Sport
15 April, 2026
Demons storm home
TIMBOON started the season by upsetting 2025 minor premier Merrivale in the round one Warrnambool and District football match.
A five goal to none last quarter saw the Demons storm home to record a 10.11.71 to 6.11.47 win.
“It was a real pleasing start, they’ve obviously been the benchmark in our competition for a few years, especially in the home and away season anyway,” Timboon coach Andrew Hargreaves said.
“So to come out and have them round one and put up that sort of result is really pleasing for our group.”
Close to three-quarter time, Merrivale was on top with a 21 point lead.
“Fifteen minutes into the third quarter, I thought, yep, game over, they looked like they were getting their game going, getting on top, just not putting us away on the scoreboard.
“And then to kick the last two goals of the third quarter to keep us down by two goals, gave me that belief going into three-quarter time that we could get over the top of them.”
The Demons were then able to run all over Merrivale in the last quarter.
“We had a couple of positional changes through the midfield and through young Oscar Norman, who’d been playing on the wing before going deep to the goal square; he let out and clenched a couple and kicked us a couple of goals.
“We just had all the running in the last quarter then.”
Bayley Thompson, who played for Hampden league club Camperdown in 2025, led the way for Timboon with three goals.
“He’s a massive in, a local coming home, he’s taken on a bit of responsibility as assistant coach, and he’s just a classy player.
“He can beat you in different ways, he’s strong in the contest, he’s good on the outside, he can mark above his head, so he’s a very damaging player.”
Newly appointed captain Mitchell Wallace was named best on ground for his performance across half back.
“Ash Hunt had done the captaincy for 10 years so we went in a little bit of a different, younger direction with Mitch, and he played across half back.
“He’s normally a midfielder that wins the ball and gets it going forward, but we put him across half back and he would’ve had five intercept marks and just gave us a heap of drive going off there.
“So it was a real captain’s game, he stood up massively for us.”
With four of their five football teams having wins on the day, Hargreaves said the whole club was upbeat.
“That’s the one thing I want to sell to the wider public; that Timboon is in a good position, we’ve got good junior numbers, good numbers through both grades of footy whereas some other clubs are sort of struggling in that area, so it’s a big selling point for our footy club.
“We’re heading in the right direction, it might not result in premierships just yet, but going forward, I think the club’s in a good, sustainable position.”
In the reserves, Timboon had a huge 71 point win, 13.8.86 to 2.3.15.
Bailey Delaney kicked five goals in the win and was named in the best along with Henry Stansfield and Kyle Delaney.
Timboon had a dominant 118 point win in the under 18.5s, scoring 18.17.125 to 1.1.7.
Charlie Bowker was best on ground and kicked three goals as the Demons had 11 different goal kickers.
Lachie McLennan and Jhyce Bartlett were also among the best for Timboon.
The under 16 football saw the Demons record a 8.11.59 to 1.0.6 win.
Jed Watson, Riley Stephens and Alby Jones were best for Timboon, with Watson and Kaspar Hendrix kicking two goals each.
Merrivale was too strong in the under 13.5 game, winning 8.5.53 to Timboon’s 1.3.9.
Rory Hollick, Harry Salmon and Michael Bartlett were best for the junior Demons, with Hollick kicking the only goal.
WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
SENIOR FOOTBALL
Timboon v Merrivale
Timboon 10.11 (71) defeated Merrivale 6.11 (47)
The A grade netball saw a Merrivale win, 58-24.
Tash Hallyburton, Evie Gordon and Macy Gale were best for Timboon, with captain Laura Rosolin shooting 13 goals.
Merrivale also got the win in the A reserve game, 41-32.
Lexci Nicholas, Hannah Maxwell and Tanya McKenzie were best for the Demons, with Maxwell scoring 24 goals.
The B grade game saw a 38-7 win for Merrivale, Sarah Woods, Emily Delaney and Rachel Richardson best for Timboon.
Timboon scored a 37-4 win in the 17 and under netball.
Best for the Demons were Asha Loughnan, Ella Drayton and Heide Delaney, with Drayton scoring 21 goals and Jasmine Plozza 13.
The 15 and under game saw Timboon have a strong 52-5 win.
Indii McKenzie, Emily McLennan and Emily Plozza were best for the Demons, with McKenzie shooting 21 goals and Aysha Hollick 16.
The 13 and under netball went Merrivale’s way, 22-16.
Brenna Redshaw, Elizabeth Plozza and Edie Alexander were best for the Demons, with Grace Richardson scoring seven goals.
Timboon had a 16-7 win in the 11 and under game.
Best for the Demons were Ocean Hendrix, Gretel Hollick and Olive Doolan, with Hollick scoring 14 goals.
WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
A GRADE NETBALL
Timboon v Merrivale
Timboon 24 lost to Merrivale 58
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