Football
9 May, 2024
Dimboola eye first win of 2024
Round four of the Wimmera Football Netball League features some intriguing football matches, the most important, a must win match for Dimboola against Horsham on Saturday.
The Thunder will look to bounce back at home when they host the Horsham Saints at Hopetoun Recreation Reserve.
Thunder coach Kieran Delahunty knows the Saints are dangerous and is confident they can bounce back from their loss against Ararat last weekend.
"They have some good players. Mitch Martin had a big year last year up forward so we will need to put some time and effort into him and making sure we can shut him down in a particular way," Delahunty said.
"We have learned a lot from the game on the weekend and hopefully we can bounce back from it."
Saints coach Ben Knott said it would be a good test.
"We are still missing a few players so it will be a good test for our young group," Knott said.
"In the third quarter against Warrack, we played how we want to play and if we play like that for all four quarters, we have a good chance."
Stawell will look to remain unbeaten when they host Nhill at Central Park.
Jackson Dark and Mitch Taylor will be back this week after missing the win against Dimboola whilst Mitch Thorp may miss again with a rolled ankle.
Stawell coach Tom Eckel said they won't be getting complacent.
"The boys are enjoying winning and that is something we haven't done for a long time, so to have a good run like this is great for the club," Eckel said.
"The enjoyment level is high and we are playing good football and everyone is buying in for the right reasons.
"It's a great environment and we are all pretty keen to keep winning."
Warrack will host Minyip Murtoa in another tough game for the club.
Eagles coach Matt Walder said they just need to keep working on what they are trying to accomplish.
"We need to work on our game and plan for the opposition and understand what we are trying to do," Walder said.
"We have to be dangerous with the ball in hard and start getting into the opposition's heads. We need to promote a good game style and put some fear into the opposition and it's a work in progress."
Tim McIntyre suffered a knee injury in the win against the Demons and will miss as well as John Delahunty.
Burras coach knows it will be a tough match.
"Despite how they have gone this year, we won't be taking them lightly as they have a lot of talent in their side and they are well coached," Hose said.
"Against Nhill and Horsham, both games could have gone either way and when you start to take the opposition lightly, you get found out, so we will be playing the way we always play."
The Demons host Dimboola and Jordy Burke knows it will be tough against a midfield featuring big bodies.
"The Burras had a strong midfield and so we had a little dress rehearsal so will know what we will come up against on Saturday," Burke said.