Premiership contenders emerge
Wimmera league footballers have quickly worked out which clubs fancy themselves 2022 premiership contenders as round four approaches on Saturday.
A gap between the league’s best and the rest has been established, with a menacing Ararat having taken advantage of its early season draw to stamp its authority on the league.
The closest match of round three however, was a Dimboola versus Horsham Demons battle at Horsham City Oval, with the Roos holding out a lategame Demons’ charge to clinch their first win of the year.
The Roos’ win will knock four points off their three-game handicap and will get their season’s win-tally underway with their 10.15 (75) to 9.9 (63) victory.
The Demons’ five-goal final quarter more than doubled their previous three-quarter goal-kicking efforts, and would have been bittersweet given their promising start to the year.
Minyip-murtoa was clinical in its 12.13 (85) to 5.5 (35) win against Warrack Eagles, having led at every change.
However, the Burras would have felt a powerful percentage-boost would have been possible if they were accurate
in front of the sticks, given Minyip-murtoa’s 25 scoring shots to the Eagles’ 10.
A more accurate Stawell outfit did enough against a Nhill side that found its mojo in the final quarter, with the
Warriors getting the wood over the Tigers in a 13.8 (86) to 6.6 (42) win.
Nhill’s Jarryd Dahlenburg took advantage
of his opportunities with four majors, while the Warriors shared their goals around with 10 different goal-scoring players.
Ararat took a young Horsham Saints side to the cleaners at Coughlin Park, keeping the Saints goal-less during the first half.
The Rats piled on 24 goals to the Saints’ one to claim a 24.14 (158) to 1.11 (17) win.
Ararat’s Tom Mills kicked eight and Ben Christodoulou kicked four in a match that was over well and truly by half time. Southern Mallee Giants had a bye. The Giants return to the fold for round four on Saturday with a homeground match-up against Minyip-murtoa at Beulah Memorial Park in what should be a test of each side’s credentials.
The Saints have a chance to pick themselves up off the carpet, albeit with a trip down the Western Highway to Central Park to meet a competitive Stawell side.
Warrack Eagles would feel they have a chance to take the game to Horsham Demons at Anzac Park, while Dimboola would hope its bus trip to Ararat was worth the petrol as it attempts to put a dent in an Ararat side on the charge.
Nhill has a bye.