Sport
19 September, 2025
Rats aim to take home the cheese
Ararat will be aiming for their third straight premiership win when they face their modern-day rivals, the Southern Mallee Thunder, at Anzac Park, Warracknabeal, in the Wimmera Football Netball League grand final.
Last year, these two teams played a grand final for the ages, with the Rats claiming victory by nine points, with the lead changing hands a few times in the final quarter.
The year before, the Rats defeated the Southern Mallee Giants, in their final year before they merged with the Jeparit Rainbow Storm to become the Giants.
The Rats know what to expect. The last time these two teams played was two weeks ago, with the Thunder claiming victory by seven points in a spiteful clash.
In their other two games, the Rats were too strong at home, winning by 52 points, and their clash back in round 14 was in the wet, with the Rats prevailing by 25 points, after the Thunder had a two-point lead at three-quarter time.
At the time of writing, it is not known what the final team will be. Sonny Kettle dislocated his shoulder and is unlikely to play, while Jack Ganley will need to pass a fitness test. Henry Shea should play, having missed last week.
With the reserves also in the grand final, the club is buzzing, with huge numbers on the training track.
“We had full numbers on the training track, with about fifty people, which is unreal,” Mills said.
“The message is to embrace that you are playing in the grand final and to enjoy it. It’s what you play football for.
“Most of the hard work is done, and there is one more hurdle to get over. It’s about being confident and getting the job done.”
In every game, the first quarter is the most important, to get an early jump, but in a grand final, it’s even more important to get on top early to set the tone of the game.
“The main message is just to play football,” Mills said.
“It has worked for us all year, and it’s the aim every game to start well, and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen, you just have to grind away.”
KEY MATCHUPS
Tom Williamson is the best player in the competition, and if the Thunder can stop him, that will go a long way to winning the match. Tom Mills, when on song, is one of the most potent forwards in the competition, and whoever the Thunder play on him will need to be on their game. (Delete)
With that said, some key matchups will be a deciding factor in who wins this match.
TOM MILLS v SIMON CLUGSTON
Simon Clugston will have his hands full with Tom Mills. The Ararat co-coach has only played eight matches, and his only match against the Thunder was back in round five where he didn’t kick a goal.
He has kicked a bag of nine, and a bag of six goals. Dangerous on his day, Mills is one of the best forwards in the competition.
On the flip side, Clugston is also one of the best defenders.
CODY LINDSAY v KIERAN DELAHUNTY
Kieran Delahunty is arguably the best ruckman in the competition when fit. He missed most of the season with a broken leg, and since he has returned, he has been a key component to the Thunder winning matches.
When these two face off, the contest is brilliant. Cody is consistent week in and week out, and he thrives this time of the year.
The player who can give their midfield first use of the ball will set up the win.
JAMES JENNINGS V SAM WHITE
Sam White, previously a defender, who pinch-hit up forward, has been a surprise of the competition, playing permanently as a forward in 2025.
With early injuries, he had to move up forward, and he has done a tremendous job. He has booted 41 goals this season, with 24 coming in his last five matches, which included two hauls of six.
Jennings was stiff to miss out on team of the year, and he has been tremendous down back for the Rats this season. He has gone to White in their previous encounters, holding him to two goals two weeks ago, and one in round 14.
BEN TAYLOR V BILLY LLOYD
What a brilliant matchup this will be should both players match up with each other. They are both premier midfielders in the competition.
Taylor won the Toohey Medal on Monday night for the WFNL best-and-fairest on 20 votes. Who was the runner-up? Billy Lloyd on 19.
Both are match winners on their day, and both are vitally important to their respective teams. Embrace and enjoy these two going head-to-head on Saturday.
Opposition player to watch: Angus Dewar
Defender Angus Dewar is a big game player, and alongside Tom Williamson, is the only former AFL player in the match. Dewar played 25 games for Hawthorn from 2011-2016, and was a top-up player for West Coast in 2022 when their team was decimated by COVID.
He is a four-time premiership player, winning one with the Box Hill Hawks and three for Subiaco in the West Australian Football League.
Ararat Rats wildcard: Henry Shea
Should Henry Shea make it through training, he is definitely the wildcard in this matchup. The youngster is a match-winner and can turn a contest around.
A prime example was the Rats’ 20-point win against Minyip Murtoa at Murtoa Recreation Reserve in round six.
The Burras had the Rats on the ropes, and Shea popped up and kicked three goals in six minutes in the third quarter to put the Rats back on top. He kicked four goals that game and has kicked 21 in 2025.
He kicked three goals against the Thunder in round five, three against Dimboola in round 11, and had a season-high five goals against the Horsham Demons in round ten.
He is a born match-winner.
RATS RESERVES EYE PERFECT SEASON
Ararat’s reserves footballers will aim for a perfect season when they battle Minyip Murtoa in this week’s Wimmera Football Netball League grand final at Anzac Park, Warracknabeal.
The Rats have been the best team in 2025, finishing the season with a whopping percentage of 329.95%.
They head into the match as clear favourites; however, they can’t underestimate the Minyip Murtoa Burras.
The last time these two teams played was in round 15, where the Burras stormed home to nearly defeat the Rats, with the Rats claiming a two-point victory in a low-scoring affair.
In their first clash at Murtoa Recreation Reserve, it was the Rats prevailing by seven points in another close encounter.
At three-quarter time, the Rats held a slender two-goal lead, but a three-goal to two final term saw them prevail.
Sam Cronin and Corey Taylor were important on that day with three goals apiece.
Corey Taylor is the Rats' key to winning the match as the leading goal kicker in the competition with 52.
The Rats midfield is led by Alan Batchelor, who won the league best and fairest on Monday night, adding to his Toohey medal win, and the under-17s best and fairest win, the only player to win all three medals.
Read More: Ararat