Netball
4 September, 2025
Ararat, Southern Mallee Thunder match result stands
The results of the A Grade Elimination Final between Southern Mallee Thunder and Ararat stands, following an investigation.
The game between Ararat and Southern Mallee went into overtime after the official score indicated that the teams were tied at the end of regular time.
Actual footage of the game shows Ararat as being in the lead by a goal as the final siren sounded, matching the discrepancy club president David Hosking said was raised with officials in the final quarter.
A bitterly disappointed Hosking said he was "appalled" by the investigation result.
He said he understood everyone makes mistakes, but the fact the official scorer made the mistake and it wasn't acknowledged or admitted to, and then further wasn't rectified, meaning the season is now over for the Ararat A Grade netball side "didn't pass the pub test".
Further angering the president was that he said a discrepancy in the score was raised by club members during the final quarter of the game, but was ignored.
A statement from the Wimmera Football Netball League reads:
"Following an investigation conducted by an Independent Accredited Investigator into the A Grade Netball Elimination Final held on Sunday, 31 August at Davis Park, Nhill, the WFNL Board has confirmed the original match result stands as officially recorded.
"While video evidence showed a scoring discrepancy before overtime, both teams signed the official scoresheet at the match's conclusion, as required under WFNL bylaws (12.2(D)). This decision is final. No further comment will be made."