Football
5 August, 2024
Warriors stay in touch of the top two
Stawell remains one game behind the top two on the ladder following a comfortable 35-point win over the Horsham Demons at Central Park in round 15 of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
The Demons jumped the Warriors early, kicking four goals to one to lead by 15 points at quarter-time.
A brutal second quarter from the Warriors, kicking six goals to one gave them a handy 14-point buffer at the main break.
It was a tight battle in the third, with the Warriors grinding it out to lead by 20 points at the final break before a 4-goal-2 quarter saw them run out 15.10.100 to 10.5.65 winners.
Cody Driscoll and Jack Walker kicked a game-high four goals apiece for the Warriors, who also had Aiden Graveson, Josh Fowkes, and Thomas Eckel among their best players.
Jordan Motton and Hugo Papst kicked two apiece for the Demons, with Tyler Blake, Brody Pope, Archie Elliott, and Zak Smith among their best.
Stawell coach Tom Eckel said it was a positive performance.
"There is still plenty to improve on, and we have a few guys to come back, and other than the first quarter where we didn't take our opportunities, I thought it was a good positive performance," Eckel said.
"Everyone got involved, and it was a team effort."
The Warriors will look to bring back Mitch Thorp, Marlon Motlop, James Sclanders, and Josh Linton over the coming weeks.
Thunder blitz Dimboola
The Southern Mallee Thunder's 16-goal first half set them up for a massive 102-point win over Dimboola at the Dimboola Recreation Reserve.
The Thunder were dominant early, kicking eight goals to two in the first quarter to take a 35-point lead into quarter-time.
However, the Thunder stormed away in the second quarter, kicking another eight goals to nil to take a massive 83-point lead into the main break.
Dimboola tried to tighten things up in the third, but with a winnable lead, the Thunder slowed things down, narrowly winning the quarter by two points to lead by 85 at the last break.
The Thunder kicked another four goals in the last quarter to win 23.10.148 to 6.10.40.
Nicholas Yarran kicked six goals for the Thunder - his best game of the year in a best-on-the-ground performance with Xavier Oakley and Kai Sheers, kicking four goals.
Dimboola was led by coach Jack Landt and former AFL player Andrew Moore, with two goals a piece, with Patrick MacDonough and Michael Pohlner also among their best.
Thunder coach Kieran Delahunty said he was thrilled with the performance, especially finding plenty of avenues to goal with nine different goalscorers.
"It was a pleasing performance, and guys who had been searching for form found it on Saturday," Delahunty said.
"We found a way to score with different looks up forward, and it's exciting to see Nick find form. This time of year will suit him, with pre-season training starting in Darwin, meaning he is able to train with a club."
Kai Sheers has been the revelation for the Thunder, moving forward after the injury to Brad Lowe.
Sheers came back from an ankle reconstruction midway through last year. He has kicked eight goals in the last three weeks. When Lowe returns in the coming weeks, Delahunty will have to look at how to keep him up forward.
"He has really produced up forward and has been great there, and having a full pre-season under his belt has helped," Delahunty said.
Rats run out huge winners over the Burras
At the Minyip Recreation Reserve, Ararat defeated Minyip Murtoa by 67 points.
It was a tight first quarter, with the Rats taking a two-point lead into quarter-time. The Rats got on top in the second, extending that margin to 22 points at the main break.
The third quarter set the game up for the Rats, as they kicked 10 goals to three to take a 65-point lead into the last break. They kicked another two goals in the last quarter to run out 19.16.130 to 10.3.63 winners.
Tom Williamson kicked a game-high five goals for the Rats, with Jack Ganley and Tom Mills each scoring four.
Ben Taylor, James Jennings, and Baydn Cosgriff were among the best on the ground.
Samuel Griffiths and Tanner Smith led the Burras with three goals, with Luke Fisher, Timothy McIntyre, and Timothy MacKenzie among their best.
Tigers comfortable winners over the Eagles
At Davis Park, Nhill defeated the Warrack Eagles by 65 points. The Eagles were competitive in the first half as the Tigers led by ten points at quarter-time before extending the margin to 20 at half-time.
In the third quarter, however, the Tigers took control, kicking six goals to one to lead by 53 points at the last break. The Eagles battled hard, but the Tigers booted away in the last to run out 17.18.120 to 8.7.55 winners.
Jake McQueen, Dylan Ridding, Darcy Honeyman, and Xavier Bone were among the Tigers' best on the ground. Machok Garang, Jayke Hellmanns, Kyle Cheney, and Riley Morrow were the Eagles' best contributors.