By Lauren Henry

It’s been 195 days of being starved of Wimmera league football and netball action, and isn’t the region ready to return to the ovals and courts.

The annual Good Friday clash between Ararat and Stawell will be the first hitout in the Wimmera league for season 2026.

After Ararat and Horsham Saints took home their senior football and netball premierships in 2025 – the Rats their third consecutive and the Saints crowned premiers and champions – clubs have gone to work in a bid to improve in the off-season.

In putting together this feature, The Weekly Advertiser team has spoken to all clubs to compile comprehensive reports on where each club is at in preparing for the season ahead.

The amount of work that goes into a football-netball club – from the committee, volunteers, coaches and players – in order to field as many teams as possible is admirable. 

And while the season proper is from April to September, work is required year-round to ensure clubs have the best possible chance of success.

While premierships are often the ultimate goal, there are other measurements of success.

The overall sustainability of the club, creating safe and supportive environments, and providing an enjoyable social space and setting a positive culture for players, members and supporters are among the truly worthwhile benefits of clubs.

It is no surprise that clubs are often the heartbeat of our towns. 

They play such an important role in the fabric of rural and regional communities, and offer so many more benefits than just providing a sporting outlet.

So what will come out of the Wimmera league this year?

Last year was not without its controversies, which saw the league chairman step down mid finals series, the A Grade elimination final scoring fiasco and then the investigation into Ararat coach Tom Williamson, who was accused of vilifying a Thunder player.

We could do without the controversies and let the focus stay purely on the football and netball, played in the right spirit.

Will we see Ararat continue its dominance and go down as one of the greatest teams in the league? 

Who will challenge Horsham Saints in A Grade netball and be the first to defeat the premiers since 2024?

My predictions for this season –

Senior football 

Grand finalists: Ararat versus Nhill – with Ararat showing their experience to win a thriller.

Biggest improver: Horsham Demons – their new coach will reinvigorate the former powerhouse.

New finals contender: Horsham Saints – an influx of recruits, maturing of their list and new coach will propel the Saints back into finals contention.

The unknown: Southern Mallee Thunder. We know the Thunder will always be a top-tier team but as always their list is a bit of an unknown – the Thunder team in the early rounds can be vastly different from the one they put on the park in finals – so just what will they look like come September?

Toohey medallist: Billy Lloyd will shine for the Thunder again in 2026.

Surprise twist of 2026: Warrack Eagles to cause more upsets than any other side.

A Grade netball

Grand finalists: Saints v Dimboola – with the Saints digging deep to defeat a determined Dimboola.

Biggest improver: Stawell – expect to see a more experienced Warriors, who will notch up more than their two wins last season.

New finals contender: Warrack Eagles – they finished sixth in 2025, albeit five wins off the pace, but the Eagles will definitely push to return to the finals race this season.

The unknown: Horsham Demons – always in the premiership mix – will be a different-looking side in 2026 so can they gel quickly enough to be a serious threat in 2026?

Hatcher medallist: Horsham Saints’ Ash Grace for a three-peat.

Surprise twist of 2026: The influence of the many juniors stepping up to play A Grade – what a pleasure they are to watch, and to witness their development. 

The entire April 1, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!