Sport
30 April, 2026
Confidence on trip north
Saints co-coach Harley Durward told the NCN Herald: “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 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 told the NCN Herald: “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. “It’s the first time in a few years we’ve travelled to Sea Lake with real confidence that if we play the way we want to, we can really give it a shake.”
Charlton travels to Donald hoping for a first win of the season against an improved Royal Blues side.
Donald beat Boort in round one before the narrow loss in the second round, while Charlton has been poor in two losses by more than 100 points.
Boort is trying to reset after an injury-hit beginning to the season, but the Magpies face another major test against reigning premiers Calder United.
Doubts remain on return dates for captain Keiren Wilson (shoulder) and ruckman Connor Dalgleish (back), and depth remains a major problem for last year’s finalists, who have begun the season with two losses.
The match of the round sees winless Birchip Watchem hosting a red-hot Wedderburn.
The Bulls, runners up in 2025, will not have the guidance of coach Ash Connick, who is suspended, against the Redbacks.
He missed the round two match with Calder United serving the first week of his two-match ban for umpire abuse, a game which the Bulls lost by a point.
Wedderburn’s late signing of veteran forward Matt Perri has added to the side’s potency in attack, and the Redbacks shape as the senior competition’s early yardstick.
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