Tomorrow’s North-Central’s round 5 match of the day between the league’s two most recent additions, Sea Lake-Nandaly and Nullawil, reunites the two former Tyrrell League rivals 50 years after an epic 1974 grand final encounter. It is also the rematch of last season’s grand finalists.

On that day, 50 years ago, Nandaly, a key component of the current day Tiger amalgam, broke a run of Nullawil dominance that featured 10 consecutive grand final appearances from 1971 to 1980, and yielded an impressive 9 Tyrrell and Southern Mallee premierships.

Historian Ken Townrow’s well researched publication, “The Maroons, a History of the Nullawil Football Club”, records that Nandaly defeated Nullawil by 2 points, 18.10 (118) to 17.14 (116).

What the folk of Nandaly can add is that it was a goal from teenager Graham McMillan with seconds left on the clock that transformed their day from potential grand final heartbreak into one of utter premiership jubilation.

Tomorrow, Sea Lake-Nandaly will honour the members of that team during a special reunion, to which members of the Nullawil community have been invited.

And making the achievement of 50 years ago even more memorable, Sea Lake’s reserves defeated Nullawil in their grand final that day, 13.9 (87) to 9.9 (63).

In addition to past players, a special guest will be the game’s umpire, John Ellerton, who lives in Bendigo and maintains a sporting connection with Nandaly’s Elliott family.

Modern day Nullawil, which recorded its first win of the current season last Saturday, needs no better incentive to produce its best football than the opportunity to inflict the pain of defeat on its long-term sporting rival.

Sea Lake-Nandaly has been forced to play under strength due to a burgeoning list of injuries that has sidelined up to half its full-strength line up, but things might be on the improve.

Nandaly’s Matt Elliott is determined to take the field tomorrow, after having missed three games due to injury. If he needed any convincing that he was ready to get back on the field, having to watch last Saturday’s game while babysitting his own children and those of Luke Martin last Saturday did the trick. Josh Jenkins and recruit Adam Pattison should also be available.

In the absence of several key team members, what has been most impressive about the Tigers has been the way several younger team members have stepped up.

Tyson McKenzie has cemented himself as a genuine “A” grader, building on his outstanding 2023 season.

Tom Cox, slight of frame, has seized his opportunity to have more time in the midfield, taking his game to a new level, and looking right at home in the red-hot contests for first possession.

And Lachlan McClelland, back in yellow and black after having focused on his motorcycle racing and preparing for the annual Finke Desert Race over the past three seasons, looks very comfortable deep in attack.

Apart from the eagerly anticipated clash of opposing ruck dynamos, Tiger Ryan O’Sullivan and the Maroons’ Dean Putt, Nullawil’s on-ball contingent of Matt Wade, David Isbister, Dean Smith and Lucas Caccaviello has all the hallmark of being the most potent in the competition.

And when combined with the run and carry of Jordan Humphreys and Rylee Smith, it has the potential to take Nullawil’s game to a level capable of blitzing any opposition. Maybe tomorrow will be the day it starts to deliver.

At home, the Tigers will be hard to beat and should win, but here is a watershed moment for the Maroons – win and they give their season a massive boost (as well as raining on their opponents’ reunion parade); lose and they get further off the pace in the race for a top two finish, and what could be a crucial “double chance” come finals time.

• Tomorrow is also Pink Round in North-Central, with a focus on raising awareness of breast cancer and raising funds for the Breast Cancer Network.

Let there be light!

St. Arnaud will host its first game for premiership points under its magnificent new lighting system when it takes on arch rival, Donald, with the senior game scheduled to start at 6 p.m., preceded by the reserves at 4.15. The under-14s will kick off the day’s action at 1.10 p.m., followed by the under-17s at 2.40.

The Saints would love nothing more than to open their season’s account at the Royal Blues’ expense, but recent performances from both teams suggest the visitors should prevail.

If Donald can field a line-up similar to the one which overran Nullawil a fortnight ago, including Ross Young, it will be a challenge to contain.

The Saints are finding goals few and far between, and up against Donald’s dynamic defensive duo of Ryley Barrack and Daniel Pearce across half-back, that trend could continue.

The Royal Blues will also be challenged putting a sizeable score on the board, against the Harley Durwood-led defence, but boasts more scoring avenues.

Ruckman Zac Phillips has also been in good touch for the Saints, teaming well with Ryan Lempa, but coach Scott Driscoll is going to have to inspire a sustained four-quarter effort of his charges’ very best football to hold out the Royal Blues, who have ruckman Andrew Browne, rover Dale Kerr and the versatile Todd Stevenson getting better with every outing.

Magpies or demons?

Boort was up to its eyebrows in its clash with Wedderburn at the half-way mark last Saturday, but faded badly to be overrun in an 8 goals to 2 second half by the Redbacks.

Coach Dale Cameron will be looking for a more sustained effort, particularly from his prime movers, including Jarrod Fitzpatrick, James Byrne, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and Matt Austin, to gain the upper hand and dictate the flow of opportunities directed towards Potter, Will Perryman and Ethan Coleman.

Among Wedderburn’s potential match winners capable of giving the Redbacks control are mobile forward Tom Campbell, ruckman Jordan Hargreaves and his midfield cohort, comprising Mitch and Jackson McEwen, Hamish Lockhart and Corey Lowry, who should combine to orchestrate a Redback victory.

A bridge too far?

Charlton has displayed improvement under new coach Mitch Collins so far this season, but may not have the necessary depth to upset an impressive Birchip-Watchem outfit, which continues to answer every challenged issued to it and grow in stature as the season unfolds.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Navy Blues will be Big Bull, Hamish Hosking, who had the support of fellow rucking behemoth, Lochlan Sirett last Saturday, in addition to the relentless drive generated by the likes of Nic and Marshall Rippon, Daniel Bell, Stefan Pye, Joe Reid and Dale Hinkley.

Charlton can look to Collins, Jesse Taylor, ruckman Tyler Fehsler and reliable defenders Jed Thompson and Joe Tormey, but doesn’t have the wherewithal to blanket the versatile and highly talented opposition.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 10 May 2024.