Questions aplenty in big decider

When you play off in a grand final is it better to have had a week or two on the sidelines or is it better to have hardened off at the coalface of physical competition?

That’s the million-dollar question confronting Horsham and Minyip-murtoa when the two clash in Wimmera Football League’s grand Saturday.

Results between the two this season tell us there is little between the teams with the record sitting at two-all.

But Horsham’s success over the Burras in the second half of the season provided the Demons with a rest in the first week of the finals and another spell last weekend.

If results were simply based final on on opportunities to rest and recover after a busy season then Horsham ticks all the boxes when it comes to advantage.

But does it really apply in this circumstance?

There are plenty of coaches out there who fear the prospect of losing winning momentum and prefer their team to use tough finals matches to galvanise for a grand final.

Minyip-murtoa has certainly had to do it tough to get to the season climax after appearing the team to beat for much of the year.

Just how battered, sore and weary are the Burras after three tough games, including last week’s preliminary-final win over Warrack Eagles?

Or how inspired has last year’s runner-up become after its drawn-out battles?

Last week the Burras had to fight tooth and nail to shake off the determined Eagles at Coughlin Park in Horsham.

The Burras simply couldn’t put the game to bed after establishing periods of marginal ascendancy, which suggests there were some weary bodies at the end of the game.

It’s true Horsham would have had to recharge the batteries through team management in the past week.

But the Demons are sure to enjoy running onto the ground with a little less lactic acid coursing through the body and fewer bruises in the muscles to worry about.

Regardless of the respective preparations of both sides, the game should be a ripper.

Both camps are loaded with player depth, talent and experience.

Minyip-murtoa ruckman Kieran Delahunty, in good touch last week, is critical for his team’s success, but so too is his off-sider Matt Coleman.

Forward Jae Mcgrath also looms as a key tall and Luke Chamberlain is sure to command a critical role after a strong performance on Shannon Argall last week.

Perhaps the player to watch for the Burras will be coach Damian Cameron, who boasts one of the biggest endurance engines in the league.

Dashing Oliver Young has also had a mighty season, utility John Delahunty thrives in the big games and Pat Purcell and Sam Winfield fit into an on-ball fleet nicely.

Plenty of gears

But Minyip-murtoa has a tough assignment against a well-drilled Horsham unit that seems to have plenty of gears.

The Demons have historically used constructive midfield rotations to gain the upper hand or to create mismatches and coach Louie Dalziel will have used his team’s break to analyse opposition areas to exploit.

Horsham sneaked across the line after having a big lead against the Burras in a semi-final and you can bet they won’t be caught resting on any laurels this weekend.

The Demons will push forward in waves if they can, exploit the talents of Simon Hobbs, Matty Lloyd, Jack Mentha, Brad Hartigan and Deek Roberts in combination with the likes of Tyler Blake, John Wood and Joel Geue.

If Horsham over-extends while attacking, the Demons have defensive general Rhona Conboy, Ben Lakin and experienced talls in Josh Mibus and Tim Wade holding the fort.

It is hard to see this game doing anything except going to the wire.

The bullet-shaped Dimboola ground favours teams who can best find space to run.

In the end, that team will be Horsham to the tune of five points.