Dimboola’s road to the finals
Coaches: Andrew Moore, Dean Toet
Roos ready to WFNL FINALS
Round 1: L. 10.10 (70) to Minyip-Murtoa 17.9 (111). Away.
Round 2: L. 6.5 (41) to Ararat 24.14 (158). Home.
Round 3: W. 12.7 (79) d Horsham Saints 8.13 (61). Away.
Round 4: W. 19.8 (122) d Nhill 7.6 (48). Home.
Round 5: W. 21.9 (135) d Horsham 7.4 (46). Away.*
Round 6: Bye.
Round 7: L. 10.10 (70) to Stawell 10.14 (74). Home.
Round 8: W. 8.10 (58) d Warrack Eagles 6.8 (44). Away.
Round 9: L. 8.9 (57) to Southern Mallee Thunder 15.7 (97).
Round 10: L. 6.6 (42) to Minyip-Murtoa 15.10 (100). Home.
Round 11: L. 2.5 (17) to Ararat 21.15 (141). Away.**
Round 12: W. 16.12 (108) d Horsham Saints 7.6 (48). Home.
Round 13: L. 6.7 (43) to Nhill 6.15 (51).
Round 14: W. 21.7 (133) to Horsham 5.7 (37). Home.
Round 15: Bye.
Round 16: W. 16.11 (107) d Stawell 10.5 (65). Away.
Round 17: W. 19.11 (125) d Warrack Eagles 6.7 (43). Home.
Round 18: L. 8.7 (55) to Southern Mallee Thun der 21.12 (138). Away.
*Highest score. ** Lowest score.
Total: Won: 8. Lost: 8. For: 1262. Against: 1262. Points: 32. Percentage: 100.
Leading goal-kickers
Jackson Calder, 57. Benjamin Brett, 22.
Dimboola
It’s been a rollercoaster ride this season at Dimboola but the Roos – who did not confirm their spot in the finals until round 17 – are now looking set to shake things up in Wimmera league senior footy.
After a couple of heavy losses to Minyip-Murtoa and Ararat in the opening rounds, the Roos were back on track with three wins – importantly trouncing Nhill by 74 points in round four.
A four-point loss to Stawell on their home ground in round seven was the start of a mid-season slump for Dimboola, losing four out of five matches from rounds seven to 11.
Injuries – particularly season-ending to Jayden Kuhne and Michael Pohlner – plus player unavailability such as Dylan Landt who went overseas for seven weeks – were a factor in the Roos’ performances.
But co-coaches Andrew Moore and Dean Toet were able to steady the ship towards the latter part of the season.
“The Stawell game for me – that was do or die for us –we were relying on Minyip-Murtoa’s run home, but we had to win that to give us the best possible chance,” Toet said.
“Last time we played them, we let a 31-point lead at half time slip through and they beat us by four points on our home ground – that had been in the back of our mind and we spent weeks focused on that Stawell game, and making sure we got that right.”
While there is plenty of talk around the league about the fly-in players for Dimboola – there is no doubt stars such as former SANFL player Moore, brothers Dylan and Jack Landt, Jackson Calder and Jonathon Ross make a difference to the Roos’ side.
Jack Landt
Will Griffiths
WFNL FINALS
shake things up
But it is captain Ben Miller – a player who has risen through the ranks from his junior days at Dimboola – who has stepped up to the plate this season and become a Wimmera league standout in his own right.
“He’s just gone to another level this year,” Toet said.
“His work rate, what he does in the offseason, the way he goes about it is unbelievable.”
While Dimboola should field a side close to full strength in the finals, the players will need to take each finals game as if it is their last for the season.
Toet said he thought Southern Mallee Thunder was a ‘dark horse’ in finals.
“They are probably very similar to us. We’ve got a lot of players who come in and out from week-to-week and that’s always challenging,” he said.
“I’ve always believed that when you’ve got players coming in who aren’t training with the club during the week, I think that always takes probably eight to 10 weeks for players to sort of gel.
“They Thunder probably started off a bit slow, just for that reason – you’ve just got your locals on the track and then you’ve got half your side coming in on the weekend and you don’t train together.
“You play on Saturday and then one week they’re in and the next week they’re not – that can be challenging to manage as well.”
And after missing finals in 2024, what does Toet think of Dimboola’s chances in the finals this year?
“I think when we play our best footy, we’re as good as anyone,” he said.
Players to watch
Ben Miller
The Roos’ skipper has had a stellar year, named in the best in all but one game this season. The former Dimboola junior will proudly lead his club into the finals this year – and be a key to the Roos’
Jack Landt
After stepping away from his 2024 coaching role –and although he heads to the Northern Territory to play for St Mary’s each off-season – Landt keeps returning to the Roos, where he consistently performs well. He also brings along a handful of his NT football mates to give Dimboola a boost in playing personnel.
Jonathon Ross
Returning to the club this year, Ross brings with him plenty of football experience and fitness after playing in the NT in the off-season. Ross, in his fourth year at the Roos, has moved from being primarily a forward to relishing a position on the wing where he has enjoyed his best season at
Jackson Calder
The Roos’ leading goal-kicker for 2025 – and third in the league – Calder has booted 56 goals so far this year. A teammate of Landt from St Mary’s in the NTFL, where he kicked 65 goals last season, Calder can kick a bag when he has the chance – which he showed when he kicked a Wimmera league season-high of 14 against Horsham Demons in round 14.
Andrew Moore
Stawell Warriors
Stawell’s road to the finals
WFNL FINALS
Coaches: James O’Sullivan, Perry Meka
Round 1: W. 16.12 (108) d Southern Mallee
Thunder 13.9 (87). Away.
Round 2: L. 8.11 (59) to Minyip-Murtoa 12.7 (79). Home.
Round 3: L. 9.4 (58) to Ararat 23.16 (154). Away.
Round 4: W. 12.14 (86) d Horsham Saints 12.10 (82). Home.
Round 5: L. 7.11 (53) to Nhill 12.8 (80). Away.
Round 6: W. 23.16 (154) d Horsham 9.6 (60). Home.*
Round 7: W. 10.14 (74) d Dimboola 10.10 (70). Away. Round 8: Bye.
Round 9: W. 12.7 (79) d Warrack Eagles 10.8 (68). Home.
Round 10: L. 12.12 (84) to Southern Mallee Thunder 14.9 (93). Home.
Round 11: W. 10.10 (70) d Minyip-Murtoa 7.5 (47). Away.
Round 12: L. 10.9 (69) to Ararat 21.8 (134). Home.
Round 13: W. 15.6 (96) d Horsham Saints 8.10 (58). Away.
Round 14: W. 5.11 (41) d Nhill 5.6 (36). Home.**
Round 15: W. 16.17 (113) d Horsham 12.7 (79). Away.
Round 16: L. 10.5 (65) to Dimboola 16.11 (107). Home.
Round 17: Bye.
Round 18: W. 16.14 (110) d Warrack Eagles 10.4 (64). Away.
*Highest score. ** Lowest score.
Total: Won: 10. Lost: 6. For: 1319. Against: 1298. Points: 40. Percentage: 101.62.
Leading goal-kickers Paul Summers, 76. Cody Driscoll, 55.
Warriors rise
Stawell may have had a rollercoaster season but the Warriors know how to win the close matches.
They won three matches by less than a goal this season – two of them against top-five sides Nhill and Dimboola.
Finishing fourth on the ladder, the same position as last season, Stawell will be hoping for an improved performance in this finals series – they were knocked out in last year’s preliminary final after a heavy defeat to Southern Mallee Thunder.
Co-coach James O’Sullivan, a new player to the club last year, took on the coaching role with off-field coach Perry Meka this
“We’re extremely confident that on our day and we play our best footy – we’re right up there with the best in the competition,” O’Sullivan said.
“So if we can get that opportunity and can play our best footy, it will be exciting to see how far we go.”
O’Sullivan said the Warriors had faced a lot of changes in the off-season with new senior coaches and new playing personnel – including a change of 28 to the playing list – but the biggest challenge was for the team to adapt to a new game plan.
“We weren’t sure whether it would take a couple of weeks, couple months, or the whole year for the boys to start progressing towards that game style,” he said.
“To the boys’ credit, I think they picked it up pretty quickly and I think we were probably in a better spot at the halfway mark than potentially what we thought we might have been.
“The game against Dimboola a couple of weeks ago was a bit of a step back and pretty disappointing, but outside of that, I think we’ve put ourselves in a really good position.”
Zach Marrow
Players to watch WFNL FINALS Stawell
to challenge
O’Sullivan said two wins – a come-from-behind victory over Dimboola in round seven and five-point thriller over Nhill in round 14 – were standouts in the Warriors’ season.
“The Wimmera league is a strong league – you can never go into a game thinking, or knowing, that you are going to get the four points, so you have to be on each game you play,” he said.
“It’s incredibly hard to be on and up for a long period – it’s a long season.
“But having said that, consistency is something that we have been working on, and even just consistency throughout each game – it’s an area where we need to improve, quarter-toquarter, but also game-to-game.”
Captain Sam Williams has upped his game this season, with the onballer playing a bit more forward, impressing O’Sullivan.
“Sam’s had a great year, he’s definitely led from the front. He sort of just likes to get his hands dirty when the game’s there to be won,” O’Sullivan said.
“Obviously we’ve had our top couple that have been a bit stronger, but I think it’s probably the bottom six on each game day that we’ve been happy with this year.”
O’Sullivan said after Ararat, the teams placed from second to fifth were relatively even – with many winning one each in the two games against each other this season.
“Early on there was the talk that everyone’s playing for sec ond, but you just never know – I’ve definitely been a part of a few leagues where teams have gone undefeated and not ended up winning it,” he said.
“Finals were a different ballgame, but in saying that Ararat is a quality outfit and it’s going take another team’s very best in order to get to them.”
Sam Williams
A Warrior through and through, the captain has really stepped up to the plate this season and relished his leadership role.
Josh Fowkes
After crossing to Stawell from Navarre last year and impressing, the dependable ruckman has continued to work tirelessly around the ground this season, and will be relied upon if Stawell is to go deep into the
Paul Summers
Summers returned to the Warriors this year after a season at the Swifts where he honed his goal-kicking craft, kicking 124 goals for the year. While this year he’s faced different challenges in the Wimmera league, he leads the league’s goal-kicking with 70 goals.
Zac Marrow
Marrow shows his athleticism and flexibility for the Warriors weekin, week-out, and sets up plenty of play for the club he has been a part of since his junior days.
Jacob Salmi
Southern Mallee Thunder
WFNL FINALS
Southern Mallee Thunder’s road to the finals
Coach: Kieran Delahunty
Round 1: L. 13.9 (87) to Stawell 16.12 (108). Home.
Round 2: W. 13.18 (88) d Warrack Eagles 10.6 (66). Away.
Round 3: Bye.
Round 4: W. 18.9 (117) d Minyip-Murtoa 11.8 (74). Home.
Round 5: L. 5.7 (37) to Ararat 13.11 (89). Away.**
Round 6: L. 8.5 (53) to Horsham Saints 14.6 (90). Home.
Round 7: L. 14.8 (92) to Nhill 17.6 (108). Away.
Round 8: W. 13.12 (90) d Horsham 13.11 (89). Home.
Round 9: W. 15.7 (97) d Dimboola 8.9 (57). Away.
Round 10: W. 14.9 (93) d Stawell 12.12 (84). Away.
Round 11: W. 12.8 (80) d Warrack Eagles 7.8 (50). Home.
Round 12: Bye.
Round 13: L. 11.9 (75) to Minyip-Murtoa 11.11 (77). Away.
Round 14: L. 6.9 (45) d Ararat 10.10 (70). Home.
Round 15: W. 13.10 (88) d Horsham Saints 9.6 (60). Away.
Round 16: W. 18.15 (123) d Nhill 9.8 (62). Home. Round 17: W. 17.16 (118) d Horsham 7.7 (49). Away.
Round 18: W. 21.12 (138) d Dimboola 8.7 (55). Home.* *Highest score. ** Lowest score.
Total: Won: 10. Lost: 6. For: 1421. Against: 1188. Points: 40. Percentage: 119.61.
Leading goal-kickers
Sam White, 34. Kai Sheers, 27. Brayden Ison, 16. Rupert Sangster, 16.
Thunder rolls in
t might have taken most of the season for its side to click, but Southern Mallee Thunder has timed its run perfectly for the Wimmera
The Thunder has finished the season in third place – securing the double chance for finals – after a
It was a statement to the rest of top five that the perennial finalists were coming good at the right end
cruits during the season, and with many interstate players not training with the club during the week, it often takes a bulk of the season before the team
“We got a few injuries early in the season, which gave some really good opportunities to blood some kids through – I think we played 39 players this year – so certainly everyone’s had a chance and have had to play multiple roles throughout the year,” Thunder
“But I think in the last month we have been able to steady the side and steady some
that continuity is starting to pay off.”
Hayden Drew
WFNL FINALS
at right time
After a first-round loss to Stawell, the Thunder scored two wins, but then lost the next three – to Ararat, Horsham Saints and Nhill.
However it was the one-point win over Horsham Demons in round eight that was a standout game in Delahunty’s eyes.
“It probably wasn’t all to plan – we started the year two and four and it was looking unlikely that we were going to get over Horsham halfway through that last quarter,” he said.
“I think that was probably the turning point for our season to get that win and to be able to get 10 wins, and get that double chance was obviously pleasing.
“But a new season of finals begins now, so we’re looking forward to the next challenge.”
For Delahunty, among the players to play consistent footy for the Thunder this season were Sam and Lou White, Coleman Schache, Billy Lloyd, and Angus McSweyn.
“I actually wouldn’t know who would win our best and fairest at the moment –there would be half a dozen that could be up there,” he said.
While the Thunder won’t be at full strength – with the losses of Harry McLeod and Bailey Morrish early in the season, they are hoping to have Jake Garvey, out injured, later in the finals series.
But the Thunder is not getting ahead of itself – with the focus firmly on the first
final – a qualifying final against Nhill, at Dimboola on Saturday.
“Everyone would love to go as deep as possible, I’m sure that’s the case, but the nature of the competition and the Wim mera league this year is that it’s been really strong and really even,” Dela hunty said.
“We set ourselves up to get the top three and hope fully get a spot as possible in I think we forward any week really against Nhill.
“They finished second on the ladder for a reason and they’ve got some really good players –contest.”
After a heartbreaking nine-point loss to Ararat in last year’s grand final, there is no doubt the Thunder would love nothing more than a premiership in their hands.
“Ararat is deservedly favourites, they haven’t lost a game and they’ve won comfortably in pretty well every game they’ve played, so I think for us it’s just a matter of making sure we get to play them and we’ve got nothing to lose re ally,” he said.
“I think they’re the favourites and the pressure is probably on them a bit.”
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Players to watch
Kieran Delahunty
The coach, a three-time Toohey medallist, has only played half the season due to suffering a broken lower leg against his old side Minyip-Murtoa in round four, so he should be primed for finals.
Billy Lloyd
Captain consistency, Lloyd has cemented himself as a key player for the Thunder in his three seasons at the club. They will be looking for something special from their leader if they are to progress through the finals series. Opposition clubs are well aware of how important Lloyd is for the Thunder so the skipper will need to overcome their attention to step up for his team.
Coleman Schache
The club veteran continues to shine for the Thunder – named in the best in eight games this season, he has had another impressive year.
Sam White
One of the Thunder’s leading goal-kickers in season 2025, White has booted 34 goals. His mid-season form was a standout, kicking 15 goals in four games. He is more than capable of kicking a bag of goals - booting six major against the Demons in round 17 and then another six against Dimboola at the weekend. White will need to have his kicking boots on for the Thunder to be a force
Southern Mallee Thunder FNC
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Heath Smith
Nhill’s road to the finals
Clear vision in WFNL FINALS
Coaches: Jake McQueen, Trevor Ryan
Round 1: W. 13.8 (86) d Horsham Saints 6.9 (45). Away.
Round 2: Bye.
Round 3: W. 17.19 (121) d Horsham 9.13 (67) Home.*
Round 4: L. 7.6 (48) to Dimboola 19.8 (122). Away.
Round 5: W. 12.8 (80) d Stawell 7.11 (53). Home.
Round 6: W. 13.13 (91) d Warrack Eagles 10.13 (73). Away.
Round 7: W. 17.6 (108) d Southern Mallee Thunder 14.8 (92). Home.
Round 8: W. 12.11 (83) d Minyip-Murtoa 9.9 (63). Away.
Round 9: L. 8.9 (57) to Ararat 18.7 (115). Home.
Round 10: W. 14.9 (93) d Horsham Saints 9.12 (66). Home.
Round 11: Bye.
Round 12: W. 14.12 (96) d Horsham 11.10 (76) Away.
Round 13: W. 6.15 (51) d Dimboola 6.7 (43). Home.
Round 14: L. 5.6 (36) to Stawell 5.11 (41). Away.**
Round 15: W. 10.12 (72) d Warrack Eagles 9.8 (62). Home.
Round 16: L. 9.8 (62) to Southern Mallee Thunder 18.15 (123). Away.
Round 17: W. 11.13 (79) d Minyip-Murtoa 6.13 (49). Home.
Round 18: L. 7.7 (49) to Ararat 15.15 (105). Away. *Highest score. ** Lowest score.
Total: Won: 11. Lost: 5. For: 1212. Against: 1195. Points: 44. Percentage: 101.42.
Leading goal-kickers
Drew Schneider, 41. Xavier Bone, 23. Daniel Batson, 21. Clay Shadforth, 17.
hill co-coach Jake McQueen is daring to dream for this year’s finals series.
The Tigers finished the Wimmera league season second on the ladder, where they have sat for most of the year.
In his second year of coaching, McQueen – a Nhill boy who after playing in the Victorian Football League returned home to play and coach the Tigers – is clear on his vision for Nhill’s
After just qualifying for finals last year where they knocked over Horsham Demons in a thrilling elimination final, McQueen said the Tigers were eying a grand final berth this
“ I’m not putting any pressure on anyone really, because I’ve never really done that – I just want to take each week as it comes – but it’ll be massive for the town if we do make a grand final,” he said.
“The last grand final was possibly in 2010, so it was a long time ago, and the last one we won was 1981, so it’d mean a lot to get there and obviously to win one – that’s just another
But the reality is Nhill is the second-best team behind Ararat – the reigning premiers are undefeated this year and pose a huge hurdle for any opponent.
After winning the league’s coach of the year last year, McQueen has teamed up with Trevor Ryan as senior co-coaches at Tigerland in 2025.
Nhill’s onfield leaders have excelled – captain and midfielder Lucas Dahlenburg has enjoyed a topclass season; while Darcy Honeyman and Liam Albrecht have led by example in the backline.
Liam Albrecht
WFNL FINALS
run for flag
They’ve also added the pizzazz of Clay Shadforth – an exciting forward who has an uncanny goal sense – while regaining the services of backman Frazer Driscoll, who had been playing for North Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League, and pulled off a more-than-handy midseason pick-up of Adam Zimmermann – a 200-plus centimetre ruckman who has come back to play for his hometown.
Three early wins were a great start for Nhill but it was a 74-point loss to Dimboola in round four that McQueen believes set up their season.
“I think that was a little bit of a reality check, which was good. I think that’s what we needed – a bit of a kick up the bum,” he said.
“Even though we hadn’t lost before then, that got us all mentally in the right frame and helped us for that next period, which I think we only lost one game in eight, so that was probably a pivotal moment in our season.”
While Ararat are rated number one in the league, McQueen said Thunder and Dimboola also posed a threat.
But the Tigers have done their best to set themselves up for success.
“ If you told us that we were going to finish second on the ladder, I’d be absolutely stoked – and I am still absolutely stoked,” McQueen said.
“But, and I’ve said a few times, that four-quarter effort, we haven’t really strung together yet.
“So who knows? We could be very damaging if we can actually do that.
“I’m very, very happy where we are on the ladder and how we’ve performed – but I just would love to get that four-quarter effort.”
Tigers
Players to watch
Liam Albrecht
The Tigers veteran has again had a consistent season, showing his resilience and onfield leadership in Nhill’s backline. Albrecht never shirks a contest and is rarely out-marked, making him a key player for Nhill.
Darcy Honeyman
Another loyal Tiger who is ever-reliable in defence, Honeyman is the general of the Nhill backline. He will again be looked to for his leadership during the finals series.
Drew Schneider
Another homegrown hero who has this season played mostly up the ground from his traditional full-forward position out of the goal square. But he’s relished the change, kicking 35 goals, including seven goals in a half against Horsham Demons early in the season. The Tigers will be looking for him to regain his standout form and shine in the
Jake McQueen
The playing coach probably hasn’t been as dominant on the field in season 2025 – compared to last season. But the cream rises to the top in the finals so keep an eye out for him to make a big impression in September.
Jake McQueen
Ararat’s road to the finals
Coaches: Tom Mills, Tom Williamson
Rats prepared WFNL FINALS
Round 1: W. 32.12 (204) d Horsham 8.8 (56). Home.*
Round 2: W. 24.14 (158) d Dimboola 6.5 41. Away.
Round 3: W. 23.16 (154) d Stawell 9.4 (58) Home.
Round 4: W. 19.20 (134) d Warrack Eagles 4.7 (31) Away.
Round 5: W. 13.11 (89) d Southern Mallee
Thunder 5.7 (37). Home.
Round 6: W. 12.9 (81) d Minyip-Murtoa 9.7 (61). Away.
Round 7: Bye.
Round 8: W. 18.14 (122) d Horsham Saints 3.4 (22). Home.
Round 9: W. 18.7 (115) d Nhill 8.9 (57). Away.
Round 10: W. 27.13 (175) d Horsham 5.1 (31).
Round 11: W. 21.15 (141) d Dimboola 2.5 (17). Home.
Round 12: W. 21.8 (134) d Stawell 10.9 (69). Away.
Round 13: W. 11.16 (82) d Warrack Eagles 2.1 (13). Home.
Round 14: W. 10.10 (70) d Southern Mallee
Thunder 6.9 (45). Away.**
Round 15: W. 18.15 (123) d Minyip-Murtoa 8.3 (51). Home.
Round 16: Bye.
Round 17: W. 17.18 (120) d Horsham Saints 4.3 (27). Away.
Round 18: W. 15.15 (105) d Nhill 7.7 (49). Home. *Highest score. ** Lowest score.
Total: Won: 16. Lost: 0. For: 2007. Against: 665. Points: 64. Percentage: 301.8.
Leading goal-kickers
Tom Williamson, 58. Jack Ganley, 55. Henry Shea, 21. Tom Mills, 20.
Choices Flooring Ararat
ed-hot favourite to take out its third-straight Wimmera league senior football premiership, Ararat has hardly been pushed in season 2025.
With an average winning scoreline in the vicinity of a staggering 84 points, ironically the team that has got closest to Ararat on the scoreboard is Minyip-Murtoa – which will finish in sixth spot and miss out on playing finals.
It has been one of the most dominating of any Wimmera league sides in recent years.
But co-coaches Tom Mills and Tom Williamson are not letting their side get ahead of itself and take the finals matches too lightly.
“As coaches, we probably go the other way where we try and keep everyone on edge,” Mills said.
“Especially when you look at results from two weeks ago where there was a few upsets – anything can happen, so you have just got to be prepared to play your best.”
While Mills admits the season has panned out ‘pretty great’ for the Rats, he said it hadn’t all be smooth-sailing, with a couple of away games in testing conditions proving a challenge.
“The first time we played Minyip-Murtoa up there, they were with us all game – they were probably the first team that had been close to us all the way until the third quarter, and it was just the way we finished it with a bit of composure to change the way we were playing allowed us to finish strong,” he said.
“It was the same as that game up at Jeparit in the wet too – the Thunder was really close to us at three-quarter-time but we finished really strong.”
Already a very good side, Ararat added a couple of strong recruits into the mix this season, with Naish McRoberts and Brayden Draffin becoming regular fixtures in the senior side.
Ben Taylor
WFNL FINALS Ararat Rats
for anything
Henry Ganley has returned to the club to play with brother Jack, who lit up the Rats’ forward line this season.
“Jack’s probably played more forward this year, whereas he would normally go in the midfield, and he’s had a good year,” Mills said.
“Jim Jennings has been pretty good in his second year down back, obviously Tom’s had another great year, and Ben Taylor around the ball – they both have been fantastic.”
The Rats field a big-bodied, strong, experienced team weekin, week-out and embody a professional unit on the ground.
Even more ominous is that Ararat is set to go into the finals at full strength, with every player fit and available at the right time of the season.
There will be no bigger shock exit in country football if the Rats bow out of the finals before the grand final – so who are their biggest challengers?
“A lot of us have been sort of talking about it – who are we going to play in our first final,” Mills said.
“We haven’t played Dimboola when they’ve had a full side, so that’s something we’re not too sure about.
“Same as Thunder – they’ve had a couple out when we’ve played them.
“But all teams – like Nhill and Stawell as well – they’ve trou bled us in some areas of the ground as well, so I mean they’ve all got potential to play well.”
If the Rats do make it a three-peat, there is no doubt the town will again turn red and white.
“It would be huge. A lot of work goes into it – I mean, it’s great for the players, but also just like the people that do the hard yards that don’t get recognised,” he said.
“For the volunteers, it’s massive for them. People might not realise how much it means to them, but that’s why they do it – to win premierships.”
Players to watch
Tom Williamson
The best player in the Wimmera league, the Rats’ co-coach will no doubt show he is a class above in the finals series. The tall, onballer-forward has booted 53 goals this season and is favourite to win back-to-back Toohey medals.
Jack Ganley
The talented Ganley has kicked 55 goals this season – more than half of which were in a four-week period from rounds 10 to 13, including a 10-goal haul against the Demons. Strong, and experienced, Ganley will be keen to win back-to-back premierships for his home town.
Sonny Kettle
A standout footballer since his junior days, Kettle has proven himself as a key player in the Rats’ midfield. Kettle has missed a couple of games through injury this season, but when he does play, he earns himself a spot in the best more often than not.
Jake Robinson
The reliable Robinson is one of the Rats’ unsung heroes. The onballer sets up plenty of play for Ararat, continuing his good form from last year and in 2023, where he was joint winner of the Toohey Medal.
Tom Williamson
Ararat’s road to the finals
Coach: Sally Noble
Round 1: L. 48 lost to Horsham 56. Home.
Round 2: L. 44 lost to Dimboola 60. Away.
Round 3: W. 59 d Stawell 39. Home.
Round 4: W. 49 d Warrack Eagles 43. Away.
WFNL FINALS
Outstanding year
Round 5: W. 51 d Southern Mallee Thunder 42. Home.
Round 6: W. 61 d Minyip-Murtoa 23. Away.
Round 7: Bye.
Round 8: L. 42 lost to Horsham Saints 87. Home.
Round 9: W. 62 d Nhill 43. Away.
Round 10: L. 41 lost to Horsham 48. Away.
Round 11: W. 43 d Dimboola 40. Home.
Round 12: W. 63 d Stawell 33. Away.
Round 13: W. 48 d Warrack Eagles 27. Home.
Round 14: L. 40 lost to Southern Mallee Thunder 43. Away.**
Round 15: W. 78 d Minyip-Murtoa 36. Home.*
Round 16: Bye.
Round 17: L. 49 to Horsham Saints 80. Away.
Round 18: W. 55 d Nhill 36. Home.
* Highest score ** Lowest score
Total: Won: 10. Lost: 6. For: 833. Against: 736. Points: 40. Percentage: 113.18.
Players to watch
Maggie Astbury
Astbury, a new recruit for Ararat this season, teams well with Laney McLoughlan to provide a strong attack. She is in the league’s top four goalers.
The Biddle sisters It’s hard to separate Faith and Paige Biddle and their contribution to the rise of Ararat this season. Although both are under an injury cloud, if fit, they will have an impact on the Rats’ finals fortunes.
owever the finals play out for Ararat, it has already won – just making the finals alone is a long way from not winning a game
The Rats have finished fifth on the A Grade ladder in 2025, climbing from the bottom last season, thanks to a new coach and an injection of playing
A revelation this season – for both Ararat and the Wimmera league – has been Paige and Faith Biddle. The sisters crossed over from Ararat Eagles and have led the way for the Rats – there hasn’t been many games where at least one of them has
While Faith started the season playing mostly in attack, she later moved to the defence end where she combines superbly with Paige. With injuries to both Biddles a worry for the Rats, if they can return to the court fit and in form, it could well determine how deep into finals Ararat can progress. Another handy recruit is Maggie Astbury, who after crossing over from Mininera league club Tatyoon, has cemented herself as a key goal-attack in the league. Astbury teams well with goal-shooter Laney McLoughlan to provide Ararat with a strong attack, ably helped by the Rats midcourt, led by captain Jess Taylor – the former best-and-fairest winner returned to the club this season after having a baby, and has had an impact
with her drive and feeds into the goal circle. Ararat A Grade coach Sally Noble said it had so far been a great season for the Rats, who had shown ‘huge improvement’.
“Our highlights of the season for us have been strong on-court performances across the whole team. Positive team dynamics, with the girls showing their skills and confidence also being encouraging and united,” she said.
Noble pinpointed matches such as the three-goal win over Dimboola in round 11 and against Horsham Demons – where the Rats lost but came close to the reigning premiers – as standout games.
Ararat has matched up against the Demons well this season – in round 10, losing 41-48 and in round one, losing by eight goals.
“All of the girls have been outstanding this year, their teamwork, sportsmanship and dedication has been the standout,” Noble said.
But with the home-and-away season now done and dusted, the Rats turn their attention to finals.
“Our hopes going into the finals is that we stay focused, utilise our strategies that have got us to finals and just maintain a positive mindset and be consistent and competitive,” Noble said.
But no matter what results are achieved in the finals series, the young Ararat A Grade team has come a long way in season 2025 – and has set itself up for even greater success in coming seasons.
While there has been consistency in terms of the players on the court this season, Noble has also used junior players to great effect.
“Our side is young and versatile, and absolutely the future looks bright for our club,” she said.
ARARAT FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB
The Ararat Rats Football Netball Club
Paige Biddle
WFNL FINALS
Systems in place
They are the wildcard of the Wimmera league A Grade competition – and Southern Mallee Thunder could well make their way deep into the 2025 finals series.
While the undefeated Horsham Saints are firm favourites for the premiership, the next four teams in the top five have the ability to cause an upset.
Finishing in fourth place, Southern Mallee Thunder showed what they are capable of –two weeks ago defeating reigning premiers Horsham Demons.
That 12-goal win and a three-goal victory over Ararat were confidence-boosters for the Thunder ahead of finals, according to co-coach Steph Thomson.
Thomson, who coaches the A Grade with Jodie Hayes, said 2025 had been a successful season, building on last year’s inaugural season as the Thunder after a merger between the Giants and Jeparit-Rainbow.
“We have put a strong emphasis on building on our first season of Thunder in 2024 in order to be a competitor come finals time. We missed finals by one game last year so we were determined to do better in 2025,” she said.
Thomson said the team had worked hard all season to implement systems on the court, which was paying off.
She said coaching a highly motivated and driven group of A Grade players who make an effort to improve and be the best team they could be was a highlight for both coaches.
As a playing coach and one of the lead-
ing goal-attacks in the league, Thom son thrives on playing quality netball against the top five sides in the com petition – and her leadership rubs off on her players.
“Everyone has been working really hard and playing their role,” Thomson said.
“We have had team meetings and set indi vidual goals. Jodie and I can see each player working hard to achieve them and also keep themselves accountable.”
Emma Mill has come back into the side this year, which has not only provided the Thunder with versatility in the goal circle, but direction, leadership and positivity on court.
Codie Robins has had a stellar season, run ning through the midcourt, inserting herself as a dynamic player, offering speed and strength in the Thunder attack.
Defender Sydney Thorogood has also been a standout for the Thunder this year, making life difficult for the league’s goalers.
It was the Thunder’s defence that was key to giving the Saints a scare in round six where the margin was just 14 goals.
“We have huge belief in the group that we have and how they combine both on and off the court,” Thomson said.
“Our initial goal was to be in the top five at the end of the home-and-away season and the girls have done that.
“We have given ourselves every opportunity to go as far into September as we can.
“We hope to continue playing at the level we have been the last few weeks and enjoy it.”
Southern Mallee Thunder’s road to the finals
Coaches: Steph Thomson, Jodie Hayes
Round 1: W. 48 d Stawell 39. Home.
Round 2: W. 35 d Warrack Eagles 23. Away.**
Round 3: Bye.
Round 4: W. 59 d Minyip-Murtoa 29. Home.
Round 5: L. 42 lost to Ararat. Away.
Round 6: L. 43 lost to Horsham Saints 57. Home.
Round 7: W. 55 d Nhill 33. Away.
Round 8: L. 44 lost to Horsham 60. Home.
Round 9: L. 53 lost to Dimboola 58. Away.
Round 10: W. 65 d Stawell 38. Away.
Round 11: W. 57 d Warrack Eagles 29. Home.
Round 12: Bye.
Round 13: W. 68 d Minyip-Murtoa 22. Away.*
Round 14: W. 43 d Ararat 40. Home.
Round 15: L.47 lost to Horsham Saints 75. Away.
Round 16: W. 68 d Nhill 40. Home.*
Round 17: W. 59 d Horsham 47. Away.
Round 18: L. 38 to Dimboola. Home.
* Highest score ** Lowest score
Total: Won: 10. Lost: 6. For: 824. Against: 687.
Points: 40. Percentage: 119.94.
Players to watch
Steph Thomson
The Thunder’s co-coach and star goal-attack is a standout in the attack end, and consistently provides a reliable option in the goal circle. She has shot 516 in her 16 games this season, sitting third on the A Grade goal-shooting leader board, Sydney Thorogood
A tall timber in defence, Thorogood has relished her time in mostly goal-keeper this season, providing a key asset to the Thunder’s defence – a formidable opposition to any side’s goalers.
Emma Mill
WFNL FINALS
Dimboola’s road to the finals
Coaches: Ant Toet, Olivia Beugelaar
Round 1: W. 59 d Minyip-Murtoa 28. Away.
Round 2: W. 60 d Ararat 44. Home.
Round 3: L. 47 lost to Horsham Saints 70. Away.
Round 4: W. 74 d Nhill 44. Home.
Round 5: L. 58 lost to Horsham 61. Away.
Round 6: Bye.
Round 7: W. 67 d Stawell 50. Home.
Round 8: W. 58 d Warrack Eagles 31. Away.
Round 9: W. 58 d Southern Mallee Thunder 53. Home.
Round 10: W. 90 d Minyip-Murtoa 35. Home.*
Round 11: L. 40 lost to Ararat 43. Away.**
Round 12: L. 48 lost to Horsham Saints. Home.
Round 13: W. 59 d Nhill 29. Away.
Round 14: W. 52 d Horsham 47. Home.
Round 15: Bye.
Round 16: W. 59 d Stawell 36. Away.
Round 17: W. 47 d Warrack Eagles 37. Home.
Round 18: W. 46 d Southern Mallee Thunder. Away.
* Highest score ** Lowest score
Total: Won: 12. Lost: 4. For: 922. Against: 727. Points: 48. Percentage: 126.82.
Players to watch
Bridget Dorrington
Dorrington has been a standout this season. Whether playing at goal-defence or goal-keeper, she has been named in the Roos’ best on more than seven occasions and must be a chance to poll well in the Hatcher Medal count.
Rianna Kuhne
The Roos’ captain leads by example. Mostly playing centre, she can just as ably bring her A-game to play wing-attack or wing-defence, giving Dimboola great flexibility.
Revisiting goals
imboola’s exciting brand of fast, energetic netball could be an Xfactor in this season’s Wimmera league A Grade finals.
The Roos finished the season in third spot – the same as last year – with a win-loss record of 11-4, including a coveted win against Horsham Demons in round 14.
Co-coach Ant Toet said the competitive nature of Wimmera league netball made every game important because ‘you can’t underestimate anyone’.
“We’ve made the last two preliminary finals, so we’re still hoping we can do that and possibly better that if everything goes our way and we stick to our plans and our goals,” she said.
Toet said with most of the players former Dimboola junior netballers, and the addition of two players from former neighbouring club JeparitRainbow, the A Grade side’s success was even
“It’s really rewarding and they’ve got that passion, but we’ve still got a job to do – the weeks ahead are going to be tough. We don’t have that pool of girls that we can pull from like the Horsham teams or the bigger cities and towns can, so we know it’s tough,” she said.
“We know that we’re probably seen as underdogs as well. We’re certainly not taking anything for granted. We’re loving it and hopefully we can take the next step this year.”
Dimboola lost rising star Indy Ward to injury in round 11, and have had player unavailability affect
their season. “In our second half of the season, we knew going into it that we’d have a lot of absences and that we were going to have to use more than just our starting seven,” Toet said.
“We’ve used the bench and the rolling subs, probably more than other clubs.
“And that’s also been a challenge for the girls and they’ve coped with that – to know that they’ve got someone on the bench they can rely on to come on and the intensity doesn’t drop, to know that ‘oh, I might need to come off and just sit back and watch and see what’s happening on the court’ and then go back on – that plays with your mind a lot and they’ve worked a lot on that.
“We knew we had to develop that over the season, because at the end of the day, it’s the team that plays four quarters.”
Toet said Dimboola had set goals before the season and then revisited those goals throughout the year to reassess.
The motivated Roos have worked on poor starts to games, and also set ‘mini goals’ for themselves to achieve.
Toet said the team had identified each player’s strengths and weaknesses prior to the season and depending on the match, had seen individuals shine throughout the season.
One particular player to shine for the Roos this season is defender Bridget Dorrington, who has been named in the best seven times.
“She’s super fit, she’s super keen to take on any feedback and work with whoever is in the circle with her or even when she goes out,” Toet said.
Dimboola Football Netball Club would like to thank all their sponsors and members for the 2025 season
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Wimmera Mallee News
Betta Home Living Horsham
BMP Plumbing BMP Civil
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Dimboola Post Office Drift
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Horsham Tyre & Battery
Horsham Wool
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MTB Carpentry
Road Runner Offroad
Thai Basil
Westech Ag
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Z & B Dorrington
Chef Teacher Cat Clarke
Elite Contender 24-7 Gym
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Helen Baker Hairdressing
Mel Obst Art
Michelle Menzel Hat Bar
Permanent & Personalised
Toughy’s Garage
GoodYear Autocare Horsham
Rianna Kuhne
WFNL FINALS
Full-team effort
While they may have suffered some unexpected defeats this season, Horsham Demons will no doubt bring their A game to the A Grade finals series.
It would be a brave pundit to write off the seasoned finals contenders – the Demons know how to play strong netball at the right time of year.
Coach Georgie Carberry said 2025 had been a year of growth and development.
In her first year of coaching, under the guidance of past coach and star defender Ebonie Salter, Carberry said the focus after last year’s premiership was to reconnect.
The Demons lost a couple of key players from last year’s team, replacing them with new recruit Jorja Jones and Demons’ 15-and-under player Sienna Manserra.
“I feel like we’ve got a young team. As much as we do have a few players from our premiership side last year, we’re very new – we’ve had to make new connections and grow and find out our systems, and what works best against which team,” she said.
Carberry said elevating Ella Janetzki from the Demons’ B Grade team to the senior side midseason had been a positive.
Janetzki, who plays in the midcourt, added depth and versatility to the A Grade team.
“That’s been a big highlight because it just shows that everyone, no matter where you get selected at the start of the year, there’s always room for developing,” Carberry said.
Other players to stand out for the Demons
this season include goal-shooter Imogen Wor thy, who had developed in her accuracy and held her own against the competition’s best defenders, while Salter has teamed well with Manserra and Keely Pope in defence.
“I think all games we’ve played this year have had their challenges, and had its posi tives,” Carberry said.
“We are a team that just has to keep on working hard for every game and every op portunity. We are not a team that has the expectation that we’re just going to go out there and win it.
“We know that every team in the top five is very strong, so for us – I think just every game has been a bit of a nail-biter. We just have to keep working hard.”
Carberry said aside from the premiership favourites Horsham Saints, she expected tough games against Dimboola and Southern Mallee Thunder – both of whom had beaten the Demons this season – but she also believes Ararat could be a ‘dark horse’.
“I think come finals, it can be anyone’s game. I think it’s about going out there and working really hard, playing as a team and trusting and believing in ourselves,” she said.
“If we can do all those three things, I think we’ll go a long way.”
Carberry said she was looking forward to seeing how the A Grade finals played out.
“It’s really good for the league – we’ve had some years where it’s just been Horsham ver sus Saints, so it’s really exciting that the whole top five are in with a chance,” she said.
GO DEES!!!
Horsham’s road to the finals
Coach: Georgie Carberry
Round 1: W. 56 d Ararat 48. Away.
Round 2: L. 40 lost to Horsham Saints. Home.**
Round 3: W. 82 d Nhill 50. Away.
Round 4: Bye.
Round 5: W. 61 d Dimboola 58. Home.
Round 6: W. 75 d Stawell 46. Away.
Round 7: W. 52 d Warrack Eagles 44. Home.
Round
Round
Keely Pope
Now in her third season of A Grade netball at the Demons, Pope is an unsung hero of the side. Playing mostly at wing-defence, her agility and connection she provides is key to the Demons’ side.
Imogen Worthy
WFNL FINALS Horsham
Horsham Saints’ road to the finals
Coach: Vernetta Taylor
Round 1: W. 101 d Nhill 38. Home.*
Round 2: W. 60 d Horsham 40. Away.
Round 3: W. 70 d Dimboola 47. Home.
Round 4: W. 84 d Stawell 36. Away.
Round 5: W. 66 d Warrack Eagles 27. Home.
Round 6: W. 57 d Southern Mallee Thunder 43. Away.
Round 7: W. 97 d Minyip-Murtoa 25. Home.
Round 8: W. 87 d Ararat 42. Away.
Round 9: Bye.
Round 10: W. 89 d Nhill 42. Away.
Round 11: W. 65 d Horsham 57. Home.
Round 12: W. 81 d Dimboola 48. Away.
Round 13: W. 100 d Stawell 36. Home.
Round 14: W. 53 d Warrack Eagles 25. Away.**
Round 15: W. 75 d Southern Mallee Thunder 47. Home.
Round 16: W. 98 d Minyip-Murtoa 20. Away.
Round 17: W. 80 d Ararat 49. Home.
Round 18: Bye.
* Highest score ** Lowest score
Total: Won: 16. Lost: 0. For: 1263. Against: 622. Points: 64. Percentage: 203.05.
Players to watch
Jorja Clode
The Saints’ focal point in attack, Clode plays well beyond her 17 years. She is the league’s highestscoring goaler – 684 from 15 games – shooting more than 50 goals on six occasions this season.
The Saints skipper is ever consistent – a cool head to lead what has often been a young team during the season. Last year’s Hatcher medallist will again be vital to the Saints’ finals campaign.
Composure key
After an undefeated home-and-away season, Horsham Saints have earned the title of raging-hot premiership favourites in Wimmera league A Grade netball.
The Saints have not only won 16 games straight, they have the highest goal-scoring total of 1263, and the lowest total of goals scored against, 622. Saints coach Vernetta Taylor is obviously pleased with how the season has so far unfolded, and is proud of her players – many of whom she has coached in their junior days and have progressed through the club’s exemplary netball department.
“I’m most proud of the fact we’ve actually kept improving. We’re not staying at that same standard – we’re working really hard to continually improve every week because we know that every other team is doing that ,” Taylor said.
While the Saints’ season seems nice and shiny on the surface, they have faced their challenges.
When they lost defenders Holly Phillips, moved overseas, and Erin Martin, pregnant, early in the season, they looked to 17-and-under players Maddison Bethune and Lena Marshman to fill the void.
Shannon Cross also moved from her usual wingattack position to play wing-defence.
The Saints’ lineup has also been affected by player injuries and the availability of star goal-shooter Jorja Clode, who has had to manage her Saints duties around her commitment to Bendigo Strikers’ 23-and-under side in the Victorian Netball League. Taylor, in her return to A Grade coach this season, has also made a point of ensuring the side had flexibility to cater for any unplanned
availability. “I think that’s been a real positive that we are not reliant on any one or two players in the team – it’s a very balanced team that is led very well by Ash Grace, who is a wonderful captain and on-court leader,” Taylor said.
The match that cemented the Saints’ superior season was on Anzac Day, when they scored a 20-goal win over arch-rivals Horsham Demons – the side that had beaten them in last year’s grand final.
“ It’s always a big occasion – it feels like a final and it’s round two, and we always say across the board as a club, you know where you’re at after Anzac Day because you’re playing against a really quality club in the netball,” Taylor said.
“So to go out and win that game by 20 goals was like ‘yeah we’ve got something here – this can be something special’.”
Taylor said despite the 100 per cent success rate during the home-and-away season, the finals series would require the Saints to hold their nerve and stay focused.
“ I do feel a little uneasy going in undefeated – I won’t lie – I’ve seen a lot of teams get to grand final day and lose after being undefeated, it’s happened to Saints,” she said.
“So I know that it’s not an easy journey ahead. We all know that we really have to stay focused and committed to each other and what our goals are and what we set at the start of the season.
“If they continue to play like they’ve been playing, I expect that we should make it to grand final day, but finals are a tricky thing, and there’s no guarantees. We have to work really hard for it, and we have to make sure we maintain our composure.”
we include we achieve we care
Ashlee Grace
Maddison Bethune