Football
28 July, 2025
Rain doesn't dampen Dimboola's spirit
The rain didn't stop Dimboola from claiming a consecutive win on Saturday as they dominated the Demons.
In anything but typical scenes, the ground was so wet, such was the volume of rain received, that a pump and truck were used to drain some of the water off the oval before play started.
And although the players may have ended up resembling mud wrestlers, it didn't impact their ability to kick, with Dimboola finishing with an accurate 21.7 (133) and the Horsham side 5.7 (37).
Dimboola's Jackson Calder alone booted 14 goals and barely any points, taking some brilliant marks along the way.
It was an even start to the game, with the home side in Dimboola only up by 11 points at the end of the first quarter: 6.0 to 4.1.
By half-time, though, the Andrew Moore- and Dean Toet-led side had some breathing room, up by 33 points.
This was expanded to 62 points heading into the final quarter, with the difference at the end of the game being 96 points.
Calder earned himself best-on-ground honours with his efforts and was ably supported on field by Ben Miller and Jack Landt, while for the Horsham side Jasper Gunn, Hudson Hair and Samuel Janetzki were the better players.
The co-coach himself, Moore, chipped in with three majors for Dimboola, while Matthew Long was the only multiple goal scorer for the Demons, with two.
Moore said the conditions were trying, with Dimboola having received about 30 millimetres of rain the evening before the game.
"The oval wasn't in its best condition," he laughed, "but we play a brand of footy that suits that kind of weather, contested and getting numbers around the footy."
"It was competitive, that first quarter, four to six goals, so we had to change a few things up on our end and the best thing for us was that we were able to hold that consistency and intensity for the remaining quarters, which was pleasing.
"We were also able to be consistent in our opportunities in scoring."
Given the conditions, Moore said he was "amazed" at the accuracy to goal by his side.
"It helps when our full forward, Jackson Calder, kicks 14 goals and minimal points," the co-coach said.
"It's protected, the Dimboola oval, so the wind wasn't a factor really.
"It was more the conditions were muddy and wet on the oval."
The consistency from his side pleased Moore.
"They challenged us in the first quarter, and their strengths are trying to get the footy into the areas that are open to try and use their pace and we had to shut that down and make a few adjustments in that break after the first quarter," he said.
"So the positive thing was our consistency in our intensity.
"We were able to maintain that through the entire game, whereas sometimes during the year we have seen that lapse.
"Also, around our opportunities for scoring, that comes from our adjustment in our inside-50 entries – something we have worked really hard on and addressed frequently – so that was pleasing to be able to get in a bit more dangerous positions when we are inside 50."
On the efforts by full forward Calder, Moore joked he had his "sticky mits" on the ball on Saturday.
"They (the Demons) changed up a few of his match-ups but when he is on, he is on, and Saturday was one of those," Moore said.
"It was impressive to see some of the marks he was able to take when he had two or three (players) hanging off him, and I take it back to our entries as well: we were able to give him a good opportunity to take those grabs.
"But 14 goals is impressive and he definitely had a day out."