WYCHEPROOF-Narraport have breathed life back into the finals race with a shock come-from-behind seven-point win at home over Wedderburn on Saturday.
After trailing by four points at the final change, the Demons kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to record a 10.7 (67) to 8.12 (60) victory, with Josh Grabowski the hero after kicking four goals.
The Redbacks were left to rue several missed opportunities in the final moments of the match, having the final three shots on goal but only managing three behinds, leaving the Wycheproof-Narraport faithful to celebrate their third win of their club’s final season before next year’s merger with Nullawil.
The win leaves the Demons in fifth position on the North Central ladder but equal on points with third-placed Wedderburn, who are facing the prospect of needing to beat the undefeated Birchip-Watchem this Saturday to maintain their place in the top four.
Along with Grabowski, the Demons were well served by Steven Kennedy, Spencer Allan, Josh Walsh, Joe Kenny and Thomas Trewin, while Wedderburn key forward Tom Campbell booted five of his team’s eight goals for the match.
Birchip-Watchem are taking all before them so far this season, and that continued in a 116-point win over Boort.
After a hard-fought opening quarter, the Bulls blew the game open in the second term, kicking eight goals to two to take a 50-point lead into half-time.
The goal feast didn’t end there, as 12 of the next 14 went to the comfortable 24.17 (61) to 7.3 (45) winners.
League leading goalkicker Ben Edwards kicked seven more to extend his lead and bring his tally to 43.
The dominant Bulls were well served by Nick Rippon, Darcy Reid and ruckman Hamish Hosking, with Ryan McGhie, Natael McLaren and Jarrod Fitzpatrick among the Magpies’ better players.
The closest match of the round was between Sea Lake Nandaly and Donald, which the reigning premiers won by 22 points.
After a hard-fought first half, the Tigers dominated the game after half-time but were unable to put the game beyond reach, kicking a disastrous 2.10 in the third term to take a 21-point lead into the final quarter.
While the Tigers may have wasted their opportunities, they were still good enough to hold on in a tough final quarter, with the final scores reading 8.15 (63) to 6.5 (41).
Thomas Cox continued his strong start to the season and was among the Tigers’ better players, while Adam Pattison was also dominant in his second game for the season, with Ryley Barrack, Andrew Browne, Jesse Wallin and Daniel Pearce among the best for Donald.
Meanwhile, Nullawil recorded their second win under new coach Darryl Wilson by defeating winless Charlton by 56 points.
The Navies were blown out of the water in the opening 30 minutes, with the Maroons taking a 50-point lead into quarter-time, with Nullawil maintaining their advantage over the remaining three quarters on their way to a comfortable 16.20 (116) to 9.6 (60) win.
Jack Exell was dominant up forward for the Maroons, kicking six goals, with Hunter Lawrence, Dean Putt and Mitch Farmer among Nullawil’s better players, with Harrison Taylor, Tyler Fehsler, Mitchell Collins and Sam Woods the best for Charlton.
