Football
16 September, 2024
Tigers claim back-to-back premierships
Sea Lake Nandaly secured back-to-back premierships with a 13-point win over Birchip-Watchem in the North Central Football League grand final at Donald on Saturday.
These two teams met two weeks ago, and Birchip-Watchem Bulls secured a two-point victory. It looked set to be close again, with the Bulls taking a two-point lead into quarter-time.
The Tigers got the ascendancy in the second quarter, kicking three goals to one to lead by 12 points at half-time.
The Bulls had their chances in the third quarter, kicking five behinds, but the Tigers were more accurate. With their two goals, they led by 13 points at the main break.
The Bulls battled hard in the last, but the Tigers held them at bay. No goals were scored that quarter as the Tigers ran out 7.5.47 to 4.10.34 winners.
Thomas Cox and Jackson McMahon kicked two goals for the Tigers. Jack Poulton was named best on the ground, and Luke Martin, Thomas Cox, Tyson McKenzie, Wade Donnan and Ryan O'Sullivan were among their best.
The Bulls had four individual goalkickers: Daniel Bell, Ben Edwards, Nicholas Rippon and Patrick Veszpremi. Nicholas Rippon, Meyrick Buchanan, Angus Butterfield, Patrick Veszpremi and Dale Hinkley were named among their best.
Nullawil reserves reverse the 2023 grand final loss in the last game as a standalone club
In the reserves, Nullawil reversed their 2023 34-point loss to Sea Lake Nandaly, defeating them by 34 points. The merger between Wycheproof/Narraport and Nullawil, effective as of the end of the grand final, was a fitting end.
The Maroons were too good early, keeping the Tigers to one goal in the first half, kicking four themselves to lead by 22 points at half-time. They had registered ten behinds on the board, so they could have put the game to bed at half-time.
In the third quarter, they kicked two goals to one to extend their margin to 29 points, and in the end, they held on to win 6.11.47 to 2.1.13.
Zac Kelly kicked two goals in the win, and Dude Kelly, Matthew Hogan, Angus Forrester, Mitchel Barry, and Tiger Vearing were among their best.
Jordan Bath, Chaise Tait, Brandon Stadon, Wayne Landry, Nathan Wright and Cooper Allan were among the Tigers best.
Sea Lake Nandaly win second under-17s flag in three years
After winning the premiership in 2022, Sea Lake Nandaly bounced back in 2024 to defeat St Arnaud in a thriller, 4.2.26 to 2.11.23.
Ethan Ellis kicked two goals for the Tigers. Judd Durie, Joss Tait, Jack Stacey, Nate McClelland, Ethan Ellis, and Cruz O'Sullivan were the best for the Tigers.
Austin Lowe also kicked two goals for St. Arnaud. The Saints' best were Owen Lowe, Frankie Donald, Benjamin Greenaway, Kynan Torney, Sean Bridgeman, and Bryan Bigmore.
The result means the Saints have lost consecutive grand finals.
Boort under-14s secure victory
Boort Magpies are the under-14 premiers following a 4.6.30 to 3.3.21 victory over Sea Lake Nandaly.
The Tigers entered the game to defend last year's premiership, but the Magpies got the jump on them early, kicking two goals to nil to lead by 12 points at quarter-time. They extended the margin to 16 at half-time.
The Tigers came back in the third, kicking three goals to two to trail by nine points at the last break. The Magpies held firm in the last to secure victory.
Harry Clapp, Brodie McPherson, Seth Muller, Tristan Broad, Darby F Perryman and Jacob Malone were all among the Magpies' best.
The Tigers' best players were Riley Allan, Hugo Warne, Harry Wight, Ben Barbary, Ryder Newick, and Zander Wight.