Sport
28 August, 2025
Eagles and Hawks Swoop into Week Two
Last weekend, the Ararat Eagles and Tatyoon Hawks progressed to round two of the Mininera finals with wins over Penshurst and Glenthompson Dunkeld, respectively.
By Adrian Pieters
This now sees the Eagles play Lismore Derrinallum tomorrow in the qualifying final at Willaura and the Hawks play Penshurst on Sunday in an elimination final at Lismore.
Last Saturday, in perfect conditions for footy at Great Western, the Eagles played their trademark relentless physical attack on the ball to outmuscle the Bombers to lead from start to finish and win by thirty-six points.
For most of the day, but especially in the first half, neither side was able to get their running game going and create space on the small oval. This resulted in heavily contested passages of play with numerous stoppages and ball ups. This suited the hard at it Eagles better than the Bombers.
The first half of the first quarter saw the ball move between both half-back lines before Zach Louder goaled for the Eagles after a ruck infringement. Star Bomber Josh Rentsch, who had returned to the team after missing three weeks, goaled from a mark before Jack Wilson and Adrian Reid replied for the Eagles.
Right on the siren, Rentsch then kicked the second from a towering mark in the goal square to end an even quarter.
Eagles coach Mitch Laundy instructed his back men to try and restrict the amount of space Rentsch had to run and jump at the ball. This saw Tom Taurau fill a hole across half back and dominate the game, cutting off the supply to the big forward and setting up play himself.
Damian Joiner snapped a nice goal, and Jake Peters kicked two, including one from a brilliant handball from Tom Cousins. At the main break, the Eagles had a handy twenty-two-point lead in a low-scoring affair.
The Eagles extended their lead in the third quarter, kicking five goals, including one from Flynn Jamieson after taking a nice mark. In poor defending by the Bombers,
Adrian Reid took an uncontested mark near the point post and goaled, and the Eagles were six goals up at the final break. Josh Rentsch was once again a lone hand up forward and the only forward likely to mount a comeback.
He again goaled early in the last quarter, then Nathan Rentsch added another, and the Bombers were only twenty-two points down and playing better. The Eagles supporters were starting to get a bit worried as they had stopped in the last quarter before until best on ground Tom Cousins kicked two goals, including one off the ground in the goal square, and they went on to win by six goals.
Jack Taurau played a great game in the ruck for the Eagles, with the strength giving his onballers Jessie Bennett, Chevy Elliott, Luke Walker and Jake Peters first use of the ball.
Bombers' William Bester took many strong marks in the last line of defence and Oscar Linke and Henry Bensch also played well.
In Sunday’s elimination final, Glenthompson Dunkeld hit the front early in the last quarter before the Hawks kicked the last four goals of the game to win by twenty-points.
Captain Josh Bibby was again best on ground and kicked three goals, and tall Lachie McGrath continued his late good form, kicking two goals.
FROM THE COACH
Chris Graetz
The Eagles' 13.14.92 to 7.14.56 win has set them up for a blockbuster clash against Lismore Derrinallum, where the winner will advance to the grand final.
Coach Mitch Laundy was proud of his troops.
“I told everyone after the game that I was super proud of them, as they were tremendous all day,” Laundy said.
“I know that we have had a few down weeks, but I feel we were slowly building for this moment, and to execute it on the day was fantastic.
“We enjoyed the win, but we need to focus on this week pretty quickly. We have 21 blokes on a mission, and there’s a goal we want to achieve, and to be in this position is good.”
“It was also a good result for the club with the reserves getting over the line, as that set the path and we were able to follow.”
Jackson Taurau returned from injury, and Laundy praised his performance in the ruck.
“He was the clear best-on-ground in my opinion, and he gave us first use in the middle, and they threw a lot at him, and he dominated the centre square. He didn’t miss a beat and pulled up well,” Laundy said.
The last time the Eagles played Lismore/Derrinallum, they won by ten points, and Laundy knows that it is going to be a tough game.
“They have been the benchmark of the competition all year, and we know we have our hands full,” Laundy said.
“They have match winners all over the ground, and we need to be at our best.
“In saying that, I have full faith in what we can achieve as a group. We need to go out there and perform at our best and keep building on the great result last Saturday.”
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