Wimmera: Nhill seals rare finals berth with draw against reigning premiers

Nhill has sealed a rare finals berth in the Wimmera league after a draw with Ararat. See who kicked the late goal to tie up the match.

Nhill has snapped a 14-year finals drought in the Wimmera league by forcing a draw with reigning premier Ararat on Saturday.

The last time Nhill played in finals in 2010 was also its most recent grand final appearance when it lost to Horsham Demons, which will be the team it plays in the elimination final in a fortnight.

First-year coach Jake McQueen starred in one of the success-starved club’s best performances in recent seasons when it kicked four goals to two in the last term against the breeze.

Ruckman Dan Batson floated forward late and kicked the goal that tied up the match 10.10 to 9.16.

Nhill coach Jake McQueen playing for Southern Districts in the Northern Territory. Picture: Celina Whan

Nhill is six points clear of sixth-placed Minyip-Murtoa with one round remaining.

“It was a bit weird because I’d never played in a draw before,” McQueen said.

“But when we drew we were pretty excited because we’d cemented our spot in finals and obviously Ararat wasn’t because they can’t get top spot.

“It was two quite different reactions that is for sure.”

McQueen said it was fortuitous Batson was up forward late and converted from 30 metres out directly in front.

“We didn’t have anyone else that tall who could take a nice big contested mark like that,” he said.

“He did a great job because the wind was against him.”

Nhill has charged home in the second half of the season with five wins and a draw including the scalp of third-placed Stawell.

McQueen said the experience of mid-season recruits Deek Roberts and Patrick Purcell couldn’t be underestimated.

Roberts booted three goals and Purcell was also in the best players.

“They’ve both played in grand finals and played over 250 games,” he said.

“Their experience has helped our young group immensely.

The last time the two teams met, Ararat crushed Nhill by 67 points, with the draw leaving Ararat two points and percentage behind ladder leaders Southern Mallee Thunder, which beat Stawell by 61 points, on Saturday.

Ararat ruckman Cody Lindsay, left, starred in last year’s grand final win against Southern Mallee. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Ararat plays Stawell in the final round and will regain co-coach Tom Mills from a two-match suspension.

Ararat has also been without influential big man Cody Lindsay for the last two matches due to injury.

Southern Mallee Thunder, which lost the grand final to Ararat last year, took control of its clash against Stawell with a dominant first term when it booted 7.6 to 1.0.

Thunder plays Horsham Demons in the last round.