Football
4 September, 2025
All or nothing for Dimboola and Nhill in WFNL semi-final
With the first week of finals done and dusted, the scene is set for an exciting clash between Dimboola and Nhill in Wimmera Football Netball League action this Sunday.
And it's all or nothing, with no second chances for the loser of the match this week.
Dimboola comes into the clash on the back of a thrilling double overtime win against Stawell in the elimination final, while Nhill comes into the semi-final after being convincingly defeated in the qualifying final by the Thunder.
The sides met twice during the regular season, the first being on May 10, when Dimboola got the points 19.8 (122) to 7.6 (48), and the second being on July 19, with the result reversed: Dimboola 6.7 (43) to Nhill 6.15 (51).
Earlier this week co-coach of Dimboola, Andrew Moore, said he had to digest the win over Stawell before he looked ahead to the game against Nhill but a couple of thoughts were already apparent.
"We know we've had competitive matches with Nhill and more recently in conditions that were trying," Moore said.
"That game was unique, given the conditions, so I am expecting the game to be a bit different this time.
"We are in Ararat so a big game, also a big ground – that will be the main source of what we need to be aware of and how we use it.
"We don't play at grounds like that too often but Nhill are a quality team and they rely on that pressure, which is what finals are all about.
"I was pleased how we absorbed that pressure against Stawell on Sunday and we will be up for the fight and will do our homework during the week.
"We are looking forward to the challenge."
Nhill are also looking forward to the clash, with their co-coach Trevor Ryan eager to rebound from what he described as a disappointing loss against the Thunder last week.
"We took a lot of learnings out of last week's game: opportunities in front of goal, opportunities to win the ball around contested footy and stoppages etc, and we need to get a bit better at so we've put some work into those areas this week," Ryan said.
"Hopefully it will allow our forwards to get the footy in their hands and then they need to finish it off with kicking the goals that we need."
Ryan said the opposition this week would expect his side to bring a lot more pressure around the footy.
"Obviously, they will as well, and they will be expecting that, but they are a good side – they beat us easily earlier in the year and we got one back on them after that," Ryan said.
"But we know their capabilities and if we give them too much room to move they can beat you easily.
"We've got high respect for their capability."
Asked about the fact Dimboola effectively played five quarters of footy last week to get over Stawell, Ryan said he didn't think it would affect them negatively.
"It could harden them a bit, working in their favour," he said.
"I'm pretty sure their training during this week would be light after playing that extra time so I expect them to be cherry ripe, ready to go again for Sunday."
For the losing side on Sunday, it's game over in terms of their 2025 season, while the winners will line up the following Saturday against the losing side from Ararat and the Thunder to fight it out for a place in this season's grand final.