Top Jack on debut

JACKSON McEwan has finished his debut North Central league game top of the pack for Wedderburn.

The former Central Murray and Sunraysia league midfielder teamed up with rover brother Mitchell to put on the McEwan show as Wedderburn slogged through boggy conditions against Charlton.

The Blues were in top defensive mode in the opening term, congesting Wedderburn’s forward 50 and both teams struggled to get a break.

They put backmen deep and so did Wedderburn, nullifying space open to forwards and midfielders venturing down the ground.

At the first break, scores were level and the Redbacks had just lost ruckman Adam Postle.

The stalwart bigman had returned after missing the match against Sea Lake Nandaly for the birth of his third child z Chris O’Rourke reached his milestone and one more with Boort on Sat-

The 2021 Feeny Medalist Jordan Hargreaves was then switched from half back to the ruck. Hargreaves has been solid in defence since returning from an overseas trip.

Jayden Jones stepped up with leadership across the half back line, linking with the McEwan brothers in forward thrusts.

The almost-quagmire conditions played havoc in the final term as Wedderburn added 2.5, the win could have been greater.

However, the Redbacks also finished the game with 17 on the ground. Jones injured his knee late in play and McKenzie Smith left the ground with a broken nose.

Coach Sam Barnes, Benaim and Jordan Rosengren each kicked two goals in the 26-point win for Wedderburn.

Seniors

GOALS - Nullawil: J. Humphreys 4, N. Grigg 2, A. Casey, A. Oberdorfer, D. Smith. Birchip Watchem: B. Edwards, N. Rippon 3, D. Castellano, N. Gordon 2, W. Marks 1.

BEST - Nullawil: Z. Caccaviello, D. Smith, M. Quigley, D. Putt, A. Casey, J. Humphreys. Birchip Watchem: N. Rippon, J. Builder, M. Rippon, B. Hogan, D. Hinkley, T. Batarilo.

GOALS - Wycheproof Narraport: B. Fraser 4, R. Allan. Donald: S. Dunstan 3, C. Anderson, W. Burke 2, H. Geddes, R. Young, B. Grant.

BEST - Wycheproof Narraport: K. Hommelhoff, G. Hommelhoff, J. Bish, J. Walsh, R. Allan, B. Fraser. Donald: R. Barrack, R. Young, W. Burke, D. Bell-Warren, R. O’Shannessy, B. Grant. Sea Lake N

(82)

(26) urday. O’Rourke had been playing his 150th club game in the reserves when a late call-up came for the seniors.

GOALS - Sea Lake Nandaly: B. McInnes 4, J. Summerhayes, W. Simpson 2, R. O’Sullivan, T. Cox, T. McKenzie. Boort: E. Coleman, R. McGhie, T. Potter. BEST - Sea Lake Nandaly: T. Donnan, W. Donnan, C. Noonan, L. Martin, T. Cox, B. Weir. Boort: R. McGhie, J. Smith, A. Davis, N. Twigg, K. Padula, E. Coleman.

GOALS - Charlton: A. Walklate, B. Dixon, T. Hill, J. Zagame, N. Thompson, J. Cowling. Wedderburn: J. Rosengren, D. Benaim, S. Barnes 2, J. McEwen, M. McEwen, L. Holt.

BEST - Charlton: J. Taylor, A. Judd, C. Fitzpatrick, S. Woods, B. Dixon, J. Thompson. Wedderburn: J. McEwen, M. McEwen, I. Holt, D. Jackson, D. Benaim, J.

Tim Rook had pulled his calf in the prematch warm-up.

Boort challenged top side Sea Lake Nandaly in the opening quarter of the ones but whenever the Pies had a sniff, the quality outfit Tigers broke momentum. Only a goal separated the two at quarter time but the undefeated Tigers kicked away in the second term when lapses from the Pies were punished.

Boort’s defensive pressure returned to its best in the final term when Sea Lake kicked 2.8.

Intensity of forward line combat literally came to a head late in the final quarter when Pies’ ruckman Nathan Twigg and Tiger Bill McInnes knocked heads in a marking contest.

McGhie, Smith, Davis and Twigg were named among Boort’s best.