Boort v Wedderburn
Boort started this game full of run and were first on the scoreboard with Sam Dehne kicking the opening goal of the game. Sam Taylor quickly followed suit to post their second goal before Herdman hit back for the visitors only to see White mark solidly and bring up another goal for the Magpies. Wedderburn responded with Barnes kicking the next three goals for the Redbacks and just before the first break Herdman kicked his second to give Wedderburn a nine point lead heading to the first huddle.
Boort’s Taylor cut back the Redbacks lead in the opening minute of the second term but the Redbacks found another gear to boot the next six goals, Barnes and Herdman again in the action and had been the main contributors to the Wedderburn lead, being the only goal kickers for the Redbacks. Wedderburn added eight goals in this quarter while holding the Magpies to three and heading to half time the lead to Wedderburn had blown out to 51-points.
In the early minutes of the third term Wilson and Welsh gave the Magpies a glimmer of the form from their previous matches but the Redbacks with solid work down back cut off their supply and this seen the Redbacks kick into gear to kick the last five goals for the quarter again through Herdman 7-goals and Barnes with 8-goals and at the last change the Redbacks were well in control with a lead of 69-points and had set a solid base for another big score. Boort were to inconsistent and appear to be at their best in the opening minutes of each of the terms and the remainder of the term was spent trying to hold the oppositions scoring to a limit but in all three terms to this point they were unable to achieve this task as they were outscored in each of the early quarters. Boort recruit Charlie McAdam will be an asset to the Magpies in coming weeks if his form in his first game is any indication to his time with the Magpies.
Barnes opened the scoring in the final quarter for the Redbacks before Sam Dehne kicked Boort’s first goal. From here it was all the Redbacks who went on to add six goals in the final quarter and were able to hold the Magpies to just the two goals with the last coming in the dying minutes of the game. Barnes and Herman stole the show kicking twenty of the side’s twenty four goals with both forwards posting 10 goals. Boort who entered the contest full of confidence would have hoped for a better showing from their charges and would have been a little disappointed with their efforts and things don’t get any easier as they take on last year’s grand finalists in Charlton next week. The Redbacks would be happy with their form and recording another win of around the 100-point mark and are certainly setting the pace in the North Central.
Final scores: Wedderburn 24-18=162 def Boort 9-11=65
Best for Wedderburn: Brady Herdman, Sam Barnes, Rohan McHugh, Jaran McKay, Liam McCarthy and Adam Postle. Goals: Brady Herdman, Sam Barnes 10, rest singles.
Best for Boort: Jesse Smith, Sam Taylor, C. McAdam, J. Dehne, C. Millward and S. Dehne.
Goals: S. Dehne, S. Taylor, and A. White 2 each rest singles.
Donald v St Arnaud
St Arnaud went into this game with some new recruits to strengthen what is a reasonable solid outfit and it didn’t take long for the new players to get into the action with Thorne teaming with Coghlan for the Saints first. Donald through Sam Dunstan replied for the Royals first goal. St Arnaud posted the next three goals and also missed a couple of easy shots and late in the term the home side posted their second goal to keep in touch with the Saints and trailed by 15-points at the first break.
In the second quarter the Saints opened up and kicked out to a handy lead and looked like they were set to record a large score for the day as they kicked 5 unanswered goals, in the last minutes of the term the Royals were able to strike back with two late goals to be within thirty two points at half time, this being the smallest half time margin to opposition sides the Royals have been for many weeks.
In the third term scoring was limited to both sides with the Saints getting the best of a low scoring term with four goals but they were also able to keep the home side to just two points in the premiership quarter. The Saints recruits were starting to get the feel of footy in the North Central and were gaining a fair bit of the Sherrin with Palipuaminni, Thorne and young local player in Harley Durward being amongst the better players for the Saints.
Donald who was trailing by 57-points at the last change would be a little disappointed with their third quarter to allow the Saints to edge their way towards a big win.
St Arnaud did not ease off in the last term and posted another seven goals and add to their third term lead. Donald were trying their hardest to keep the lead of the Saints to a minimum but could not match it with the visitors, to their credit the kicked three last term goals the most they have kicked in a quarter for a while, in the end it was an 80-point win to the St Arnaud. In the wash-up Donald will need to hang in there at hope that they can record a win in the coming weeks, while the Saints have been elevated back into second spot on the ladder and look forward to their match against Birchip-Watchem next week.
Final scores: St Arnaud 20-12=132 def Donald 7-10=52
Best for St Arnaud: L. Cunningham, S. Thorne, N. Coghlan, C. Bloomer, J. Patching and D. McGrath. Goals: N. Coghlan, S. Thorne 4, N. Baldwin, B. Palipuaminni 3 rest singles.
Best for Donald: R. Funcke, G. Wyatt, W. McAllister, S. Young, M. Gilmour and N. Witherow.
Goals: S. Dunstan, S. Young 3 and A. Hall 1.
Click here for Senior Photo's from Donald v St Arnaud Click Here for photo's from Reserves/Under 16's/Under 13's
Wycheproof-Narraport v Birchip-Watchem
In front of a large crowd which had assembled to celebrate the 50 year amalgamation of the Wycheproof and Narraport football clubs. Both the Demons and the Bulls turned on a final’s like display that would not disappoint the large crowd. In the opening term both sides matched motors with all players keen to gain possession of the ball and there was no place for the faint hearted and at the end of the quarter the scores were locked up at 3-1.
The second term provided the crowd with a fine display of team football as the ball continually rebounded from where it was sent. The Demons did establish a minor break at half time that being three points and in the content of this game that you could have called it square at the main break.
Nothing altered in the third term with both sides defending like their lives depended on it and the support given to their teammates by both sides was great to see. Allan was getting plenty of the ball and was being well supported by his fellow co coach in Boe Bish both leading from the front. It was similar with the Bulls with Carland and Cusack giving the Bulls plenty of drive. When the bell sounded to signal three quarter time there was still less than a goal favouring the Demons with a term to be played in this historic day for the Demons.
Holding a four point lead and having plenty of support from their former players the coaches asked the Demon players to give their all for the last quarter and the same request came from Carland to the Bulls players. The game remained close for the entire last term and deep into the term with the Demons holding onto the four point lead with both side scoring 5-3 with just minutes to go and the fairy-tale finish for the Demons looking to come true but it wasn’t to happen as the Bulls pushed the ball deep into their forward line where Tyler marked and goaled to give the Bulls a two point margin at the final siren.
Even though the result didn’t go the way the Demons would have liked on their reunion day supporters from both sides certainly witnessed a great game of football. While some Demons fans may have walked away a little disappointed at the result being witness to a game rated worthy of a finals match both on and off the field will remain as a strong memory of their day back at Demonland. To the Bulls, they hung in there all day trailing at the end of most terms but hit the front when it most counted to collect another four points to keep them in the race for finals action.
Final scores Birchip-Watchem 13-9=87 def Wycheproof-Narraport 13-7=85
Best for the Bulls: J. Cusack, D. Ratcliff, T. Carland, J. Barnard, A. Hutchins and Z. Holmes.
Goals: J. Tylor 4, D. Ratcliff, J. Barnard 3, D. Castellano2 and J. Noonan 1.
Best for the Demons: R. Allan, Joe Coatsworth, S. Driscoll, C. Dillon, Boe Bish and G. Turner. Goals: R. Allan, C. Dillon 3, B. Bish, D. Lourey, S. Driscoll 2 and G. Turner 1.
Next Week
St Arnaud v Birchip-Watchem
Charlton v Boort
Wedderburn v Wycheproof-Narraport, Donald has the bye
Last Modified on 09/06/2014 12:54