Sport
6 September, 2023
Giants power into grand final
The Southern Mallee Giants are through to the Wimmera Football Netball League Grand Final with an impressive 24 point win over Ararat at Anzac Park on Saturday. Ararat came into the game unbeaten for the season and it was Josh Webster who stunned...
The Southern Mallee Giants are through to the Wimmera Football Netball League Grand Final with an impressive 24 point win over Ararat at Anzac Park on Saturday.
Ararat came into the game unbeaten for the season and it was Josh Webster who stunned them early.
Webster opened the scoring early following an intercept. Ben Taylor tried to switch the play for Ararat from the back flank and Webster crumbed the errant kick for the first goal of the game and within 2 minutes, he got his second to give the Giants an early two goal lead.
The Giants had a lot of the ball early but the Rats started to compose themselves after Tom Mills marked in the goal square and kicked his first for the match to bring the margin back to seven points.
The Giants answered straight away through Rupert Sangster and within a minute later, Josh Bromley-Lynch kicked his first to extend the margin out to 20 points.
The Rats then fought back in the later stages of the first quarter with a quick flurry of goals. Tom Mills kicked his second from a free kick and then Brody Griffin and Tex Korewha hit the scoreboard to bring the margin back to two points at quarter time.
The Rats kept that momentum going early into the second with Matthew Spalding kicking a goal from a turnover to give the Rats the lead for the first time. When Tex Korewha kicked his second, the margin was suddenly out to 10 points with the momentum all with Ararat.
The Giants recomposed themselves and it was Josh Webster that gave the Giants the lead back with two quick goals.
The Giants then ran and pressured hard and when Luke Mahony kicked his first the Giants suddenly had a 10 point lead.
It didn’t stop there with Liam Nelson kicking a running goal from outside 50 and Billy Lloyd kicking from a pack to give the Giants a game high 21 points at half time.
The Rats then came out firing after half time applying a lot of pressure and running the ball showing why they have been the best team all year. Tom Williamson kicked a goal early but was countered by a great goal from Luke Mahony from the boundary a minute later.
The Rats then kicked three unanswered goals through Tom Mills, Jake Robinson and Thomas Cousins to bring the margin to 2 points. Tex Korewha had a chance to kick his third and give the Rats the lead but he missed and the margin was 1 point.
Rupert Sangster punished them with his second not long after to extend the Giants lead to seven points at three quarter time.
With the game on the line, again it was Josh Webster who hit the scoreboard kicking his fifth of the game to give the Giants some breathing space by 13 points.
The Giants were all over Ararat and had plenty of shots at goal with Rupert Sangster nailing his third for the game to give the Giants a 23 point lead.
Matthew Spalding kicked his second of the game to bring the margin back to 17 points at the 20 minute mark to give the Rats hope. It was quickly dashed when Luke Mahony kicked his third which sealed the game at the 22nd minute mark with the Giants running out 11.7.73 to 14.13.97 victors.
Josh Webster’s five goals followed on from the three he kicked last week. Lou White and Kieran Delahunty were the standouts through the midfield with Zachary Robins outstanding down back.
Giants coach Kieran Delahunty was thrilled with how they started off the match.
“Our starts the last couple of weeks have been good. The boys have come out focused with a clear game plan in mind,” Delahunty said.
“To Ararat’s credit they came back hard like we knew they would.”
When Ararat got back into the contest and took the lead early in the second quarter, Delahunty said skill errors cost them.
“In that period we had our chances and we just didn’t capitilise on the scoreboard. We still had the ball in our hands and we weren’t quite finishing it off. It was basic skill errors which cost us” Delahunty said.
“We were then able to hit our targets and move the ball the way we wanted to and the scoreboard took care of itself.”
“It was always going to take four quarters to beat them. In the second half we knew fitness wasn’t going to be an issue as our guys are really fit and professional in the way they train.”
They got back within a goal and we were confident we could get the job done and we managed to do that.”
Delahunty said Webster’s game was influential.
“He always steps up in big games. He has been a good player for a long time and he is in some great form at the moment,” Delahunty said.
Delahunty also spoke about Zach Robins who has been doing well down back, again having a solid game on the weekend.
“The last couple of weeks he has gone back and defensively is great one on one. He is a good reader of the play and he is providing a lot for us back there,” Delahunty explained.
The Giants now have a week off and will face the winner out of Ararat and Horsham Saints at Nhill on Sunday. Delahunty says the week off is perfect.
“It was a physical game of football. There are a few sore bodies out there. The 14 day break will be perfect for us. We haven’t had the bye for a little while and have strung a lot of games together, so it’s a chance to refresh and focus on what is to come,” Delahunty concluded.