In brilliant sunshine and unseasonably hot conditions, watchers would have pencilled in a big question mark about Ararat, which came off second best to the tune of 77 points.
Above all, everyone else at the game, others who listened to the live call on radio station 3WM and fans in general would have celebrated a return of the game after a lengthy hiatus.
The rest of Wimmera league’s opening round will continue next week but for the moment many would be absorbing all that unfolded at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval.
Plenty of people made the most of conditions to venture through the gates and watch the season’s first Battle of the Great Divide.
As the teams blew away considerable cobwebs from their respective armouries, it was soon evident the visiting Warriors would be setting the pace. A nine-point lead at quarter time expanded to 29 points at the main break, but it was the second half when the gap between the teams turned into a canyon.
Stawell booted six unanswered goals in the third term to blow out the margin and then scooted home to a big win.
Cody Driscoll was a primary finisher for the winners with seven goals and Jay Moody bagged four, while busy utility Jackson Dark produced a best-on-ground performance further up the ground.
Others such as Sam Williams, Sean Mantell and Tom Walker were also busy.
Ararat had a young line-up, although coach and veteran Matt Walder – providing critical leadership to his group on the ground – would have brought up the average age across the lines.
Riley Taylor, Tom Cousins and Tom Miller won primary accolades for the Rats, who will have a fortnight to dust themselves off before meeting Minyip-Murtoa at Murtoa.
Stawell’s next game will be against Nhill at Stawell. Friday’s contest allowed all involved in Wimmera football a chance to take a deep breath and look towards a future of greater certainty.
Other games went ahead as scheduled with Stawell winning a reserves match and Ararat successful in under-17s and under-14s.
Senior results –
Stawell 3.6 6.12 12.18 15.19 (109)
Ararat 2.1 3.1 3.1 5.2 (32)
GOALS: Stawell, C. Driscoll 7, J. Moody 4, C. Nield 2, C. Kimber, T. Eckel; Ararat, F. Jamieson 2, C. Taylor, N. Oliver, T. Mills.
BEST: Stawell, J. Dark, C. Driscoll, S. Williams, T. Walker, S. Mantell, J. Barber; Ararat, R. Taylor, T. Cousins, T. Mills, L. Spalding, B. Cosgriff, B. Griffin.
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