Football
14 August, 2025
Delahunty expects challenge from Dees
Despite now sitting five places apart on the ladder, the last time the Demons and Thunder played it was an absolute thriller.
On June 14, Southern Mallee pulled off a miraculous resurgence in the dying minutes to claim victory by just one point against the Horsham side, 13.12 (90) to 13.11 (89).
But with just a couple of games to go in the regular season, the competitiveness of that match back in June doesn't count for a lot, the Demons having failed to make finals this season and the Thunder all but assured a place in the finals series.
Coach of the Thunder, Keiran Delahunty, acknowledged it took nearly the full 120 minutes to get the win against the Horsham side last time and said he was hoping another big effort from all 21 of his players this week would allow them to claim the points for a second time.
"The boys certainly won't be taking this game lightly and we will come out ready to play," Delahunty warned.
After an entire team effort last week allowed his side to get the points, Delahunty said it was that time of year when everyone needed to bring their A-game, week in, week out.
"At this time you're getting close to finals and selection spots and everyone wants to put their best case forward," he said.
Coach of the Demons, Jordy Bourke, was also buoyed by the efforts of his team last week as they recorded their first win for the season.
In that game the Demons 9.13 (67) defeated Warrack 3.13 (31).
After coming close many times during the season to getting the four points, including four games lost by fewer than 10 points, Burke said he had addressed with his side the need to get over the "hump" and it was important now that they had confidence for the coming weeks against the Thunder and Minyip Murtoa.
"We want to make sure we continue that form," Burke said.
"We could have easily been four or five wins for the year and it's not ideal at this time of the year to be winning our first game, but that confidence now for the boys is something I am looking forward to seeing because it's better late than never and it will be an exciting last two weeks."