Challenge set for combine

Hey Jeparit-rainbow! To use an old well-worn footy expression, we’re not sure if you are contenders or pretenders in Horsham District football this season.

You’re sitting third on the ladder with nine wins and two losses but you haven’t done anything that suggests you can seriously challenge competition leaders Southern Mallee Giants and Harrow-balmoral.

That’s one of the blunt statements district league fans are pondering as the Storm prepares for a critical fact-finding clash against the Giants at Hopetoun.

In the opening game of the season, Jeparitrainbow put its cards on the table with a competitive performance against the Giants.

The Hindmarsh combine might have fallen more than seven goals short of upstaging the reigning premier, but it gained a degree of respect across the competition. In short, it declared it was prepared to put its hand up as a major challenger.

Hard-fought wins against Natimuk United and Edenhope-apsley boosted confidence levels and victory over Laharum consolidated momentum before relatively comfortable wins against Pimpinio and Rupanyup.

Then came a confidence-boosting tester against Swifts and more easy wins over Noradjuhaquantong, Taylors Lake and Kalkee.

But then came the Storm’s last game, against a slick Harrow-balmoral at Jeparit.

History records the Southern Roos cantered to a 59-point win over the Storm, raising fresh doubts about the potential of Jeparit-rainbow to seriously mix it with the two front-running teams.

With only five home-and-away games remaining, the time is right for Jeparit-rainbow to declare how it will run home to the finals.

After meeting the Giants, the Storm will confront Natimuk United, Edenhope-apsley, Laharum and Pimpinio and appears well placed to maintain third spot.

But third spot won’t be worth much if it simply can’t find a way to beat the Giants or Roos. A huge chasm between premiership fancies and the bottom sides has been well documented this season, but where does that leave the likes of fourth-placed Swifts, Laharum in fifth spot and teams on the fringe of the top six – Edenhopeapsley, Natimuk United and Kalkee?

All are in with a strong chance of featuring in the finals but the cards certainly have to fall the right way.

Swifts are on the same points as Laharum but have superior percentage and will gain an important boost with a big win over struggling Taylors Lake this weekend.

But Laharum should also record a big win, over Pimpinio, and Edenhope-apsley will be too good for Noradjuha-quantong.

Seventh-placed Natimuk United, with more losses than wins this season but only a game behind Edenhope-apsley, should also beat Rupanyup.

This leaves Kalkee, sitting in eighth place on equal points with Natimuk United, but confronting the powerhouse Roos on Saturday.

Kalkee has comprehensively lost its past two games and has a mixed bag in a run home to the finals.

After the Roos, the Kees meet Edenhopeapsley, Rupanyup and Pimpinio, where there is a chance of victories. But they finish the year against the Giants.

Kalkee’s primary challenger for a top-six finish, apart from the Edenhope-apsley Saints, is Natimuk United, which has a fascinating fixture to finish the home-and-away year.

The Rams, after playing Rupanyup on Saturday, face Jeparit-rainbow, Laharum, Noradjuhaquantong and Edenhope-apsley.

Ensuring the make-up of the final top six stays interesting, the Saints, after their game against the Bombers, meet Kalkee, Jeparit-rainbow, Swifts and the Rams.

And as if that isn’t enough intrigue surrounding the competition, remember that Swifts and Laharum are sitting only two games ahead of the Rams and Kees.