Football
22 August, 2025
Eagles and Warriors do battle in final round
After 18 rounds, it's the end of the regular season for the Wimmera Football Netball League this Saturday, with only the finals series to be completed, kicking off next week.
While this will be the last match this season for the currently eighth-placed Eagles, their opponents this week, the Stawell Warriors, have earned a place in the final five.
Depending on the result this Saturday, the Warriors could finish as high as third or as low as fifth.
Last time the sides played each other was on Stawell's home turf and it was the home side that was victorious, 12.7 (79) to 10.8 (68).
The game was close to even at half-time with a difference of only a few points, 35 to 32 the Warriors' way, but it was Stawell that finished off better in the final half to win by 11 points.
Paul Summers was important for Stawell in that match, booting five majors.
He is now in the best position to be named leading goal kicker for the league, with 70 goals, 14 in front of Ararat's Tom Williamson and Dimboola's Jackson Calder.
Despite not being able to make finals, coach of the Eagles, Matt Walder, said it was important they finished the season strongly.
"Now we've got one more opportunity and we need to make the most of it," Walder said.
"Let's leave the best impression for 2025 and the best possible taste in our mouths before we get into 2026, so I think the fact there is only one week to go is a motivator in itself."