Football
11 July, 2024
Football set to roar in Jeparit
Jeparit plays host to a top-of-the-table clash between the Southern Mallee Thunder and Ararat in round twelve of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
In round three, Ararat won by 15 points; at home this time, the Thunder will be confident they can get the four points.
James Jennings, Riley Taylor, Alex Van Opstal, and Robert Armstrong are missing from Ararat's full-strength team.
Both teams have potent forward lines. Tom Williamson plays a fifty/fifty split between midfield and forward, leading the goal-kicking competition with 38 goals.
In recent weeks, Jack Ganley and Tom Mills have returned to the team from injury. They kicked eight and five goals, respectively, last week and are finding form.
Brad Lowe is consistent for the Thunder, sitting in fifth place with 31 goals. Thomas Clarke, Rupert Sangster, and the returning Liam Nelson are dangerous.
Ararat Co-coach Tom Mills said the midfield battle will go a long way to winning the match.
"Both teams have a strong midfield and potent forward lines, so the midfield battle is crucial."
"Luke Spalding may get the job on Brad Lowe, but we are still trying to work out who to play position-wise moving forward, and now we are starting to get our players back."
"Playing at a new ground and a new place, you don't know what to expect, but we have traveled to that area well in recent seasons."
The Thunder are returning from the bye, and as previously mentioned, Liam Nelson will return alongside Nick Yarran and Sam White.
Thunder coach Kieran Delahunty echoed Mills' sentiments that the midfield battle is the key.
"Both midfield can kick goals, and it is a strength to both sides, so generally, who gets on top there will win the game," Delahunty said.
"They have some quality forwards and reliable targets for them, so we need to devise a plan to shut those guys down. Credit to our defence, they have played well all year as we only average 46 points against us per game."
With Tom Williamson one of the competition's leading players and potentially leading the league's best and fairest, Delahunty said they would look at him.
"You have to be wary of him, and you are mad if you don't put time into their dangerous players, and he is one of them," Delahunty said.
When asked what he thought about people dubbing this the grand final preview, Delahunty said it's a long way to go, but this match is important.
"Horsham gave us a close scare three weeks ago, and they followed it up with a win against Ararat. There is a long way to go, but both of us should be there at the pointy end of the season," Delahunty said.
"It is a big game this week, which will set up the rest of the year, and it is good to be playing back at Jeparit and look forward to another massive crowd."
When the Horsham Saints travel to Anzac Park, they are under no illusions about what they need to do as a victory keeps their finals chances alive.
The Saints are seventh on the ladder, two games behind Nhill, who are in fifth spot. With Nhill on the bye, a win will keep them within reach of the finals.
The Eagles haven't registered a win for the season, but they will be no easy beats at home, especially with the Saints missing two key backs, Angus Martin and Alexander McRae.
Full-forward, Nathan Koenig, who was late out with illness last week, should be back.
Saints coach Ben Knott said he hasn't been disappointed by their performances the last two weeks.
"Ever since the Nhill game, the boys have gone in with a different mindset, and I haven't been completely upset with how we have played," Knott said.
"We were right in the match last week, with it getting away from us in the last quarter and a bit, so we know how well we can play.
"If we can bring the same mindset into this game, it should hold us in good stead, but if we bring that mindset we had against Nhill, then anything could happen."
"That game is still fresh in the player's minds as they got some home truths about that."
"Our midfield has been good in recent weeks, and our full game defence is good, so hopefully, we can do that again and prevent the ball from going inside fifty," Knott said.
The Eagles will welcome Will Batson and Machok Garang back, and Jake O'Donnell may be back to bolster their midfield.
Kyle Cheney will probably play up forward with the Saints stretched down back.
Eagles coach Matt Walder said consistency is the key.
"We have some leadership and size back this week, but as everyone knows, we have had our moments, but we can't sustain it, so we just need to get that consistency," Walder said.
Horsham hosts Minyip Murtoa in what is an essential clash for Minyip Murtoa. The Burras are sixth on the ladder, one game behind Nhill. The Demons are in some red-hot form, sitting in fourth, and a win will see them move two games clear of the fifth spot.
Coach Jordyn Burke says it's a simple equation.
"We have to keep doing what we are doing best and keep winning as it's a pretty tight year," Burke said.
"We have to put ourselves in a position to play finals, so you get a good chance to control your own destiny."
The final match sees Stawell host Dimboola at Central Park. Dimboola is fresh off a triple-figure loss to Nhill last week, while Stawell would move to second on the ladder should they win.
SAINTS NETBALLERS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK
The Horsham Saints travel to Anzac Park to take on a Warrack Eagles side looking for their third consecutive win in round twelve of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
The Saints, unbeaten until last week, lost by 13 goals to Horsham in what many dubbed the Grand Final preview.
Rising star Jorja Clode will still be missing for the Saints, but Taya Quick has filled her role well, getting better each game.
The Eagles will be confident that they can improve on their 36-goal loss to the Saints in round three.
Meanwhile, Horsham is on top of the ladder due to percentage and hosts a Minyip Murtoa team fighting for a finals berth. The Burras sit seventh on the ladder, one game out of the five.
Stawell hosts a red-hot Dimboola outfit at Central Park. The Roos are sitting in third spot. Stawell, on the other hand, is sitting in fifth. A win will keep them a game clear of the chasing pack, but a loss could mean one of three below them could take fifth place.
The Southern Mallee Thunder are one of those teams and host Ararat, who haven't registered a win in 2024.
A win to the Thunder will see them potentially move into the five.