By Lauren Henry

A tantalising round of Wimmera league matches ensue this week, starting with the annual Anzac Day clash between two cross-town rivals.

Horsham Demons will host Horsham Saints at city oval on Thursday evening – with the first of the junior matches starting at 1pm, followed by other grades throughout the afternoon before the senior game at 6.35pm after an Anzac ceremony.

Both the Demons and Saints come off round one losses, making the annual traditional match even more important.

The Demons were right in their match against reigning premiers Ararat, with just one point separating the two sides at three-quarter time. 

But the Rats put their foot on the accelerator in the final term, piling on five goals to the Demons’ one to score a 29-point win.

The Saints come off a tough 44-point loss to Stawell, who led at every change in a dominant display.

Stawell coach Tom Eckel said a highlight was the performance of Ash Driscoll, with five goals, in his second match for the Warriors.

“It felt like we controlled the game the whole day, so we’re pretty happy with that win,” he said.

“Jakob Salmi also had a good game in the midfield, and Sam Jenkinson, one of our younger players, played really well, so it was a good spread.”

However, the Warriors’ inaccuracy in front of goal, kicking 14.18, is an area Eckel said needed to be addressed.

“If we don’t fix it, it’ll cost us a game at some stage... we were  pretty ordinary in that area,” he said.

Stawell is the only senior team to have recorded two wins so far this season, giving them top spot on the ladder, but the ladder will be skewed until at least halfway through the season due to the Warriors versus Ararat round nine match being played on Good Friday.

“We really had to beat the reigning premiers, Ararat, and then beat Horsham Saints who made a prelim last year –  I know things have changed but to be a chance to be three and zero would be the perfect start to the year,” he said.

Eckel said Stawell’s 150th celebrations this weekend augured for a big match on Saturday against Minyip-Murtoa.

As well as functions on the day, Stawell footballers will also wear specially-designed 150th guernseys to mark the occasion.

“It’s going to be a massive day. They’re expecting 400 to 500 people there, so it’ll be a great day,” he said.

“Stawell and Minyip-Murtoa have a pretty good connection – we get along pretty well.

“For us to get the win in front of all our supporters and ex-players, presidents and all that would be great.”

But the Warriors face a tough test against the Burras, who scored a 31-point win against Nhill on Saturday.

“They’re a tall side, a big side. They’ve troubled us over many years now,” he said.

“They defend the ground really well, so we’re just going to have to come up with a couple of plans to counteract that. It’s one that we really want to win.”

In a monumental occasion on Saturday, newly-merged club Southern Mallee Thunder smashed Warrack Eagles by 129 points.

The Thunder played at one of its four home grounds, Jeparit – which was the first Wimmera league game at that ground since 1989.

The dominant Thunder kicked off strongly, booting 9.2 while keeping the Eagles scoreless in the first term. 

Warrack’s start of the season does not look any easier as they face Ararat this weekend – the Eagles play all of last year’s top five in their first five matches of this season.

While the Thunder can cool its jets with a bye in round two, the other match will see Dimboola kick off its season with an away game at Nhill.

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