Football
30 May, 2024
Burras and Saints headline round seven
In round seven of the Wimmera Football Netball League, two teams that are battling long injury lists in Minyip Murtoa and the Horsham Saints face off at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.
For Minyip Murtoa, they bounced back well against Ararat following a triple-figure drubbing from the Thunder. The Saints are coming off the bye and have a quick, young team which Burras coach Gareth Hose has identified.
"They have a good team defence and mindset around that and they are a fast team too," Hose said.
"If we allow them an opportunity to run and use the footy they will make you pay. We need to be right from the first minute, set some things in place and play on our terms."
Saints coach Ben Knott said the break couldn't have come at a better time as it has freshened up some players and is hoping that Nathan Koenig gets the all-clear to come back.
"Both teams are hoping they can win and get some momentum happening and it will go down to whatever team can stand up and fingers crossed it's us," Knott said.
"They have a strong forward line with Jae McGrath and Oscar Gawith in good form so we need to try and work out a plan to combat their talls up forward.
"In the midfield, we need to put some work in there too as they have a great midfield group. We have to somehow try and stop them and make it hard for them to get it forward."
Knott is pleased that his leaders have stood up in recent weeks.
"Mitch Martin has been great and has found some form and Angus Martin has played various positions and has led well. We are hoping they can continue to do that and bring some other players with them," Knott said.
The Southern Mallee Thunder will be looking at another big win when they travel to face a strong Nhill team.
Coach Kieran Delahunty said Jackson Fisher and Nick Yarran are available for selection and may play, and said that he will back his guys to do the jobs they need to do, especially on Jake McQueen who has been hitting the scoreboard a lot lately.
"Jake is a very good player and we have to respect him as he not only is damaging on the scoreboard, but he has got that group playing well in his first year as coach," Delahunty said.
"Depending on where he lines up we will have a plan and will back our guys in."
Stawell will look to bounce back from their loss to Horsham when they host the Warrack Eagles at Central Park.
Stawell coach Tom Eckel said they need to bounce back strong if they are to be a contender this year whilst also improving their forward entry based on last week.
"We will bounce back. The boys are pretty disappointed in the loss last week and we will improve from that and will come out firing," Eckel said.
"One thing we need to improve on is our forward entry as some of our kicking is not like us with our ball movement as we went away from what we have done in previous games."
For the Warrack Eagles, Dylan Watts is available following suspension and Ryan McKenzie should be back.
Coach Matt Walder said they are getting confidence and believe this is a winnable match.
"At the end of the day, some of our losses the last couple of weeks has been gettable and I think on any given day, anyone can win," Walder said.
"We need to be playing the four quarters and stick to our structures and if that happens, the results will come. Stawell will be a tough opponent and I back our boys in to play their roles."
In the other match, Dimboola will look to bounce back when they host Ararat at Dimboola Recreation Reserve.