Giants looking for hat-trick
Southern Mallee Giants will set their sights on a rare hat-trick of premierships after clinching back-to-back Horsham District football titles.
But the Beulah-hopetoun combine will have to achieve the milestone under a new coach.
Premiership leader Shaun Monohan, who directed his team from the sidelines while recovering from a broken leg, announced on Sunday plans to step down from the role and return to Mansfield.
Giants president Stephen Hallam said the club was already working on plans for next year with a priority, apart from a coaching appointment, to retain the bulk of the senior playing group.
“Everyone is over the moon and now the main aim is to retain this unbelievable playing group,” he said.
“If we can do that it will play a big part in being successful next year.”
The Giants, pre-game favourites, held on grimly in a drama-packed grand final at Horsham City Oval on Saturday to beat arch rival Harrow-balmoral by 12 points.
The Southern Mallee outfit set the early pace, establishing an 11-point quarter time lead and then what was to ultimately prove a match-winning 22-point break at half time.
The contest, in ideal spring conditions, unfolded into a catch-me-if-you-can scenario with both sides exhibiting plenty of dash and skill, but the Giants often cleaner in their disposal.
The Giants were also prepared early to leave their opponents and push forward of the play, often overwhelming the Southern Roos with sheer weight of numbers. They also made the most of limited opportunities.
The Roos responded gamely but continually ran into traffic coming the other way as a tireless Mallee defence effectively counterpunched, turning defence into attack.
Spearheading the defence was dashing long-haired Sam Weddell, who dismantled opposition sorties forward with raking kicks, clearing handballs and telling marks.
Officials rewarded Weddell’s efforts by naming him best-on-ground at the end of the game.
He had plenty of mates willing the team on and none were better than skilful club best and fairest Coleman Schache who reveled in the midfield turmoil and also pushed forward to kick three goals.
Rory Shannon and Haydn Drew were among the flood of players in orange, grey and white to make an impression and Kain Robins presented a constant problem for the Harrow-balmoral defence.
But the Roos were unwilling to throw in the towel and after a stirring three-quarter time address from assistant coach Nick Pekin, surged in the final term.
The Southern Roos were relentless in their efforts to get back into the game and at one stage late in the contest threatened to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
They took the game on and a run from Robbie Mackinnon, which started on a wing and featured a series of balks and bounces, which drew gasps from the big crowd before an unsuccessful shot at goal, was a prime example.
Mackinnon’s miss summed up the Roos’ day – the south-west force was close, in fact finished the game with more scoring shots than the Giants – but they lacked the finish of their opponents.
The Roos had plenty of good players with Scott Heath and Aaron Mcdonald leading the votes. Big Jandre Slabbert helped inspire the Roos’ fightback, follower Michael Phelan worked hard in the air, the likes of Hamish Ellis and Will Plush were solid contributors and Eric Guthrie and Pekin showed touches of class.
But the day belonged to the Giants, who will wait only a couple of weeks before planning another premiership defence.