CALDER United have jumped up to second place on the ladder after their impressive 40 point win against reigning premiers Sea Lake Nandaly.
The 6.9 (45) to 12.13 (85) score shows the Lions are a real possibility for a possible premiership run in their inaugural season.
But they can’t get comfortable as they have Boort hot on their tails and the undefeated Birchip-Watchem to deal with.
It was the Lions who drew first blood, with Cody Green kicking the first goal of the contest just over a minute into the match.
Munro kicked another goal for Calder United shortly afterwards before Pattinson kicked Sea Lake Nandaly’s first goal.
Central District footballer Dale Pearce made his debut for the Lions on the day, and he made a big effect, getting his first of seven goals of the match in the first quarter.
It remained a back and forth contest for majority of the first quarter, then Sea Lake Nandaly banged two goals straight after quarter time.
That would be the only goals they would kick for the second quarter, as the Lions would take three more, all kicked from Pearce.
Calder United would lead by four goals going into half-time.
It would be a low scoring contest in the third, with both sides only kicking a goal for the entirety of the quarter.
There were some more goals scored in the final term of the contest, with five goals being kicked, four of which were Calder United’s goals.
At the final siren, the Lions were victorious by a clear margin.
“At times it was a bit of a slog, both ends were very contested early and a lot of tackles happened,” Calder United co-coach Darryl Wilson told The Guardian.
“It would later open up for us in occasions and we took it so that was the main gap in the end.
“The scoreboard says that we won comfortably but it was anything but that, we went well early, the Tigers came back in the second but couldn’t hit the scoreboard.
“At times it was fast and it was slow at times; it was a weird contest.”
Sea Lake Nandaly’s top goal scorer of Max Cahoon could not find a way to really hit the scoreboard on the day, only kicking one goal for the match.
Wilson had plenty of praise on Oscar Madden being able to tag well with not only Cahoon but Adam Pattinson too.
“Oscar did a good job on tagging Cahoon and Pattinson on the day,” Wilson said.
“I think we cut off their delivery from their midfield group, the defence stood up all day long.
“There was their supporting group who helped each other out, and we were able to minimise any ball entry into the Tigers’ forward fifty.
“So that resulted in Max not getting many opportunities because he is a sensational footballer, and has been playing very well as of late.”
Pearce had made a big impact for the Lions with his seven goals, and Wilson is pleased to say that he will remain with the team for the rest of the season.
“Dale is now fully committed to the Lions for the rest of the year, so that is huge for us,” Wilson said.
“He is a sensational player with a lot of talent and he took some good marks for us on the day.
“He is a tall forward and he will be a danger man for the defenders.”
Being the inaugural season for the Lions, Wilson was asked if he was happy on how things are tracking, and there was more than just approval from the co-coach.
“We are very happy with how things are going, obviously it was going to take some time to get two sides together both on and off the field,” Wilson said.
“But things are tracking along very positively and we are starting to get going on the field too.”
Next week for Calder United, they will be going up to Donaldson Park as they will be facing fifth place side Wedderburn.
“Wedderburn are a very good side, they just haven’t been able to get across the line in a couple of games,” Wilson said.
“They put up a big contest against us last time and I’m expecting them to the same again.
“I don’t believe the ladder dictates what the Redbacks have the capacity to do.
“So we will bring in a full list along with bringing in Matt Wade into the side again.”
Across the grounds, Wedderburn got the job done against St Arnaud with the Redbacks winning by 111 points at Lord Nelson Park.
The 6.7 (43) to 23.16 (154) score brings Wedderburn one step closer to a top four spot, with them now trailing two games behind fourth place side of Sea Lake Nandaly.
Wedderburn started off the contest in strong fashion, with them kicking six unanswered goals by the end of the first quarter.
St Arnaud managed to get two goals by half-time, but the damage was already done, as the Redbacks were in full control, leading by 63 points at half-time.
Eventually the game would end with Wedderburn taking the chocolates, as Mitch Jensen took out six goals for the Redbacks while Oscar Holt and McEwen took out three goals each.
St Arnaud will be playing host to Charlton next week at Lord Nelson Park, and both sides will be confident that they can get the four points.
Over in Charlton, it was Boort who took out their seventh win of the season, as they defeated the Navies by 92 points at Charlton Park.
The 5.5 (35) to 20.7 (127) score promotes the Magpies up to third spot on the ladder, and sit three games clear from fifth place.
Boort drew the first goal of the contest, as the second best goal scorer in the North Central Football League of Jhye Baddley-Kelly took the first goal honours.
Charlton’s head coach Mitch Collins grabbed the Navies’ first goal a minute later, and it was a two point contest.
Baddley-Kelly would then kick three more along with young gun Lachlan Hall getting his first of the game.
The Magpies continued their wrath around Charlton as they lead by 50 points at half-time, then it would the lead would grow to 60 points by three quarter time.
Boort would fully take control in the final quarter, as Baddley-Kelly kicked two in the final quarter, with his total going up to eight goals for the match.
Next week Boort will be playing host to Donald at Boort Park.
In the final match of round nine, Birchip-Watchem continued their undefeated streak as they comfortably scored 104 points against Donald.
The Bulls were in full control from start to finish, leading by 58 points at half-time.
Ben Edwards was once again impressive for the Bulls, bagging eight goals and continued to grow his lead in the NCFL top goal scorer contest.
The contest would end with the score being 4.2 (26) to 19.16 (130).
Credit to Donald, they did managed to put in a fight during the second half; they hope they can bring that out when the face Boort next week.
For Birchip-Watchem, they will be hosting Sea Lake Nandaly next week at George Cartwright Oval.
