Massive margins put football in spotlight
Horsham District and regional football leaders are set to come under pressure by the end of the season to explore ways of moderating increasingly lop-sided competition.
The gulf in standard between competition pacesetters and also-rans was dramatically evident at the weekend with the margins in all but two of the six games above 100 points.
In the most dramatic result of the round, Harrow-balmoral beat a scoreless Taylors Lake by 252 points, while Southern Mallee Giants were 146-point victors over Kalkee, Swifts beat Rupanyup by 107 points and Jeparit-rainbow was 137 points better than Pimpinio.
Laharum’s 51-point victory over Noradjuhaquantong still represented a heavy one-sided result, leaving only Natimuk United’s 18-point win over Edenhope- Apsley the only close game of the round.
The results revealed at least two significantly different tiers in standard in the district competition, circumstance regional communities, let alone football organisations, rarely tolerate in modern country football.
The jury might still be out on whether there is a need for dramatic intervention and all eyes will be on results this weekend.
Pacesetters
Results suggest Harrow-balmoral and the Southern Mallee Giants are head and shoulders above the rest of the field, and this weekend fans will see where Swifts measure up against the Giants and in the equation.
Swifts, in their thumping win over Rupanyup, had Andrew Cameron bagging seven goals and Ben Hustler six as Paul Carson, Ben Taylor and Nick Pickering also led the way.
They meet the likes of Coleman Schache, Sam White, Kain Robins and Haydn Drew, who kicked 19 goals between them last week.
The microscope will also hover over Noradjuha-quantong, which takes on a Harrowbalmoral side that had an incredible 67 scoring shots last outing.
The likes of Cam Bruce, Jason Kerry and Tyler Bye will need all Bombers running with them as they match up against the imposing line-up.
The results of Nick Pekin, nine goals, Charlie Stewart, six, Sam Brewer, five and Hugh Douglas, four, provide only the tip of the iceberg in Southern Roos firepower.
Taylors Lake has to somehow pick itself up off the canvas to take on Kalkee, which will also look for respite.
A good game might evolve between Edenhopeapsley and Laharum at Edenhope, with both sides needing to firm up positions in the top six.
Laharum is sitting sixth after a solid effort against Noradjuha-quantong and Edenhope-apsley seventh after coming off second best against Natimuk United.
Coaches Todd Heynen and Robbie Miller continue to lead from the front for Laharum and Tom Crawford was good last week while Jason Rae is in top form for the Saints.
Jeparit-rainbow, with Heath Clugston continuing to burrow in and Simon Clugston in good nick, will be too strong for Rupanyup and Pimpinio will find the going tough against a Natimuk United team that last week had Brent Marra and Josh Colbert leading the Rams’ charge.