Sport
1 May, 2026
Dimboola pumped for home hitout
Round three of Wimmera Football Netball League A grade action sees Dimboola host Warrack, Horsham play Stawell, the Saints and the Thunder go head to head and Minyip Murtoa clash with Nhill.
While Dimboola are looking for their first win of the season, the Eagles, who have had one more hitout than their opposition this Saturday, have had a loss and a win already this year.
In their only game this season, Dimboola drew with Ararat 53-53 on April 18.
The Eagles were defeated by Horsham Saints in the opening round of the season (34-72) before rebounding for the win against Stawell (41-35).
Dimboola A grade coach Ant Toet says she's excited about the clash at home this Saturday, especially given they have their full line-up available.
"It will help us see where we may sit early in the season," Toet said.
"The Eagles have some changes since last year so they are a little unknown, but we always expect a contest against all of our competitors and we know we need to earn the four points in all A grade games."
Despite Isabella Orszulak of the Eagles having begun the season strongly, Toet said the focus would be on everyone in the team playing their roles and sticking to their game plan to meet their goals.
"We have a few options to play at goal attack (on Orszulak) in Olivia Beugelaar, Maddie Marra, Billie Barber and Eloise Wills," Toet said.
"Her height gives her good reach and strong rebound.
"We will need to limit those opportunities for her.
"But all girls have a role and we're looking for each one to do it consistently across the game."
At City Oval in Horsham, the home side and Stawell will battle it out, with the Demons already having chalked up both a loss and a win this season, while the Warriors are looking for their first four points this year.
The dynamic duo of Georgie Carberry and Imogen Worthy have been fantastic for the Demons this year in the goal ring, as has Georgia Hiscock, who's likely to line up in centre, and wing defence Jorja Jones.
Stawell have been served well by the likes of Jessie Newton, Lisa Considine, Meg Walker and Molly Orr in their couple of games, despite still chasing the elusive win.
The Saints will play the Thunder at Coughlin Park, and it is a mammoth task that awaits Southern Mallee as they meet the defending premiers.
The Horsham side have had a brilliant start to the season, defeating the Eagles by 38 goals and then the Demons by 14, but the Thunder are full of adrenaline and momentum coming off a close round-two win against Minyip Murtoa, 42 to 41.
Chatting to Wimmera Mallee News before the game this Saturday, Thunder coach Lachie Excell said their opposition this week had been a dominant force over the past few seasons and presented a big challenge for every other team in the league.
The side is led by goal-scoring sensation Jorja Clode, but Excell said she was just one of a number of fantastic players in the line-up for the Saints.
"Although Jorja is a fantastic player, she is just one of the many fantastic players Saints have all over the court as well, so by limiting her impact, you need to impact the supply she is given," Excell said.
"It's easier said than done, as many other teams in the league will attest to."
Heading into the clash, Excell said their focus remained solely on going out there as per usual.
"We will be trying to execute things we are individually working on in our games, as well as the structures within our team," he said.
Finally, Minyip Murtoa will host Nhill at Minyip Recreation Reserve, with the home side hoping they can also get their first win for the season.
The Burras went down to Horsham in the first round of the season (62-35) before dropping their game against the Thunder by a goal.
Nhill had a close encounter with the Thunder in the first round, claiming the victory (43-40), and had the bye last week.
Burras players Claudia Griffiths, Jenna Schneider and Johanna Griffiths have been in form in the first couple of hitouts, while for the Tigers, Kristy Alexander and Zara Polkinghorne have found early form for their side.