A WIN over lowly St Arnaud this week will almost certainly ensure Boort’s place in the North Central football top four, but the Magpies will be limping rather than flying into the finals.
A 42-point loss to fierce local rivals Wedderburn last Saturday reinforced Boort’s problems beating the competition’s best teams this season.
The victory kept alive the Redbacks’ slim finals chances, with Wedderburn relying on wins over reigning premiers Sea Lake Nandaly and St Arnaud, as well as Boort dropping a match.
After the Saints, Boort faces struggling Charlton in the finals round.
Wedderburn struggled to put away the Magpies, with 16 points separating the sides at three-quarter time.
However, five goals to one in the last quarter secured the critical win.
The Redbacks’ inaccuracy in front of goal prevented them winning by a bigger margin, having 30 scoring shots to Boort’s 13.
Jye Mortlock kicked six goals for the Redbacks, with star full-forward Mitch Jensen subdued with just two majors on the day opposed to Magpie full-back Jack Smith.
Noah Furlong, Jackson McEwen, Zach Pallpratt, Hamish Lockhart and Isaac Holt joined Mortlock in the best players’ f list.
Smith, Kayne Rutley, Carlos Egan and James Keeble were named as best for the Magpies, with Jhye Baddeley-Kelly also prominent on his return to the side despite kicking only one of Boort’s eight goals.
Wedderburn coach Tom Metherell said his team would enter the must-win match with Sea Lake in good form and with a full squad to pick from, apart from those with season-ending injuries.
“The last time we played them we had 60 tackles, and only 37 were effective, so we have to bring the pressure levels and stick the tackles,” he said.
SEA LAKE Nandaly tuned up for the pivotal match against Wedderburn with a romp against hapless Donald, winning by 203 points, with the Royal Blues managing only 0.2 for the day.
Max Cahoon kicked 13 for the victors, continuing a rich vein of form that has seen him boot 28 goals in the past five matches.
Donald kicked its entire score in the second quarter, with the Tigers piling on 19.4 after half-time.
Cruz O’Sullivan, co-coach Bryce Delmenico and reigning Feeny medallist Wade Donnan were also among Sea Lake’s best.
Coach Daniel Pearce, seemingly inevitably, was Donald’s top player, along with Charlie Campbell and Dyson Bell-Warren.
The Royal Blues are winless for the season, with a dismal percentage of 12.65.
On the other hand, the Tigers are still pushing for the double chance, a game behind Calder United and with a better percentage.
CALDER United also put its opponent to the sword, beating Charlton by 116 points.
Jack Excell kicked seven goals for the winners, who were also well served by Steve Kennedy, George Turner and co-captain Koby Hommelhoff.
A reasonably competitive first quarter was followed by a rout, with the Lions scoring 15 goals to two after quarter-time.
Coach Mitch Collins again was named Charlton’s best, alongside Patrick Soulsby, Rhys Thompson and Mason Heenan.
Unbeaten Birchip Watchem awaits for the Navy Blues, while Calder is up against Donald.
SPEARHEAD Ben Edwards’ 15 goals for Birchip against St Arnaud took him past the century mark for the second season in a row.
He is now on 105 goals, with at least four matches to come.
Tom Gibson kicked seven as the Bulls crunched the Saints by 183 points.
An 11-goal first term saw Birchip lead by 65 points at quarter-time, and the Bulls added six, eight and eight goals in the succeeding quarters.
Edwards, Gibson, Nick Rippon and Dale Hinkley led the Birchip best players.
The overwhelmed Saints, who have announced the departure at season’s end of coach Scott Driscoll, were best served by Bailey Durward, Simon Elliott, Jay Kirkwood and Thomas Bertalli.
Wilson’s reprimand,
trainer cops month

VETERAN Boort defender Keiren Wilson has been given a severe reprimand afte