to play, finding accuracy around goal and the success of work in defence being capped off up the ground.

And for good measure, the Pies can throw in overcoming a parochial Donaldson Park crowd.

Reserves

GOALS - Boort: Not supplied. Donald: B. Donnellon.

- Boort: B. Whykes, N. Scott, B. Arnold, R. Wagner, H. Malone. Donald: G. Morgan, E. Clapham,

Pearse, B. Donnellon.

Ladder: St Arnaud 44, Boort 42, Birchip Watchem 38, Sea Lake Nandaly 26, Wycheproof Narraport 18, Donald 16, Charlton 12, Nullawil 10, Wedderburn

Afl Central Victoria

Bridgewater 5.4 11.7 13.14 18.16 (12)

Pyramid Hill 1.2 2.3 3.3 4.4 (28)

GOALS - Bridgewater: Cooper Orton 5, Seth Hewett-Scull, Sam McMahon 3, Tate Woodhatch

2, Harry Carter, Jackson Hetherton, Tarrant Pidoto.

Pyramid Hill: Blake Gibson 2, Oscar Emmerson, Conor McCoy.

BEST - Bridgewater: Hunter Daldy, Seth HewettScull, Cooper Orton, Sam McMahon, William Salau, Tate Woodhatch. Pyramid Hill: Connor McCoy, Blake Gibson, James Correa, Jack Gould, Toby Peter, Toby Fernandez.

Boort had a 15-point lead at the main break before the Redbacks systematically started work on salvaging a game.

This time again, Wedderburn will be coming off the bye. Expect to see No 1 ruckman Adam Postle selected and lining up.

The Redbacks have also gained a handy mid-season pick-up in Jackson McEwen, three games already with goals and best player next to his name.

And then there’s coach Sam Barnes, more than making his mark in front of goals the last couple of weeks as he gets the rhythm going in his comeback season.

If the Pies were challenged last week handling Dunstan in front of sticks, Barnes will give defenders more than a few headaches.

Key for Boort will be to not only shut

Both Wedderburn and Boort have challenged top sides at different times this year - for a quarter, a half, even almost to the final siren - they are close and if not for fate and circumstance, Saturday could have been a battle of two top teams.

Instead, for 2023 the Pies and Redbacks will have to settle for honours on Loddon soil.

Boort could level the season tally but up against the Redbacks at home may find the opposition has a little more grunt.

LODDON HERALD TIPS

Wycheproof Narraport v St Arnaud

Donald v Birchip Watchem

Wedderburn v Boort

Charlton v Nullawil

Sea Lake Nandaly bye

Front Of Goal

Callum Goode - Birchip Watchem

Sam Goldsmith - Nullawil

Patrick O’Rourke - Boort

Gerald Riley - Wedderburn

GOALS - St Arnaud: J. Kell, D. Needs, N. Gorrie 2, T. Johns, D. Bridgeman, C. Campbell. Charlton: J. McGrath, S. O’Connor 2, S. Postlethwaite, A. Johnstone.

St Arnaud Reserves: M. Birthisel, S. Elliott, D. Bridgeman, J. Kell, D. Needs, S. Male,

Charlton Reserves: E. Needs, H. Bourke, J. McGrath, P. Sait, S. O’Connor, P. Sanderson,

- Birchip Watchem: J. Ryan 3, J. Goldsmith, M. Love 2, M. Rickard, T. Colbert. Wycheproof Narraport: J. McHutchison, W. Allan 2, J. Parker, D. Turner.

BEST - Birchip Watchem: T. Colbert, J. Ryan, B. Colbert, M. Rickard, B. Baxter. Wycheproof Narraport: J. McHutchison, T. Keane, D. Turner, R. Botheras, J. Caulfield, D. Allen.

Nullawil 0.0 1.2 5.2 8.5 (53)

Sea Lake N 1.3 4.7 4.10 5.11 (41)

GOALS - Nullawil: M. Barry, M. Harrop 2, J. Barry, N. Williams, C. Fawcett, G. Forrester. Sea Lake Nandaly: N. Wight 2, I. Durie, D. Hickey, R. McClelland.

BEST - Nullawil: J. Barry, D. Kelly, T. Fawcett, C. Fawcett, M. Barry, M. Harrop. Sea Lake Nandaly: J. Donnan, R. Mcclelland, C. Allan, C. Elliott, W. Conlan, C. Tait.

Boort 5.5 9.9 14.11 19.16 (130)

Donald 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 (1)

GOALS - Boort: A. Cockerell 5, M. Rice 4, N. Gooding 3, D. Cameron, B. Slatter 2, L. Hall, O. Toose, E. Lanyon.

BEST - Boort: M. Buchanan, A. Cockerell, K. Streader, J. Wilson, B. Arnold, J. Dowling. Donald: J. Talty, K. Green, J. Funcke, G. Morgan, E. Clapham, J. Tellefson.

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