Sport
1 May, 2026
Ladder leaders prime for next test against ‘coachless’ Bulls
WEDDERBURN’S storming start to the North Central football season pits them against a coach-less and winless Birchip Watchem on Saturday.
WEDDERBURN’S storming start to the North Central football season pits them against a coach-less and winless Birchip Watchem on Saturday.
Bulls coach Ash Connick was suspended for two weeks following round one after he entered an early guilty plea to a charge of abusing an umpire during the loss to Sea Lake Nandaly.
He missed the one-point loss to Calder United before the bye weekend and will be absent for the clash with the ladder-leading Redbacks.
Former Feeny medallist Robbie Lee and local publican and former premiership coach of Cheltenham in the Southern Football Netball League Des Ryan coached against the Lions and will lead the team against Wedderburn.
The Redbacks are coming off a 153-point win over Charlton and a victory over reigning premiers Calder in round one.
The recruitment of Matt Perri just before the season began has been an instant success, with the veteran forward leading the league goalkicking with 11 in two matches.
The Bulls were undefeated last season before losing two finals to the Lions, while Wedderburn missed the top four after reaching the preliminary final in 2024.
ST ARNAUD faces the first major test of its resurgence in North Central football this season when it travels to Sea Lake Nandaly on Saturday.
After the first of four league-wide byes, clubs need to regain momentum – or begin to build some.
Saints co-coach Harley Durward said: “We would have liked to have kept on rolling through a couple of extra weeks, but we got in two good nights of training so we’re ready to go.”
St Arnaud beat Charlton by 118 points in round one before a hard-fought 11-point win over Donald in the Chris ‘Pa’ Wall Memorial game.
“Sea Lake has been good for few years now and looking at their games in the last couple of weeks, it will be a good test,” Durward said.
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