Sport
31 July, 2026
Who’s setting terms? Clash defies standings
A CAPTAIN’S effort was needed for undefeated Wedderburn to break clear of Boort in Saturday’s North Central clash.
A CAPTAIN’S effort was needed for undefeated Wedderburn to break clear of Boort in Saturday’s North Central clash.
The plucky home team Pies were refusing to be shaken off in a bid to cause the season’s upset as members of the club’s last premiership team in 1986 swelled the crowd.
Rapid-fire goals from Oscar Holt and Tyler Curtis mid-way through the opening term had put Wedderburn in front on the scoreboard where the Redbacks would be rarely challenged for the rest of the match.
An early second term attempt from Boort (Jack Smith) was nipped in the bud by Holt a minute later.
But with Boort applying a pressure that denied its Loddon rivals breaking away, it took the heroics of Wedderburn skipper Joe Lockhart to create a defendable buffer.
His two third-quarter goals - one from a hard-won free quick in the congested town end square and an immediate 50-metre penalty - were just rewards for his tenacity across the midfield all day.
Two goals in the term to Tom Campbell saw Wedderburn 36 points up at the final break.
But just when it looked liked players had heeded the passionate call of coach Tom Metherell to put in their most consistent quarter of the season, Boort showed a spirit that could create more headaches in the next few weeks. Chief among the final term stars was Jack Smith with two goals taking his day’s tally to five and clearly the Pies’ most important and consistent player over all four quarters.
He refused to surrender to the might of Wedderburn’s usually impressive defenders and midfield. It was a case of one of the older players on the ground also bringing the youngsters in the game.
When Cooper Gooding fumbled near goal, it was Smith who created a second chance for the young Pie to kick a major. Clearly among the best for the day.
Liam Bianco Carlos Egan and Keiren Wilson made life difficult for the Redbacks at times as did Ethan Coleman. Jim Wilson put in a memorable 150th senior game for the Pies. Wedderburn went into the game without one of its key goal magnets Matt Perri (thumb) and veteran Danny Benaim who rested.
Perri’s absence reduced avenues to goal for the Redbacks with Boort often assigning two players in an attempt to nullify Campbell. His strong leading out from the square usually won out.
Zach Pallpratt, Noah Furlong, and Hamish Lockhart were other good contributors. Rory Lehmann had been solid in defence until leaving the ground late in the third with a corked thigh.
Lehmann’s absence put a bigger workload on coach Tom Metherell and saw Adam Postle play a key spoiling role as Boort kept coming on the scoreboard.
For a third week, Wedderburn had risen in a pressure match.
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