As it happened: Stawell Warriors v Horsham Demons
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The Stawell Warriors have come out on top in a gruelling first semi-final against Horsham Demons at Dimboola on Sunday.
At the end of a match in which the lead changed hands often the Warriors prevailed 15.9 (99) to 12.11 (83).
Stawell coach Brad Thomas was ecstatic with the win.
“We are very happy with the result,” he said.
“We improved as the game went on and we were playing our best football in the last 15 minutes when the game was on the line.
“That is all you can really ask for as a coach.”
Through the first quarter of the game each side was trying to establish its own level of pressure.
The Demons held a slender two-point margin at the first break.
The game lifted up a notch in the second quarter and Horsham seemed to have the better of it to start with.
The side opened up a 10-point lead before Stawell swung into action to seize momentum and its own 15-point lead at the long break.
The Warriors side looked like it could just continue to build its lead when David Andrivon kicked the first goal of the second half.
A resilient Horsham outfit responded though to pile on the next five goals of the match in the space of ten minutes to jump out to its own 11-point lead.
The Stawell forward line had few opportunities during this patch of play
When the ball started to move into its forward line again late in the quarter they capitalised and eventually the scores were level with one quarter to play.
Demons coach Nick Pekin said it was a big effort from his side in the third quarter.
“We had a big third quarter to produce and we did that,” he said
“We just didn’t keep the momentum swinging our way.”
“That’s finals footy, they’ll keep coming back harder and harder.”
The final quarter started with the sides going goal for goal.
Each side added two majors before the first behind of the quarter gave the Demons the narrowest of leads.
From that point on the Demons could only manage one more point as Stawell ran home with three more of its own, including a cherry on top from Thomas as the final siren sounded.
“I reckon our guys showed more heart this week,” he said.
“They really rose to the occasion this week.
“We were harder for longer and that is what we have been working towards.”
Pekin agreed the main difference was Stawell being a bit hungrier.
“They just wanted it more,” he said.
“To Stawell credit they’re up and about and firing.
“It comes down to they were a bit hungrier for the contest and the win.
“They’re in good form and they played really good footy.
“I don’t think they had any lapses whereas we had a couple and they took full advantage of them.”
The Warriors will face Minyip-Murtoa in the preliminary final in Ararat on Saturday for a place in the grand final
For the Demons it is the end of the 2016 season in which Pekin said his young side had done well.
Wimmera Football League first semi-final results
Wimmera Football League Seniors
Stawell Warriors 2.2, 7.8, 10.9, 15.9 (99)
Horsham Demons 2.4, 5.5, 10.9, 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Stawell Warriors :
Cameron Kimber 4, Brad Thomas 2, Thomas Eckel 2, James Delahunty 1, Jamie Bach 1, David Andrivon 1,
Benjamin Taylor 1, Jesse Eckel 1, Shane Field 1, Jackson Taurau 1
Horsham Demons :
Nic Pekin 4, Joel Geue 3, Ryan Kemp 2, Luke Carr 2, Simon Hobbs 1
BEST
Stawell Warriors :
Jesse Eckel, Cameron Kimber, James Delahunty, Jamie Bach, Jonathan Pollock, Thomas Eckel
Horsham Demons :
Nic Pekin, Ryan Kemp, Rhona Conboy, Ben Lakin, Joel Geue, Bradley Hartigan
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Wimmera Football League Reserves
Horsham Saints 3.6, 6.7, 11.10, 12.12 (84)
Warrack Eagles 1.0, 1.0, 3.0, 4.2 (26)
GOALS
Horsham Saints :
Jake McIntyre 5, Andrew Devereaux 2, James Lang 2, Richard Bansemer 1, Gregory Fry 1, Zack Taggert 1
Warrack Eagles :
Jarrod Kemp 1, Daniel McDonald 1, Connor Inkster 1, Jake Leith 1
BEST
Horsham Saints :
Jake McIntyre, Shaun Knott, Cooper Bateson, Andrew Devereaux, Corey Mann, Richard Bansemer
Warrack Eagles :
Jarrod Kemp, Cody Christian, Clinton Jonasson, Daniel McDonald, Jake Leith, Shaune Winsall
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Wimmera Football League Under 17's
Horsham Saints 6.3, 10.6, 15.8, 18.12 (120)
Stawell Warriors 0.0, 2.1, 3.1, 3.3 (21)
GOALS
Horsham Saints :
Mitchell Martin 8, Arden Sordello 2, Jack Butler 2, Oliver Timms 2, Kieren Priestley 1, Cody Richards 1,
Nicholas Caris 1, Sean O'Connell 1
Stawell Warriors :
Paul Summers 2, Benjamin Leong 1
BEST
Horsham Saints :
Mitchell Martin, Cody Richards, Connor O'Beirne, Zachary Smith, Nicholas Caris
Stawell Warriors :
Paul Summers, Jack Walker, Bailey Taylor, Benjamin Leong, Zachary Armer, Jacob Salmi
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Wimmera Football League Under 14's
Warrack Eagles 3.2, 4.4, 4.6, 5.6 (36)
Nhill Tigers 1.1, 2.2, 3.2, 3.3 (21)
GOALS
Warrack Eagles :
Charlie Penny 3, Dylan Watts 1, William Habel 1
Nhill Tigers :
Harold Pritchard 2, Dylan Cole 1
BEST
Warrack Eagles :
Lachlan Stewart, Dane Stewart, Charlie Penny, William Habel , Matthew Penny, Samuel Cooper
Nhill Tigers :
Harold Pritchard , Drew Schneider, Mitchell Jones, Matthew Kennedy, Jarryd Dahlenburg, Solly Marshall
