Sport
30 April, 2026
Dimboola ready for clash with Warrack
The first round of the season was held on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 11, but Dimboola had the bye.
In the second round, spread over Saturday, April 18, and Saturday, April 25, Dimboola were on the road to Ararat, and were defeated solidly, 28.13 (181) to 4.1 (25).
But after another week off, with both Horsham sides the only teams to battle it out on Anzac Day across the league, the Andrew Moore-led side is ready for their clash against Warrack this week after having the chance to assess and reflect after their first match.
"We've highlighted some areas that we need to improve on, and it's not as if that is going to happen immediately; we will continue training certain elements, and a lot of that is around the ball," Moore said.
"That's an area where we need to focus on initially; that's shape around the ball, contested footy, but also what we are doing in our running patterns, etc., and supporting each other.
"Ararat are one of the best in the competition at that, so we learnt, and I think it was a good development for a lot of players to come up against a quality side."
Moore said the Eagles play a "contested, lock you up" brand of footy, and it's not always necessarily a high-scoring game against them.
"It means it will be a bit of a stoppage game and we are going to have to look at elements to get the run on the ball as much as we can," he said.
Given Moore isn't expecting a high scoring hit out, he said it's crucial Dimboola crack down on opportunities in the Eagles forward line, with John Jorgensen in particular kicking off the season well for Warrack in the forward fifty.
"He looks like he has been playing some good footy," admitted Moore.
"For us, it's more around our defence as a team; it's not only one player that's going to lock these players down.
"Yes, we will come up with a bit of a plan and roles, but it is more so around how we limit their transition and that's from our forward 50 into the D-fifty."
But Dimboola has its own players that can heavily impact the match, and the coach said he will be hoping for big games from them this week.
"The likes of Jake Rigoni, he's new to the club but has taken ownership of that role in the ruck, along with Noah Campbell as well," Moore said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing his development; he's got a basketball background, but I am looking forward to seeing him develop his craft in that area.
"Tom O'Dwyer is another one up forward, he's come back to the club, a local guy who had the season off last year, a bit of a natural footballer.
"The more game time we can get into him, but also into the playing group, I am looking forward to what he can do as well."