Sport
3 July, 2026
MCDFNL Round 12 Football Preview Lexton v Natte Bealiba
In what can only be described as an eight-pointer, Lexton will hope to preserve their place inside the top eight when they host their most imminent threat to their finals spot in Natte Bealiba.
In the space of five rounds, Natte Bealiba have gone from the only team in the competition without a victory to smashing on the final’s door with victories over Maldon, Campbells Creek and Dunolly.
Their win over the Eagles was arguably their most impressive, building what proved to be an insurmountable 35-point quarter-time lead thanks to their domination around the contest and slick handballing that overwhelmed their opponents.
Ryan Semmel was among the forwards who reaped the rewards of Natte’s improved ball movement through the middle, kicking five goals to help the Swans draw within five percent of the Tigers, who saw their grip on the coveted eighth spot loosen thanks to a 68-point defeat to Trentham.
Before seven third-quarter goals by the reigning premiers forced the wheels to fall off, Lexton were engaged in a tense battle during the first half, with their back six doing a great job restricting the Saints’ scoring.
Aiden Broughton was particularly excellent defending the likes of Joel Dovaston and Jake Keogh, and could be a possible solution to the Semmel and Jai Howell conundrum. Fellow defenders Thomas McGregor, Eric Wilkinson and Bryce Karslake were also standouts last weekend, but they will need some scoring help from the likes of Jaxon Thomas, Justin Hobson and Tynan Haintz to power past Natte.