North Central: Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil rivalry to be reignited

Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil will this weekend do battle in one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the North Central league.

Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil will on Saturday revive an on-field rivalry that has sat dormant since 1951 despite the two clubs being less than 20 minutes apart.

Wycheproof and Narraport were still stand-alone clubs when they last played against Nullawil 72 years ago in the now defunct Tyrrell league.

Wycheproof switched to the North Central league in 1952 and Narraport followed a year later.

They merged in 1964, but Nullawil continued to play in the Tyrrell league and was its most successful club with nine premierships, including seven between 1971 and 1978.

It’s only miss in the sustained run of success was a grand final loss by two points to Nandaly in 1974.

The Tyrrell league was disbanded at the end of 1978 and Nullawil joined the Southern Mallee competition where it won back-to-back premierships in the first two years.

In 1998, Nullawil made another move to the Kerang and District league, which later underwent a name change to Golden Rivers.

Nullawil after winning the Golden Rivers league grand final in 2018.

Nullawil won premierships either side of the Covid interruptions before gaining entry to the North Central league this season, which started with the big scalp of reigning premier Birchip-Watchem in round 1.

Wycheproof-Narraport and Nullawil are sitting second and third on the ladder behind Sea Lake Nandaly.

Brett Barker coached Nullawil to the flag in its final season in the Golden Rivers league and retained the job this year.

“We’ve all played a lot of sport, cricket or tennis, against Wycheproof over the years,” he said.

“It is good to have that rivalry in footy and netball now.”

Former Gol Gol forward Adam Thomson ’has joined Nullawil this season. Picture: Glenn Milne

One of Nullawil’s recruits this season is Adam Thomson, who kicked 135 goals for Gol Gol last year, including 33 in one match.

Nullawil has also had success with former Wycheproof-Narraport players as coaches including Peter Gordon and Danny Verbeek, who both coached flags, and Paul White, who led the club into two grand finals.

Wycheproof-Narraport coach Boe Bish is one of the club’s modern day great players with three premierships including two as captain and five club best and fairests.

Wycheproof-Narraport coach Boe Bish, right, playing in the North Central grand final in 2016. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

He said the clash with Nullawil had been eagerly awaited since the start of the season.

“It was always going to be a tough one knowing where they sat coming from another league,” he said.

“You can never compare one to another until you actually play.

“They’ve recruited pretty well and are making a really good fist of it.”

The Demons have been boosted by the return of Bish’s brother Jed and Eaglehawk recruit Koby Hommelhof from serious injuries last year.

Hommelhof ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in round 1 and required a knee reconstruction and Bish broke his arm.