Sport
7 August, 2023
Warriors keep finals flame alight
WIMMERA Football League’s battle for finals positions remains in earnest after Stawell Warriors claimed a strong victory over Warrack Eagles at North Park on Saturday. The Warriors win, coupled with losses to Dimboola and Minyip-Murtoa, sees just...
WIMMERA Football League’s battle for finals positions remains in earnest after Stawell Warriors claimed a strong victory over Warrack Eagles at North Park on Saturday.
The Warriors win, coupled with losses to Dimboola and Minyip-Murtoa, sees just one game and percentage separating the trio of teams battling for the last two finals places.
With two rounds remaining before finals, the make up of the top five will remain untouched for at least another round when Stawell and Horsham clash and Minyip-Murtoa plays Nhill in the penultimate round.
To add to the intrigue of the final make up, Dimboola will sit out a bye next round and receive no points for the round.
Saturday’s round 16 saw ladder leader Ararat maintain its winning run when they dominated a clash with Minyip-Murtoa, claiming an emphatic 69-point victory at Minyip, while Southern Mallee Giants overcame a dogged Nhill to win by 12 points at Beulah.
Second-placed Horsham Saints returned from a bye to host Dimboola at Coughlin Park and inflicted the Roos fourth straight loss when they claimed a 45-point victory.
Stawell, who entered the game a warm favourite to claim the points, was forced all the way in the first half by a bolstered Eagles line-up who welcomed back three players to the line-up after extended lay offs.
Nick Ingram, Jake O’Donnell and Connor Inkster returned to the line-up and were joined by Lachie Stein who made his senior debut after some strong performances in the reserves.
Eagles coach Daniel Bell coached from the sidelines, nursing an ankle injury sustained against Horsham and watched on as both teams put on a strong display of end-to-end football.
Stawell controlled the early proceedings of the match before the Eagles worked their way into the contest as Warriors forward Paul Summers kicked the first major of the match 10 minutes into the term.
Summers, who proved the difference between the two sides with a big day in attack, converted his teams first goal before Ryan McKenzie kicked the Eagles first major as both teams continued to work the ball through the lines to set up scoring chances.
A second goal to Summers from 50 metres was followed by a clever snap from Tom Williams to give the Warriors back-to-back goals and when Jacob Salmi snapped truly from the boundary, the Warriors had opened up a three goal lead.
The Eagles then added a second goal for the term seconds before the quarter time siren when key forward Joe McKinnon marked strongly in the goalsquare and ran into an open goal to cut the margin to 14 points at the first change.
McKinnon, playing as a stay at home forward, teamed well with Ryan McKenzie as the pair put together a telling quarter of football during the second term that saw the Eagles cut the margin to four points entering time on of the quarter.
McKenzie kicked the first two goals of the term off strong leads, both from passes from McKinnon, as the Eagles produced its best passage of play for the match.
A goal to Warriors Ethan Marrow from 50 metres took the lead to 10 points before the Eagles again cut the margin to four points when McKinnon marked strong and converted from 15 metres in front of goal.
With Kyle Cheney controlling the half backline and O’Donnell, Lachie Stewart and Tom James teaming well through the midfield, the Eagles continued to press hard to set up scoring chances but it was the Warriors who kicked two vital goals to finish the second term and build a lead at half time.
Summers led the way with his third for the day, breaking a tackle in the goalsquare and converting from close range before Williams added a second goal minutes later as the Warriors opened up a 16-point lead at half time.
The home team then extended their lead in the opening minute of the third term when Mitch Thorp marked strongly in the goalsquare and goaled to give his team a 22-point lead which the Warriors were able to build on to the final siren.
Warrack Eagles continued to work hard and set up scoring chances through the work of McKinnon who marked strongly throughout the day and with McKenzie continuing to build a bank of quality possessions and Cheney marking strongly across half back, matched strides with the Warriors.
But they were unable to curb the influence of Summers who took control of the Warriors forward half kicking his fourth goal during the third term and adding two more to his tally in the final term for a return of six goals for the match.
McKinnon and McKenzie again teamed together for the big forward to kick his third for the day as both players finished the match with three majors each.
Summers’ bag of six goals was mixed with a number of minor scores in the second half as the Warriors built on their half time advantage to claim an eventual 36-point victory.
O’Donnell was rewarded with the final goal of the match to top a strong game in his first match in over six weeks and with Ingram and Sean McKenzie, provided avenues for team-mates including Stein who won his possessions and grabbed a look at senior football on another positive for the club.
Sean McKenzie was given the task of curbing the influence of Warriors coach Tom Eckel who always provides strong drive through the midfield with McKenzie able to limit the leader’s influence with a hard running game.
Dylan Watts and Declan Powell teamed well through the midfield, while Jake Cheney, Aaron Watts, and Phil Huebner continued to create drive out of defence and set up team-mates through the middle of the ground.