Sport

17 June, 2026

Demons hold on for the win

AN undermanned Timboon Demons scored a seven-point win over Merrivale in the round 10 Warrnambool and District senior football match on Saturday.

The Demons led at every change to record an 8.6.54 to 6.11.47 win at the Merrivale Recreation Reserve.

“We probably had no right winning that game realistically, with the amount of outs we had,” Timboon coach Andrew Hargreaves said.

“But to go to a ground that we normally don’t play that well at, and to come away with the four points is really pleasing and a good momentum boost for the side.”

Hargreaves was thrilled with how his young team stood up every time Merrivale challenged.

“One thing we haven’t done over the course of the whole year is take our opportunities, but we seemed to take them on Saturday, even when they got their run on, they’re a very experienced side, they’ve played in two grand finals and finished on top of the ladder last year, so they have a lot of experience.

“When they kicked a couple of goals, I thought that was where they’d get their run on against a young team, but we just kept corralling their momentum, every time they kicked one or two, we’d kick a couple, we just kept them at arm’s length all day which was the pleasing part.”

The final quarter was reflective of the weather, with the conditions getting worse by the last quarter where just four behinds were scored (all to Merrivale).

“We couldn’t get it out of their defensive 50, but to our players credit, they were just able to hold it up consistently.

“I was really happy with the whole team’s defence in that last quarter.”

Timboon gave senior debuts to two of its under 18 players in Hugh Smith and Rory Roberts, with Smith named second best.

“Hugh was really good, a really tough young player. He just doesn’t like getting beaten; he attacks the ball and the wet conditions sort of helped him a little bit.

“Rory came off with cramp halfway through the third quarter but showed a bit in his time on the ground.”

A couple of other juniors also impressed the Demons mentor.

“Josh McKenzie got in our best players, his tackle and pressure all day was through the roof.

“Tommy Ryan also did some good things, he’s normally a ruckman in the under 18s, but he played out on the wing on Saturday in our senior team and gave us a bit of drive out there as a taller wingman, so that was pleasing.”

Bayley Thompson had a big game, scoring a match high five goals.

“Bayley was the cream of the crop in the rain on the weekend, he played probably 90 per cent forward on the weekend, where he’s been a bit more of a midfielder-forward this season, whereas he was an out and out forward on Saturday.

“We were able to open up the space for him, and the way we played, we were more happy to kick to grass than we were to the contest, which splayed into his hands a lot with his speed.”

Rhys Ziegelaar was named best for the Demons in the win.

“Rhys had a positional change, we moved him to halfback; he has been playing as a forward/mid, so we moved him to halfback and he was all class.

“He defended first, backed into packs, which probably wouldn’t necessarily be his strength, while his ability to generate the offence with his ball use and his speed was first class on Saturday.”

The Demons had 14 of their best 22 out on Saturday, and with several players likely to return this week, Hargreaves and his fellow selectors have plenty of decisions to make for Saturday’s home game against Panmure.

“I reckon there’ll be maybe eight back, but do you put them all back in? That’s going to be an interesting one.

“It’s a good position to be in with a selection squeeze after a win like that.”

In the reserves, Timboon had a strong 70 point win, 11.10.76 to 1.0.6.

Zack Lenehan, Daniel Shanahan and Bailey Delaney were best for the Demons, with Darcy Tribe and Luke Smith kicking three goals each.

Timboon’s under 18.5 team had a 38 point win, 7.9.51 to 2.1.13.

Logan Lyne, Jalen Berry and Zane Potter were best for the Demons, with Harvey Redshaw kicking three goals and Ronan Kerr two.

The under 16 game saw Timboon record a 5.9.39 to 1.2.8 win.

Ace Roberts, Byron Woods and Tyler Daffy were best for the Demons.

In the under 13.5 game, Merrivale had a 7.5.47 to 1.17 win.

William Douglas, Fletcher Hickey and Lenny Oates were best for the junior Demons, with Rory Hollick kicking the only goal.

WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 10
SENIOR FOOTBALL
MERRIVALE v TIMBOON
Merrivale 6.11 (47) lost to Timboon 8.6 (54)

Best Players:
Merrivale: Nathan Krepp, Ned Bolden, Jack Neave, Jack Gleeson, Manny Sandow, Jalen Porter
Timboon: Rhys Ziegelaar, Private player, Jack Matthews, Joshua McKenzie, Joshua Worboys, Henry Stansfield

Goal Kickers:
Merrivale: Nathan Krepp 4, Josh Britton, Jack Neave
Timboon: Bayley Thompson 5, Archie Dalziel, Angus Hill, Eben White

In the A grade netball Merrivale was too strong, registering a 57-22 win.

Bethany Hallyburton, Evie Gordon and Taya Hanegraaf were the best for the Demons, with Laura Rosolin shooting 11 goals.

The A reserve game saw Merrivale score a 46-28 win.

Tanya Mckenzie, Hannah Maxwell and Zalia Hanegraaf were Timboon’s best, with Hannah Maxwell shooting 15 goals and Macey Gale 12.

Merrivale scored a 26-18 win in the B grade netball.

Asha Loughnan, Tarsha Duro and Sarah Brown were best for Timboon, with Brown shooting 11 goals.

The 17 and under netball saw Timboon score a big 62-11 win.

Best for Timboon were Ella Drayton, Heide Delaney and Olivia Benson, with Jasmine Plozza scoring 22 goals, Drayton 20 and Meg Duro 15.

Timboon had a 51-5 win in the 15 and under game.

Ellen Whiting, Aysha Hollick and Emily McLennan were the Demons best, with Hollick scoring 23 goals and Imogen Woods 21.

The 13 and under game saw Merrivale score a 15-13 win.

Best for the Demons were Elise Nicholls, Jordy Lenehan and Thea Whitehead, Elizabeth Plozza leading the scoring with nine goals.

Timboon had an 18-3 win in the 11 and under game.

Ocean Hendrix, Olive Doolan and Isla Lenehan were best for the junior Demons, with Eva Watson shooting seven goals.

WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

ROUND 10
A GRADE NETBALL
MERRIVALE v TIMBOON
Merrivale 57 defeated Timboon 22

Best Players:
Merrivale: Chloe Lovell, Tahni Porter, Cloe O’Flaherty
Timboon: Bethany Hallyburton, Evie Gordon, Taya Hanegraaf

Goal Scorers:
Merrivale: Chloe Lovell 36, Georgia Martin 9, Cloe O'Flaherty 7, Rosie Close 5
Timboon: Laura Rosolin 11, Evie Gordon 6, Brianna Gass 5