Match Reviews | A BRILLIANT second half by Wedderburn has earnt the Goldacres North Central senior footy premiership for the 2026 season.

The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn outplayed Sea Lake Nandaly across the final hour of Saturday’s grand final at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Oval to win by 26 points.

It was the ninth premiership in Wedderburn’s history and first since the 2014 victory which completed four flag wins in a row.

Metherell marked a fourth premiership victory at senior level and first as a coach. He played in North Bendigo’s premiership teams of 2015, ’16 and ’19 before taking on the coaching role at Wedderburn.

The premiership capped a superb season for Wedderburn’s Hamish Lockhart who claimed the Feeny Medal as the competition’s fairest and best player.

The previous two meetings between this season’s grand finalists had gone SLN’s way.

The Tigers beat Wedderburn in the second semi-final at Wycheproof by three goals which followed a 118-56 for SLN against the red and black at Sea Lake Oval in the 13th round.

Stung by the second semi-final defeat, Wedderburn hit back to win the preliminary final against Birchip-Watchem Bulls by 21 points.

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