Sunraysia football: Red Cliffs’ Jack Parker, Ouyen United’s Lachlan Nankervis, Irymple’s Dan Coghlan

This weekend saw upsets, a draw and a reshaped top four. See which players powered their teams to victory in Round 6.

Ouyen United players hunt the footy in an earlier match against South Mildura. Picture: Michael DiFabrizio

Not one but two winless streaks were brought to an end in Round 6 of Sunraysia football.

The match of the round even produced a draw, a result that helped elevate the competition’s surprise packets into the top two positions.

Let’s recap the action by looking at the top players of the round.

Jack Parker (Red Cliffs)

After an 0-4 start, Red Cliffs are officially on the board.

Tigers coach Vas Tuifao said the come-from-behind win over Robinvale Euston was the result of players stepping up.

Among them was an emerging talent, 20-year-old Jack Parker.

“He’s been starting forward,” Tuifao said.

“I think we’re slowly transitioning him to the midfield and more time on ball.

“Yesterday we put that on him and he produced the goods.”

Tuifao said while Parker was more of an outside player, he had the ability to go inside and win his own ball as well.

It was “definitely” Parker’s best game of the season after the interruption of last year’s cancelled season.

“I know what he can do and produce, (and now) he’s finding form,” Tuifao said.

Lachlan Nankervis (Ouyen United)

Few would have predicted Ouyen United, premiers in two of the past four seasons, would start the season 0-4.

But even when the Kangas did experience a slow start, it seemed most around the league were asking “when” their fortunes would turn rather than “if”.

Sure enough, they saved the “when” for knocking off Imperials, a side that went into the round undefeated and on top of the ladder.

Key forward and ruck recruit Lachlan Nankervis put in a best-on-ground performance in the 21-point triumph.

Kangas co-coach Dean Jardine said Nankervis arrived at the club at the recommendation of friend Mark Jamar, who also lines up for the side but wasn’t in Saturday’s team.

Nankervis, who had been keen to give country footy a try, has now found his feet among his new teammates.

Against Imps he took on the ruck duties and helped lead the way.

“He was just getting his hands on the footy, not only at the stoppages but just his work around the ground,” Jardine said.

Dan Coghlan (Irymple)

It was closer than what might have been expected, but Irymple did what they needed to do in a thrilling four-point home win against Mildura.

Already a certified star of the competition, Dan Coghlan has continued to impress since stepping up to a joint coaching role at the Swallows.

He was named the side’s best against the Demons, with fellow co-coach Nick Mee not far behind.

Nando Cirillo and Todd George were also prominent.

The Swallows, at 4-1, sit third on the ladder, two points behind the top two teams.

Ash Rowe (Merbein)

It was set up to be the game of the round, a battle between two emerging sides who had started the season on fire, each making their claim for a jump up to finals football.

Who would have the edge out of Merbein and South Mildura?

In the end, that question was left to linger a little longer – the Magpies and Bulldogs played out a draw.

Perhaps the result was a fitting way to reflect where these sides at – with the help of Imps losing, these teams on the rise now occupy the top two spots on the ladder.

For the Pies, the ever-reliable midfielder Ash Rowe was named best, continuing his impressive start to the year.

Harley Cole and Jarrod Buckley also stood out.

Haydn Kiel (South Mildura)

Home side Merbein were perhaps ruing some misfortune in front of goal, kicking 7.17 (59) to the visitors’ cleaner 8.11 (59).

But in fact both sides had chances late that could have made the difference.

South Mildura forward Haydn Kiel was among those threatening to be the game-winner late.

His efforts included booting a fourth quarter goal that put his side ahead.

Peter Tuifao (Red Cliffs)

Red Cliffs trailed by 21 points at quarter time and 13 points at half time, before a strong second half led to a memorable 21-point away win.

The Tigers’ back line was a big reason why: Robinvale Euston were held to just two behinds in the second half.

Vas Tuifao said brother Peter Tuifao was another who played his best game of the season.

“He was really just our anchor back there and just organised everyone,” Vas said.

Liam Marciano’s ball use also drew praise from the coach.

It was the first win of Tuifao’s coaching career and he admitted to being emotional after the full time siren.

He said the nature of the win was pleasing for such a young squad.

The weekend’s side was entirely local, with both of the club’s Queensland recruits unavailable.

“It’s easy to point the finger when things are not going your way but yesterday we dug deep,” Tuifao said.

“We were willing to put in the effort and work for each other.”

Andy Jardine (Ouyen United)

Defeating Imperials requires at least going some way to containing their dangerous talls.

Ouyen United defenders Andy Jardine and Ben Mole each played their part in doing just that at Blackburn Park.

“They had key match-ups on their key forwards and really sort of set the tone with their strength and their intercept marking,” Dean Jardine said.

The coach said his side returned to winning contested footy and maintaining pressure for four quarters in the win, laying 80 tackles for the game.

Dean said the belief about playing finals footy was definitely burning, especially with players still to return from injury.

“Obviously we really set ourselves for yesterday, we knew we had to get on the board,” he said.

“Footy’s a funny game – we probably had more out yesterday than (previous games) but everyone was just hungry to get on the board.”

Zac Nelson (Mildura)

Mildura kept pace with the reigning premiers all afternoon, trailing by two points at quarter time, four points at half time and five points at the final change.

It was a gallant performance from the Demons, who are perhaps a bit unlucky to be 2-4.

Zac Nelson was their best against the Swallows, while Kofi Lord and Brodie Townsend each performed well.

Previous edition: Sunraysia football’s best performances in Round 5

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