Football
29 August, 2025
Do or die for Dimboola, Stawell in WFNL Elimination Final
After 18 rounds, it all comes down to this game for Dimboola and Stawell. And the equation is simple: win and the dream of a premiership this season lives on, but lose and it's all over until next year.
Dimboola secured fifth place – and the last place for the finals series – late in the season, edging out Minyip Murtoa.
They have a record of eight and eight for the year.
Stawell finished on equal points with Thunder and with a record of 10-6 but were relegated because of a lower percentage.
With finals footy, anything can happen – especially considering these sides are one win each in terms of when they have played each other this season.
Dimboola were beaten on their home turf earlier in the year, on May 31, by the Warriors, 10.10 (70) to 10.14 (74).
It came after Dimboola took an early lead and Stawell had to play catch-up footy, but they were eventually able to snatch the game from the grasp of their opposition.
The second time the sides met was on August 9, with Dimboola reversing the previous result, this time at Central Park: 16.11 (107) to 10.5 (65).
Dimboola again got the early lead but didn't let their opposition back into the game this time.
Jackson Calder has been a force to be reckoned with for Dimboola in both games against the Warriors, booting five majors the first time and six the next.
Paul Summers was the go-to for Stawell in the first match, finding the big sticks six times, while the next time the teams met Cody Driscoll did the majority of work up forward, booting three.
Ben Miller, Dylan Landt, Jackson Calder and Simon Hobbs were brilliant for Dimboola both times the sides met, as was Sam Williams for Stawell, with Aiden Graveson, Charlie Gibson and Owen Summers standing up at times during both games.
For the loser of this match it's game over, while the winner will meet the loser of Nhill and Southern Mallee next week.