Football
13 June, 2025
A lot at stake in clash between Demons and Thunder
It might be more of a bottom-of-the-ladder clash, but there is certainly a lot on the line in the game between the Demons and the Thunder this Saturday.
Kieran Delahunty's side, in the Southern Mallee Thunder, will be aiming to break a losing streak, while the Horsham team will be looking to get their first win on the board for the season.
The clubs are seventh and bottom of the ladder respectively in Wimmera Football Netball League football - seniors.
The Thunder's last victory was on May 10, against Minyip Murtoa, and although it was to the tune of more than 40 points, Delahunty's side has since dropped matches to Ararat (52 points), Horsham Saints (37), and Nhill (16).
Their Horsham opposition has been defeated by Nhill (54 points), Dimboola (89), Stawell (94), and Warrack (three) in their last four games.
Last match, the Thunder were bolstered by the inclusion of Angus Dewar and Matthew Conroy, but it still wasn't enough to get them over the line.
Dewar is an ex-AFL footballer, having played 25 games for Hawthorn and a match for West Coast in 2022.
Conroy was delisted by the Gold Coast Suns in 2022 despite not having played a game at AFL level. He had graduated from the Suns Academy onto their AFL list, but spent his time playing VFL before not being offered a contract.
When asked if the duo could be expected to appear again this season for the Thunder, Delahunty said he wasn't sure.
On their opponents for this week, Delahunty said the Demons were a good side and had been unlucky not to get a win this season.
He just hopes a change in luck for the Demons doesn't happen this Saturday.
On his own side's performance, though, Delahunty said his side has been struggling to get a bit of continuity this season.
"We have had a lot of changes each week, but more so with key personnel out, it does make it difficult," Delahunty said.
"We've been playing well, even though it hasn't reflected in the scores.
"We've had three good quarters and then tended to have a lull, but hopefully this week we can turn things around, rectify that, and put in a four-quarter performance."
The ability to deliver a four-quarter performance will be bolstered by the addition of a handful of players expected to be back from injury.
"I think it should start to turn, with the likes of Brayden Ison, Kai Sheers, Tommy Clarke and Jackson Fisher, all those guys should be available hopefully this week," Delahunty said.,
"But even ourselves, we know what we have to do, and it's a bit of a concentration thing, but as I said, the more games we get, the better we will be."