Football
29 July, 2025
Eagles fly against Saints
A four-quarter effort from the Eagles saw the side from Warrack claim another win in the latest round of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
A four-quarter effort from the Eagles saw the side from Warrack claim another win in the latest round of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
They defeated the higher placed Horsham Saints 8.9 (57) to 5.7 (37).
The Eagles held the lead at the end of every quarter, up by a point at the end of the first quarter, 25 to 22 at half-time time and 15 points heading into the final quarter.
Machok Garang was in brilliant form for the Eagles, as was Sean Arney, while Sam Hanna made a big impact on the score, booting four majors.
The Saints were led by Angus Martin, Mitch Martin and Sam Clyne and had five individual goal scorers for the match.
Like all other games across the Wimmera, this match was also played in adverse conditions.
"After half-time the game really closed down with the heavens opening up and made it one of attrition, but both sides were willing up until half-time," Eagles coach Matt Walder said.
"We were able to get on top in the third and hold them off in what was a low-scoring affair."
The coach said he was impressed by his side's efforts in their ability to adapt to conditions and play higher-percentage play when they had to.
"There was only one little period when we didn't and it exposed an opportunity to the opposition, briefly, and then we went back to doing the right things and the correct fundamentals, bearing down on the basics," Walder said.
"The quarter after half-time has also been our Achilles' heel and it was the quarter that was our strongest on Saturday, in probably the conditions that were worst on the day, so that is a leap forward.
"Winning two games in the last three weeks has buoyed the group and everyone within and we will start to understand now there is something within this group that can provide and win games of footy."
The coach gave the nod to Garang for his efforts, saying he was super in the wet.
Walder said despite being a ruck he was awesome, taking some saving marks back behind the footy, and rucking for a high percentage of the match.
"Dylan Watts was great out of the backline and Lachie Stewart was good off the wing," Walder said.
"Sam Hanna was clean for us in those conditions and Sam Hayden, playing a defensive and midfield role, was good for us too."