The stage is set for two intriguing Wimmera league finals this weekend, as Nhill face Southern Mallee Thunder in a do-or-die clash, while Horsham Saints will take on Stawell in a qualifying final.

Both Nhill and the Thunder suffered upset losses late in the season, and while the Thunder had a bye, the Tigers hit back with a 95-point win over Horsham Demons on Saturday to return confidence in their form.

Nhill co-coach Jake McQueen described it as a ‘mature’ win, with the Tigers not taking anything for granted.

The Tigers had a blistering first half – scoring 12 goals to the Demons’ one – and took a 62-point lead into half-time.

McQueen led the way with seven goals, while Lucas Dahlenburg, Frazer Driscoll and Lachie Gill showed their class.

“Lachie Gill killed it off the half-back flank – he provides a lot of run – and Frazer Driscoll in the middle and when he went up forward, had a good game,” McQueen said.

“Lucas Dahlenburg in the middle had a really good game. He is starting to get in the swing of things since coming back from his fractured leg.”

McQueen said after its surprise loss to Warrack Eagles the week before, the Tigers were determined to remain switched on throughout the whole game against the Demons.

“Demons had  beaten Thunder the week before, and I know Thunder had a few out, but still you can’t deny that the Demons are going in the right direction, so we knew they were going to be quick and nimble, and we just played the way we needed to,” he said.

“It was a good solid win from us.”

The Tigers will now have to progress through the finals the hard way, firstly facing an elimination final against Thunder at Warracknabeal on Sunday.

“They’re obviously a good side and have had a lot of experience in finals since they’ve been in competition really, so we’re not going to take them lightly,” McQueen said.

“We’ve beaten them the last two times, but we’re just going to go in with the mindset that we’re the underdogs – I feel like we play better when we are.”

All eyes were on Coughlin Park where it was the battle of the top two teams, Horsham Saints and Ararat.

The Rats raced out to a 76-25 lead after kicking six goals in the second term, while holding the home side to just four points for the term.

But the Saints turned the tables in the third quarter, booting seven goals to the Rats’ one point to reduce the margin to just one goal at the last break. 

A Tom Williamson goal early in the fourth term extended his side’s lead to 11 points, with the Saints failing to capitalise in front of goal.

In the end, Ararat snared a 98-73 win, in a victory that was more about gaining the mental upper-hand leading into finals than anything else.

Missing key players Rory Taggert and Cody Bryan, the Saints’ usual ball-winners of Reid Kuller and Mitch Martin were standouts, while in a solid team performance by the Rats, their best were named as James Jennings, Sonny Kettle, Riley and Ben Taylor.

Meanwhile at Stawell’s Central Park, the Warriors made sure of third spot with a 153-37 win over Dimboola.

There must have been some nervousness among the Warriors early in the match, with the Roos starting well to lead by nine points at quarter-time.

But a 10-goal second term saw the Warriors out to a 52-point lead by half-time, and they did not look back in the second half, piling on another 10 goals to Dimboola’s one.

Co-captain Sam Williams returned at his best as Paul Summers kicked seven goals to ensure he won the league’s goal-kicking award, taking his home-and-away season total to 63.

Tom Eckel was named in the best for the 11th time this season, taking solid form into a finals series where the Warriors have the first-up tough task against the Saints at Beulah on Saturday.

In the final game of round 18, just one goal separated Minyip-Murtoa and Warrack Eagles, with the Eagles able to record their seventh win of the season to finish in sixth spot.

Eagles big man John Jorgensen capped off a stellar season with four goals, with Connor McFadyen, Declan Powell and Charlie Penny key contributors, while for the Burras, coach Luke Fisher, Tim Mackenzie and Hamish McRae were best.

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