Mighty clash at Balmoral
Some of the heaviest artillery in Wimmera-mallee football will line up face-to-face on the edge of the Western District on Saturday.
The wicks are already smoking in anticipation of a mighty clash at Balmoral and when the guns finally explode into action it will be on for young and old.
Harrow-balmoral and Southern Mallee Giants have been shadowing each other at the top of the Horsham District football ladder all season and Saturday represents a chance for them to rekindle rivalries.
The teams have met only once, back at the end of April when Harrow-balmoral retreated from Hopetoun after a 33-point loss but with colours still flying in anticipation of a return bout.
The result remains the primary difference between the teams occupying first and second spots on the ladder.
The Giants are unbeaten and the Southern Roos have suffered only one loss.
Both teams are obviously taking winning form into this weekend’s games, the home side amassing an incredible 286 points in a one-sided encounter against Pimpinio and the Giants 20-odd goals better than Noradjuha-quantong.
Kain Robins kicked a lazy 10 goals for the Giants last week, taking his season tally to 85, while the class of Coleman Schache, Sam White, Lou White, Haydn Drew and co went on show.
It was an even more devastating display at Harrow where the home side had 66 scoring shots to one.
Eric Guthrie bagged nine goals, Nick Pekin eight, Robert Mackinnon five, Sam Brewer four and plenty of others also split the tallest uprights.
What these results mean for this weekend is anyone’s guess, but for both it represents significant competition of which they have been yearning.
While the intensity will be red-hot at Balmoral, there are other games also likely to generate interest.
Finals hopes
The calculators were out assessing what Natimuk United now has to do to force its way into the finals after an upset win over Jeparit-rainbow.
Injuries have taken much of the sting out of Natimuk United plans this year but the side is likely to take new stores of belief into a match against Laharum on Saturday.
United is sitting seventh and a game behind Laharum and Edenhope-apsley and must continue to win to regain hopes of playing finals.
Last week Natimuk United surprised everyone except themselves with a 41-point victory, with Brent Marra, Shaun Mcdonald, Alex Ridsdale and Craig Britten on song and Nathan Koenig kicking four goals.
Laharum will need to be on guard at Natimuk, especially after falling six points short of Swifts in a low-scoring thriller.
Laharum officials must be tired of writing the names of joint coaches Robbie Miller and Todd Heynen into the best-player lists, although Tom Crawford, Angus Martin and Kane Mason were also prominent last week.
And what about Jeparit-rainbow? It’s sitting third but appears a little shaky for its contest against Edenhope-apsley at Jeparit.
Clugstons Ash and Heath and Matt Cozens were good again last week despite the loss and Luke Werner and Sam Cranna featured.
The Storm meets an Edenhope-apsley side that crushed Kalkee, with Steve Butler kicking six and George Walker four as Jason Rae and Ben Thompson won votes.
This game is up for grabs.
300th game
Kalkee will take on Rupanyup at Kalkee in a contest where pride is on the line and where the Kees will be trying to win for Paul Christian who plays his 300th game.
Kalkee struggled to make an impression on the scoreboard last week, but had Daniel Schache and Hugo Papst in the thick of the action and others such as Brendan Hobbs and Tim Pohlner doing well.
Rupanyup would have stocked up on much-needed confidence with its big win over Taylors Lake.
Tyler May led the way for the Panthers with four-goal Paul Trotter and Jordan Collins collecting six goals. Trent Grant also featured in the best.
Fourth-placed Swifts appear poised to swoop on any shortcomings of teams above them and will be far too strong for Pimpinio.
The Baggies sneaked across the line against the Demons with Ryan Folkes, Ben Taylor and Zac Armer shining in the win.
Pimpinio is battling on gamely and last week Dylan Arnott and Daniel Baker tried hard against the flow.
Noradjuha-quantong, with Jack Vague, Jason Kerr and Ben Myerscough flying the flag last outing, will secure a win over Taylors Lake at Dock Lake Reserve.
The Lakers continue to show resilience in the face of adversity and last outing it was coach Jye Smith, Jack Mcrae and Skipp Wilson who put up their hands.