SEA Lake Nandaly continued their unbeaten start to 2023, with an entertaining nine-point win over reigning premiers Birchip-Watchem on Saturday.
It was the 10th win this season for the Tigers, who sit comfortably on top of the North Central ladder, three games clear of second-placed Nullawil.
They were made to earn the 12.5 (77) to 10.8 (68) victory, with the Bulls coming from 25 points down at half-time to trail by just four going into a tight final quarter, when both teams traded goals.
Sea Lake Nandaly coach Bryce Delmenico was pleased to get the four points despite the third-quarter lapse.
“We started really well and had a great first half and played the way we wanted to play,” Delmeinco said.
“But then we had a 10-minute lapse in the third quarter and that’s what good sides do to you, as soon as you lapse, they pile the goals on, which put us on the back foot.
“The most pleasing thing was that at three-quarter time, I asked for a special effort from all the boys and to dig deep and grind it out in the final quarter and that’s exactly what they did.
“It was pleasing that we got it back on our terms to get the win.”
Josh Jenkins was instrumental, with the former AFL forward kicking seven goals and also having a hand in setting up the other five.
While Delmenico was impressed with Jenkins’ performance, it was the effort of his midfielders that got Sea Lake Nandaly back into the contest in the final quarter.
“We just started getting first to footy again,” Delmeinco said.
“They really got on top of us at the stoppages in the third term and then around the ground they were taking us to the footy.
“That’s something we really pride ourselves on – being first to the footy – and helps get our running game going, but they kind of beat us at our own game.
“We were able to turn that around in the last quarter and that helped get us over the line in the end.”
Trent Donnan and Austin Mertz were again influential in the middle, along with ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan, while Wade Donnan, Jack Poulton and Luke Martin were also named among the better players.
Ben Edwards booted four goals for Birchip-Watchem and Nathan Gordon also had an impact up forward, while Nick Rippon was the best for the side across all four quarters and Dale Hinkley’s second half across half-back also impactful.
The upset of the round was at Boort, where the home side saw their finals hopes slip away after losing to Charlton by 15 points.
The 11.12 (78) to 9.9 (63) result was the Navies’ second win of the season, with Nick Thompson proving the difference by kicking six goals.
Thompson was named best afield by Charlton, along with Sam Woods, Rhyen Woods and Jed Thompson, while Alex Davis, Tom Potter, Ryan McGhie and Jarrod Fitzpatrick were best for the Magpies.
While finals would now appear out of reach for Boort, they are still very much a consideration for Wycheproof-Narraport, who moved to within two points of the top four after their seven-point win over Wedderburn – 14.6 (90) to 13.5 (83).
The one game that didn’t go down to the dying minutes was at Lord Nelson Park, with Nullawil enjoying a comfortable 94-point win over St Arnaud.
While the Maroons were slow out of the blocks and trailed the home side by 14 points at the first break, they quickly found their range with nine unanswered goals in the second quarter, before running away with a 21.11 (137) to 7.1 (43) win.
