Football
28 August, 2025
Nhill and Thunder face off with double chance
Nhill and Southern Mallee have played each other twice this year and have each recorded one win. And while Nhill finished higher on the ladder than their opposition for this Saturday, it is the Thunder who have recorded the bigger win from the games between the sides this season.
The pair, who will battle it out in the qualifying final on Saturday, first met in round seven on May 31.
Final scores for that match, held at Davis Park, were Nhill 17.6 (108) to the Thunder 14.8 (92).
It was the home side who got off to a better start in that game, leading by a goal at the end of the first quarter.
But Southern Mallee rallied in the second, and the gap was just a point in favour of the eventual winners at half-time.
Nhill had a big quarter after half-time time and the lead was increased to 19 points heading into the final quarter.
But, despite their best efforts in the last term, the Thunder weren't able to narrow the margin a lot – going down by 16 points in the end.
The next time the sides played each other the Thunder had a point to prove, and in round 16 on August 9 it was the home side at Hopetoun Recreation Reserve who got over the line by an impressive 60-plus points.
This time it was Southern Mallee who led by a goal at the end of the first quarter, and the team managed to increase that lead at each break to eventually win 18.15 (123) to 9.8 (62).
Nhill have had a spread of players stand up for them in their games against the Thunder this year, with the likes of Darcy Reid, Darcy Honeyman, Nathan Alexander and Xavier Bone leading the way at different points.
They've found their goals most prominently through Drew Schneider (game one) and Bone and Kobe Hodge (game two).
In contrast, the Thunder have had a couple of consistent players lead their side when they've played Nhill, with Jarrod Stokes and Sam White being among the best on field both times.
Bradley Stokes and Lou White were also good at times in the first and second games, respectively.
In the forward line Rupert Sangster (three goals) and Sam White (five) have been in form for Southern Mallee.
Nhill had the advantage on the ladder, with a record of 11-5 this season, while the Thunder has a record of 10-6.
But that record doesn't matter now, with both teams earning a place in the qualifying final and the double opportunity to continue their final series.
For the losing side this week, they'll play the winner out of the clash between Dimboola and Stawell, while for the winners a meeting with the ladder leaders in Ararat awaits them.