Football
5 September, 2025
Ararat, Thunder compete for grand final place
Either Ararat or Southern Mallee will have booked their place in the 2025 Wimmera Football Netball League grand final come 5pm Saturday.
And while Ararat could be the favourite to advance with the quickest route, the Thunder have been in brilliant form of late and can't be dismissed easily.
As it has been documented often, Ararat finished not only as minor premiers but also undefeated this season.
The Thunder finished third, with a record of 10-6, but defeated the higher-placed Nhill to earn their position in the qualifier on Saturday.
Looking at the results from the regular season, Ararat had the Thunder's measure on both occasions.
At home, Ararat defeated Southern Mallee 13.11 (89) to 5.7 (37) on May 17, and backed that result up with another win on July 26, 10.10 (70) to 6.9 (45).
Ararat co-coach Tom Mills said his side was feeling good about the match and had had brilliant numbers at training.
"The boys are excited to get into the finals," Mills said.
"The week off was good.
"We trained hard through the week and then had a Saturday morning session as well."
Mills said he thought the game would be won by the team that controlled the ball best.
"Both teams have good skills so that's what it will come down to," he said.
"Obviously, the team with better pressure on the day will also hold them in good stead."
Mills said in terms of match-ups he hadn't finalised them yet but it was always a great battle between the rucks.
Coach of the Thunder, Kieran Delahunty, acknowledged that nothing the opposition had thrown at Ararat had worked as of yet this season but said there were a couple of different things his side could try.
"They go into the game as favourites and we have nothing to lose," Delahunty said.
"We get a free swing at them and there will be a couple of different things that we will look to try."
Acknowledging the depth of the side, the coach said his team would need to continue to play their own game which brought out the best footy in them.
"Obviously they have good players across all three lines, and I think for us it's about attempting to get on top and apply that pressure, because I feel like when we apply that pressure and bring the intensity that's when we play our best," he said.
"It's half a mindset thing: going into it and bringing a bit of confidence from the last month."
While the winner of this game will pencil themselves into the books to contest the 2025 Wimmera Football Netball League grand final on Saturday September 20 at Anzac Park, the loser will get another opportunity to make the big dance when they face the winner of Dimboola and Nhill next Saturday.