Football
10 April, 2026
Nhill hosts Thunder in season opener
Last year's runners-up will kick off their 2026 Wimmera Football Netball League season this Saturday, travelling to Davis Park to play Nhill.
Southern Mallee Thunder have been bolstered by Archie Peltz, Bailey Edwards, Jai Kennealy, Matty Lloyd and Will Page, who will not only bring more skill to the team but also enhance the group's competitiveness.
Nhill, who bowed out of the finals race to Ararat in the Preliminary, will be looking to get their new players, Lachlan Ryan, Tom Wheaton and Will Rowlands, out on the park.
Co-coach of Nhill, Trevor Ryan, chatted with Wimmera Mallee News in the lead-up to the game, and said his side was excited to get started on the season.
"We've been training since a couple of weeks before Christmas, so it's been a long pre-season, and we have only had the one practice officially," Ryan said.
"We're definitely keen to get started, and everyone is looking forward to it."
But as one of the most experienced leaders in the WFNL, Ryan is under no illusion about the challenge of the match.
"They are a good side, they have been for a long time now," he admitted.
"They recruit pretty well every year in regard to good players.
"I'm expecting the game on Saturday to be probably one of the toughest to start the season in regard to what is on offer for the round."
Ryan said his side will need to nail the fundamentals of the game if the Tigers are to have a chance of winning.
"We're not turning the ball over, and trying to get it on the outside as much as we possibly can as well," admitted Ryan.
"There's going to be some good contests individually across the ground, so if we can make the most of our opportunities around stoppages, and getting it outside of our defence without turning the ball over, that will go a long way towards winning the game for us."
The clash between Nhill and the Thunder kicks off at 2.20pm.