The Tigers secured a famous victory against Horsham in Sunday’s Elimination Final, clinching the win in extra time at Central Park in Stawell by 7 points.
The Tiger’s finals campaign now continues, with Nhill facing Stawell at Coughlan Park in Horsham this Sunday. Nhill have an even ledger with the Warriors this season, losing early in the year in Stawell but beating them in their most recent encounter at Davis Park.
The Nhill faithful flocked to Stawell despite the poor forecast and had already experienced two extremely close games for the day. The Under 17 footballers won by a solitary point earlier in the morning; and the A Grade netball unfortunately went down by the narrowest of margins. Little were the Tiger supporters to know that these would not be the closest games of the day.
Nhill seniors had not played finals football since last facing Horsham in the Grand Final fifteen seasons ago in 2010. That game, coincidently, was also played at Central Park, when most of our current side were spectators just coming through the junior ranks.
Daniel Batson, returning to the club this year, was the only current player remaining from the 2010 campaign. Despite the conditions being unfavourable to the talls of both teams, Batson’s size and experience would allow him to be a dominant force as the day went on.
Captain Mitch Dahlenburg won the most important coin toss of his life, and elected to kick with the wind which was probably offering a five goal advantage.
While the Tigers had not beaten Horsham during the home and away season, they were on both occasions very competitive. Nhill came into the game full of confidence that the young side could finally break the finals drought that had plagued the club for the past decade and a half.
However, the quarter could not have started worse for Nhill, with Pat Purcell going down to injury at the very first contest. Purcell limped off and was unable to take any further part in the game.
Within a minute though, a free kick to Deek Roberts helped send the ball forward, giving Nhill the first forward entry of the match. While this did not result in a score, it was a sign of things to come.
The first goal of the game came courtesy of a free kick, when Horsham panicked and rushed a behind when they were not under pressure. Drew Schneider converted with ease, getting his first of three for the day.
The conditions were not great for goal kicking and Nhill started to build up their behind tally before finally getting another major. A long entry by Liam Albrecht went over the back of the pack; Schneider read it best and dribbled it around his body into an open goal. After twelve minutes they had their second.
It would only take another thirty seconds to get a third, with Batson hitting it down to Roberts, whose skills easily laced out Dylan Ridding in front of goal. The Tigers had come out of the blocks firing and certainly had control of the match.
Batson’s kicking with the wind was instrumental in gaining forward entries, as was Jarryd Dahlenburg’s explosive pace across the ground. Ridding kicked his second goal of the game, and Wallace Wheaton received a high tackle and converted to round out a solid quarter in front of goal.
Nhill’s backline was tested at times, but never looked seriously under threat. Liam Albrecht, their general, had waited 193 matches to finally play in a final and he was not letting anything past.
At quarter time Horsham looked shellshocked, down by 36 points.
Quarter time scores: Horsham 0.2-2 to Nhill 5.8-38. Horsham, a club that does not like to lose, was always going to fight back during the second quarter, and that is exactly what it did. With the wind now behind them they started to awake from their slumber, sending the ball forward with much more ease.
The pressure was on the Tigers, and key backs in Nathan Alexander and Angus Wheaton were required to spoil and crash numerous packs. Jordan Zietz and Jake Harrap relied on their skill and pace to attempt to clear the football, but it regularly found its way back into Horsham’s forward line. The Demons made the most of their chances, moving the ball fast and making it very hard for the defence to stop.
That is not to say Horsham had it all their own way, with Nhill also managing a number of forward entries into the breeze. Unfortunately, only one of these resulted in a goal with Ridding launching from outside fifty to have it dribble through, thanks to some great shepherding work by Xavier Bone and Glan Saniong. The remaining four scoring shots for the Tigers were all behinds.
At half time, while Nhill still had a comfortable lead, it was clear the game was now very much alive. Nhill were ruing some missed opportunities to try and shut the Demons out.
Half time scores: Horsham 4.5-29 to Nhill 6.12-48.
The third quarter did not start well for Nhill, with the backline being overrun as a reenergised Horsham surged forward. Kicking against the wind, Horsham managed the first major of the second half and scored three goals total for the quarter. This was despite some excellent backline pressure from Matt Kennedy, who was throwing his body everywhere, and Darcy Honeyman took some great intercept marks to help make sure Horsham did not convert any more.
Across the ground, Nhill’s quicks continued to have an impact. Wallce Wheaton had an important job on Horsham’s Brody Pope all day, but still managed to find plenty of the ball himself. And likewise, Josh Lees was keeping a close eye on Ryan Kemp while also having his own influence across the ground.
Glen Saniong, the PNG import who had been absolutely electric across the ground, succumbed to a hamstring injury mid-foot race on the wing. This left Nhill with only one on the bench, a situation that was eerily similar to their last encounter when the Demons ran away with the game in the last quarter.
Goals to Roberts and Schneider helped steady the ship for Nhill, but the small voice of doubt was starting to creep in as to whether they could claim victory.
Three-quarter time scores: Horsham 7.6-48 to Nhill 8.13-61.
Horsham had the wind in the last, and although Nhill had steadied themselves towards the end of the third quarter it was going to be a tight tussle through to the end.
Neither team could gain a clear advantage early. The likes of Connor Jones applied terrific pressure up and down his wing, and Petros Politis, the import from Darwin, was determined to make his presence felt to make sure the Tigers got over the line.
A strong shower came through early in the last. When Roberts kick his second goal of the game it was hoped that Nhill had done enough. But Horsham were unrelenting in their pressure and simply refused to rollover. They kicked one goal, but then a second was disallowed when advantage was taken but play had stopped. A roving goal not long after put Horsham within seven points, and suddenly the team that had led all day looked like they could let this slip.
Another shower had players slipping everywhere as bruised and battered bodies continued to collide. Low light made it even harder again. Desperation was now the name of the game, with every player being asked to give his all.
Both teams continued to try and move it forward, but the wet weather and wind were making it almost impossible to take clean possession. Horsham charged and had numbers, roved the ball from the pocket and snapped a certain goal, only for Nhill coach Jake McQueen to dive desperately and touch the ball off the boot.
It was literally a match saving effort, and the scores were now level.
As the siren sounded the shock of the players and spectators could be heard throughout the venue. They would now need to play two five-minute periods, with no change of ends at the start. This meant Horsham continued with the wind and there was no huddle or instructions from coaches. This was now pure football and mental grit.
Fourth quarter scores: Horsham 10.7-67 to Nhill 9.13-67.
The teams reset back to their positions and the first WFNL finals draw in a very long time was about to reach its conclusion.
Batson tapped the ball forward and a holding free kick allowed Politis to go forward for Nhill. A crucial rushed behind was the eventual result, but this allowed Horsham to clear long and direct. In two kicks they were forward, and after some hard-fought contests the Demons secured the ball out the back and snapped from the pocket.
They had the lead for the first time all day.
Horsham cleared again, but this time a phenomenal effort from Honeyman prevented another shot on goal. A fifty-metre penalty was also paid, allowing some of the pressure to come off the backline so Nhill could reset.
Nhill worked it around the boundary for another throw-in. Batson, the experienced campaigner, fisted the ball forward. Roberts, who had been targeted on and off the field all day, read it best. A little toe-poke from Bone to help the ball on its way and Roberts gathered cleanly, snapped from deep in the pocket, and against the wind bent it through for a miraculous goal.
Nhill had retaken the lead.
Horsham would never get it back.
First extra time scores: Horsham 11.7-73 to Nhill 10.14-74.
The last five-minute period quickly saw Horsham move the ball forward. However, strong defensive efforts and high contact on Honeyman resulted in a yellow card to Horsham, helping give Nhill just a little more control.
The final five minutes was some of the most intense football one could watch. Players willed themselves to the contest, determined not to let their teammates down. Absolutely spent, efforts at both ends made sure the Tigers stayed in front. A brilliant tackle by Kennedy just inside the forward fifty-metre arc saw him rewarded with a free. Taking his time, the siren sounded as this backman walked in and kicked his first goal in two years.
For the Tigers, it was jubilation; for Horsham, heartbreak.
Final scores: Horsham 11.7-73 to Nhill 11.14-80.
McQueen commented of his charges, saying he was “really proud of the boys. It was a tough game in rough weather, but they showed real maturity and grit to pull off the win. Great team effort!”
- Goal Kickers: Dyaln Ridding 3, Deek Roberts 3, Drew Schneider 3, Matt Kennedy 1, Wallace Wheaton 1
- Best Players: Deek Roberts, Jarryd Dahlenburg, Daniel Batson, Darcy Honeyman, Petros Politis, Liam Albrecht
- Match Footage: ht tps://wimmerafnl. tv/?view=article&id=316&catid=8
Congratulations to Nhill Tiger Jobe Dickinson on winning the Wimmera League Best and Fairest on Monday evening. See next week’s edition for full report.
See all the photos in the issue.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 4 September 2024.