Football
18 September, 2025
Merger delivers four-way success for Southern Mallee Thunder
When the Thunder line up for the Wimmera Football Netball League Grand Final on Saturday, they will do so not only representing the club, committee and group of players but also honouring fans from far and wide – including the towns of Beulah, Hopetoun, Jeparit and Rainbow.
Earlier this week, Southern Mallee coach Kieran Delahunty said it would be great to claim a premiership and fantastic for the communities the club encompassed.
In expressing how he felt about the club and its group of players, Thunder president Lucas Puckle said he was extremely proud of the side.
"They've done well after a bit rough start to the season with four losses and just a couple of wins," Puckle said.
"There has been a lot of hard work put in both off and on the field to get to where we have got to but we have one job left to finish now."
Despite having a few high-profile players who weren't born and raised in the Wimmera, Puckle said a good percentage of their players were local.
"Not only that: a lot of the recruits we have this season have played milestone games with us this year," Puckle said.
"They have been at our club for multiple years because once they come to the club they love it so much they want to keep playing.
"But we have a few locals kicking around, people who have been here since they were youngsters: Coleman Schache, Lou White, Sam White, Xavier Oakley, SImon Clugston, Jackson FIsher even though he lives and works away now – he is an ex-local.
"But you could also nearly call some of the recruits locals now; some of them have played more than 100 games."
Puckle said a grand final place for the Thunder was a "huge" thing for the communities that the club encompassed.
"When we came together there were a lot of big decisions to be made, collectively halving the amount of games in each town," he said.
"Sessions for training and more travel; there's a lot of committment.
"When we amalgamanted it was a big thing, and looking back now you couldn't have asked for it to go more smoothly.
"And to get a premiership on top of that would just really demonstrate the decisions we have made have been right.
"Especially to see so many youngsters in our club now, and to see the future, I don't think anyone out there would say the decision was wrong."
But the "big team effort" across all four towns wasn't lost on the president – especially considering the entire population of all four towns was still only a couple of thousand, he said.
"Without all four towns being involved – it's a lot of work to run a club – we just wouldn't be able to do it," Puckle said.
"Everyone has got to put in, and it's good."
Former president of the Thunder, Lucas Edelsten, echoed Puckle's sentiments.
“Getting into a grand final is no easy task and to get into three in a row is great news," Edelsten said.
“It’s good for the community to get around and I’m sure the boys will do us proud."
Edelsten said the merger of Beulah and Hopetoun side Southern Mallee Giants with Jeparit-Rainbow Storm had brought a lot more people to the matches, adding it had become more of a social outing, which had been great for connections across the towns.
“For Jeparit it’s a full-circle moment to be back in the Wimmera league after being part of it decades ago," Edelsten said.
“For Rainbow it’s exciting still to have strong representation and host quality games in town.
“The community’s stoked and everyone is revved up and ready to go to Warrack this weekend – grand finals don’t always come around that often."
Edelsten said the community was hungry for success and a premiership this season would be the cherry on top.
“The amalgamation has gone better than we thought it would and a flag would give everyone a great reason to celebrate," he said.