Sport
4 September, 2024
A 'fit and fiery' contest expected with GF berth on the line | WFNL finals
Ararat have claimed the two regular season meetings in 2024.
WFNL Finals
Football
With any finals fixture, the pressure and the physicality go up, and that is precisely what Kieran Delahunty and Tom Williamson expect when Southern Mallee and Ararat in the WFNL's second qualifying final on Saturday, September 7.
Fresh off the bye after finishing as the minor premiers, Delahunty said his side will be raring to go at Anzac Park.
"It was certainly nice to have a week off. We'd played quite a few games in a row, so it was good for the boys to get a chance and freshen up and be ready to go this weekend," the Thunder's senior coach said.
"To come away for the year as we have, I think, was a great start. But obviously, the real stuff starts now."
Delahunty sees the midfield battle as crucial to the outcome.
"Certainly, the match-up in the middle is where it's got to start and, generally, where the momentum begins. So I think that's going to be important early," he said.
"Ben Taylor was in some good form last week; we'll look to try and nullify him where possible."
The contest with Delahunty and Rats ruck Cody Lindsay will also be one to watch all afternoon.
"They've got some good players running around, and we'll have to put a little bit of work into them and make sure we get on top," Delahunty said.
For Rats co-coach Tom Williamson, he is expecting another tough contest, despite winning both regular season meetings.
Ararat defeated the Stawell Warriors by 56 points in the first qualifying final.
"I expect their best. We've seen it and have played them a lot over the last two years, especially since I've been back [at the club]," Williamson said.
"They're a class outfit and have got Kieran Delahunty behind them, so they'll be well prepared for this."
Williamson sees the battle on the inside of the contest as key to the outcome but sees the Rats' forward depth as an advantage.
We know leading the finals, just the pressure and contest goes up and up, So I expect a fit and fiery contest," he said.
"If we can get our contested footy right and pressure around the ball, I think we've got the class ahead of the footy that not many other teams in the league have."
Ararat will also be represented in the under-14s against Horsham.
The Demons will face the Horsham Saints in the under-17s and reserves.