By Lauren Henry 

With just three rounds remaining in Wimmera league football, Nhill will need to continue its good form to solidify a finals’ spot.

Minyip-Murtoa is just four points behind fifth-placed Nhill on the ladder, and Tigers coach Jake McQueen said his team must win at least two of the next three games to make finals.

“It’s kind of cut-throat footy at the moment,” he said.

“But I think we play alright when the pressure’s being put on us.”

Other than Jake Harrap missing with a hamstring injury, the Tigers are expected to go into this Saturday’s match at full strength against Southern Mallee Thunder.

The Tigers then face Ararat and Horsham Saints.

The Thunder sit atop of the senior ladder, scoring another percentage-boosting victory at the weekend when they defeated Dimboola by 102 points.

The home side was no match for the Thunder, who had the game wrapped at half time, leading by 83 points.

While the margin was a little closer at Davis Park, the Tigers were back in the winner’s circle after dropping the game against Horsham the week before.

“Credit to Warrack, they came out pretty good in the first half, but we started to actually play our brand of football in the second half and it showed on the scoreboard, which was nice,” McQueen said.

“Dylan Redding kicked five, and Darcy Honeyman was really good down back –  he’s our general back there, taking a fair few intercept marks and used the ball really well off the back flank.

“Jared Dahlenberg, he had a ripper first half and just gives his all like he does every week and Lucas Dahlenberg did the exact same thing, so it’s good having them in the middle as both love having a crack.”

McQueen was named Nhill’s best in the win, but said he hadn’t been happy with his own form this season.

“It’s been a challenge, juggling coaching and playing, but I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of it and can start focusing a bit on myself and leave it up to all my coaches on the sidelines, and that’s what I’ve started to learn a bit the last few weeks, which has been good,” he said.

The Thunder versus Nhill match, at Rainbow, will be played as an Indigenous round, with the Thunder wearing a Tommy Long-designed Indigenous guernsey, as Uncle Warren Nelson performs a smoking ceremony and welcome to country, while special Indigenous round medallions will be presented for best players in the football and netball.

At Central Park, Stawell, the Warriors showed their superiority with a 35-point win against the Demons.

Horsham was off to a solid start, leading 25-10 at the first break, but a six goal to one second quarter put the Warriors back on track.

Stawell, through Aiden Graveson, Josh Fowkes and Cody Driscoll, with four goals, continued to build in the second half to take the win – in a milestone match for Jackson Dark who played his 200th senior game.

The other match of round 15 saw Ararat record a 67-point win against Minyip-Murtoa, with Ben Taylor, James Jennings and Jack Ganley leading the way.

Playing at Minyip, a 10-goal third quarter from the reigning premiers bumped the margin out to 65 points as co-coach Tom Williamson booted five goals.

The Rats will host Dimboola this Saturday in what should be a sure win, while Minyip-Murtoa will take on Horsham Saints, coming off a bye.

The other round 16 match on Saturday is Warrack Eagles against Stawell, while the Demons have a bye.

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