Football
21 August, 2025
Ladder leaders face off in final round
Coincidentally, a game in the final round of the 2025 Wimmera Football Netball League regular season will be contested between the best sides in the competition so far - Ararat and Nhill.
While Ararat has a perfect record this season, Nhill has dropped just four games - against Dimboola (round three - 74 points), Ararat (round nine - 58), Stawell (round 14 - five points) and the Thunder (round 16 - 61).
As mentioned, the sides played each other in round nine, with final scores being Ararat 18.7 115 to Nhill 8.9 57.
The ladder leaders got the early jump on their opposition in that match, up by 12 points at the end of the first quarter, and expanded their lead as the game progressed.
Ararat co-coach Tom Williamson was in form for his side on that day, finding the big sticks six times, while Ben Taylor was best on ground for Ararat, and Liam Albrecht led the way for Nhill.
Asked how his side approaches the game this week, given their ladder position is already secured, co-coach of Nhill, Trevor Ryan, said it was a good question.
"We'll have a fair bit to chat about in regards to selection this week," Ryan said.
"We might do a couple of things differently this week and see if that has any impact on the result of the game or the ability for us to score.
"We will use this last game of the year to attempt something new that we might be able to use coming into the final series against Ararat if we get to play them."
Ryan described the feeling within the group as exciting.
"The club is excited about playing finals, and obviously having all grades in finals, which is something that hasn't happened for a long period of time," he said.
"Everyone is up and about and looking forward to the contest."
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