Football
23 April, 2024
Stawell continues shining start
The Stawell Warriors continue to show they are going to be one of the top teams this season with a comprehensive 44-point win over the Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park in round one of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
The Warriors stunned the Saints early to take a 17-point lead into quarter time, extending it to 20 at half time and if it wasn't for inaccurate kicking with ten behinds, it could have been a lot worse. From there the Warriors just ran out the game to win 14.18.102 to 8.10.58.
Cody Driscoll kicked another four goals to follow on from his Good Friday haul whilst Ash Driscoll led the way with five goals. For the Saints, recruit Nathan Koenig kicked three with Mitch Martin chipping in with two.
Eckel said despite the inaccurate kicking, it was a solid win.
"It was a real good win and it was a great team performance all around," Eckel said.
"We defended pretty well and felt like we controlled the game well, but there is still a lot to work on, especially in front of goals.
"We had a good consistent game from everyone and I am happy with how we controlled the game. We just need to sharpen up in front of goals."
Midfielder Jakob Salmi was best on the ground and Eckel praised him for his work rate.
"He is a really tough and solid player, and his second half was great," Eckel said.
"He did a lot of contested work around the contest and got his hands on it first and won the hard stuff and in the second half when we needed the drive he broke it open and was key to that.
"Samuel Jenkinson is a young kid and was solid on the wing and got his hands on it. With Ben Davis on the other wing, their tackling pressure and ball-carrying were very good. They have a high level and have stepped up and grown."
Minyip Murtoa start season with bang
A new look Minyip Murtoa outfit has started the season off with an impressive 31-point win over Nhill.
The first half was an arm wrestle. The Burra kicked with the breeze in the first quarter and were the only team to score, taking a two-goal lead into quarter time.
The Tigers then used the breeze to their advantage to kick five goals which levelled the scores at half time.
The Burras came out firing after halftime to kick five goals to zero and then ran out the game in the last to win 12.11.83 to 7.10.52.
Recruit Dylan Ridding led the way on the scoreboard for the Tigers with five goals whilst Luke Fisher, Oscar Gawith, Ben McIntyre and Tanner Smith all kicked two a-piece for the Burra.
Burras coach Gareth Hose said both teams had their moment to control the game and was impressed with how they responded after halftime.
"We felt like we had control of the game in the first half but we just needed to execute better going forward," Hose said.
"We had some really good transitions and then fell with skill execution and had to try hard to find that last avenue to goal which we were able to do in the third quarter.
"We got a little bit more on top through the midfield and were able to keep the ball in the forward half and were able to hit the scoreboard and defend well for the rest of the game."
What was pleasing for Hose was they didn't have a bench in the last half and had players in different positions and they responded.
"We lost John Delahunty with concussion in the first five minutes and had other minor injuries to players so we had to shuffle things around and to have players perform well in different positions was pleasing," Hose said.
"We had to throw several guys forward and back and through the midfield and I am pleased with how they adapted to those roles."
There was a focus in the pre-season on bolstering the midfield and Hose said it worked wonders.
"Tim and Ben McIntyre with Dusty Cross around the contest were really solid. They won a lot of hard contests to get the ball out," Hose said.
"Kade Petering was able to benefit from that on the wing and drove the ball well.
"Oscar Gawith was also solid. We played him back but then threw him forward and he had a huge impact on the game and is going to be versatile for us this season."
Ararat bounces back whilst Demons show improvement
Horsham showed they are not going to be easy beats this year, taking it up to last year's premiers, Ararat, in a 29-point loss at Alexandra Oval.
They took it to Ararat early, taking a slender two-point lead into quarter time and then extending it to eight at halftime.
Ararat started to get on top in the third quarter but the Demons stuck with them, trailing by one point at the last break.
It was the final quarter where the Rats flexed their muscles, running out 14.15.99 to 11.4.70 winners.
Sonny Kettle was best on the ground with three goals with Tom Mills also scoring three for the Rats. Matthew Long and Ryan Kemp were solid for the Demons with three and two goals respectively.
Demons coach Jordy Burke was pleased with their performance.
"We can take plenty of positives out of the game and I was impressed with the way we started and the level of footy for a round one game from both teams," Burke said.
"We made a few mistakes but ran the ball well and I was happy for the first two and a half quarters."
When asked if the youth of the team may have impacted on them running out the game, Burke said it may have contributed.
"Being a young team may have contributed to it but it was our first real two-hour hitout and it was a mix of attacking and defending," Burke said.
"We tried to get aggressive and weren't zoning off well and they made us pay. The boys were a little bit flat for parts in the last quarter.
"We had plenty of inside 50s and kicked 11 goals. You can't win games of footy like that. You need to convert better and use that footy going inside 50."
"Our clearance work wasn't too bad and the back six did well under the pump."
Burke said that Hugo Papst was brilliant in his debut for the club and was happy with the boys overall.
"Hugo did well across half forward and half back and was hard at it and good aerially," Burke said.
"He had to plug a few holes and is a good competitor with beautiful skills.
"Everyone had their moments and I am happy with the boys overall. Their output level was good and the new boys all showed well and fit in and had their moments so they will take confidence from that."