Football
27 June, 2025
Revenge sought by Thunder
We're back where it all began, with a flipped fixture for the final half of the 2025 season in the Wimmera Football Netball League.
And defeated by 21 points in round one, Southern Mallee Thunder will be looking to flip the result and get revenge against Stawell on Saturday.
While the Thunder are sixth on the ladder, with a record of 4-4, the Warriors are third, with a record of 5-3.
Coach of the Thunder, Kieran Delahunty, said he was feeling good heading into the match.
"The first time we played Stawell, it was the first game of the year, we didn't get to have any matches for practice and there were a number of new people meeting each other," Delahunty said.
"I'd like to think we have been building and getting better as the year goes on but there is still a lot of work to do and Stawell is going well."
Better off for having encountered the side already this season, Delahunty said there were definitely some learnings his side took out of the first game that they would carry into the game on Saturday.
"Last time they got the jump on us and I think they kicked six goals to one or two in the first quarter," Delahunty reflected.
"We were able to hold that buffer for most of the day and levelled the scores late, but they were able to kick away at the end.
"I think for us, the focus is going to be on the start and making sure we come out with intent and purpose."
Delahunty said Xavier Oakley had been playing well in his new role on the wing for the Thunder, along with Coleman Schache, who was back to his best form, and the coach hoped both players would lead the way again for the side on Saturday.
"I think as a whole though, we have had a number of contributors that are even, including Patrick (Grace-) Long, who has been going well in the back the last couple of weeks," Delahunty said.
At the halfway point, Delahunty said the side couldn't look too much further ahead than this week.
"It's a big game for us this week," he said.
"We've got Stawell, sitting third, and clear a game of us, so the aim is to beat them and get on level pegging with Stawell, then slowly start to chip away.
"Apart from Ararat, it's even across the board, and if there is one thing we have learned in the first half of the year, it's that you can't take any teams lightly because you can certainly get shown up."