Demons take charge
Another week, another challenger consigned to the scrap heap. This was the story in Wimmera league competition at Horsham City Oval last week when Horsham Demons swept aside a lacklustre Minyip-murtoa to continue to be the pacesetters for season 2018.
Ryan Kemp led the way in interleague competition as the major goal-scorer and he continued his good form as he slotted home another six and gave the Burra defenders plenty of headaches. He now sits clear on top of a goal-kickers table.
Next on the agenda for Horsham is the out-of-sorts Nhill.
The Tigers were level with the Saints at quarter time and only nine points down at half time before being put to the sword in the second half.
Ben Jones and Jordan Zietz led the way for Nhill, while youngsters Angus Wheaton, Edmund Pritchard and Jarryd Dahlenburg showed they will be the future of the Tigers.
It is impossible to see how Nhill will combat and curb the likes of Kemp, Brad Hartigan, the general in Jordyn Burke, not to mention Ben Lakin and Rhona Conboy.
Intrigue abounds at Murtoa this week as the vanquished home side has to tackle an Ararat side that football followers would not have predicted would be sitting four points clear in second position at this stage of the season. It could be inconceivable to believe that a Minyip-murtoa loss, and other results go as predicted, that the pre-season premiership favourite could be languishing in fifth position with plenty of work to do.
Ararat is beginning to show its potential. The two Mendes boy are leading the charge, while Adam Haslett, Jayden Wright and Liam Arnott are consistently turning in solid performances.
Minyip-murtoa’s Callum Hobbs has slotted effortlessly into Wimmera league and along with tough midfielder Sam Winfield and veteran John Delahunty, the Burra faithful will be hoping they can control the centre square and allow key forwards in Kieran Delahunty and Jae Mcgrath to apply some acid on the scoreboard.
Giant machine
After having a two-week hiatus to put the crops in the ground, the Southern-mallee Giant machine will roar back to life, but they will have to be wary of a Stawell side that built momentum with a huge win over Dimboola last week.
The Giants backline, led by the laconic Sam Weddell, will present plenty of problems for any Stawell forward thrusts.
Battles for control around the stoppages will be pivotal.
Stawell will look to Tom Taurau, Naish Mcroberts and Cam Kimber to keep Tyler Lehmann, Coleman Schache and Haydn Drew under wraps and give themselves a chance to lock the ball inside their forward lines.
Both sides boast tough raging bulls. David Andrivon leads the way for Stawell and with five goals last week he will again be dangerous, while Tyler Lehmann only knows one way to attack the football and it would be worth every dollar to see these two ply their trade against each other.
It does not get any easier for Dimboola as Horsham Saints make their trip to play the home side under the gums of the Wimmera river.
The Saints’ third quarter was as good a quarter of football we have seen all year. The tri colors went on a goal blitz with eight in the quarter and in-form coach Luke Fischer will be demanding that style for the full game.
Jarred and Matt Combe are always opportunists when the ball is inside the forward 50 and expect them to lead the Saints on the scoresheet.
Dimboola can take heart from the fact the Saints should be without young guns Mitch Martin, Angus Gove and possibly Brayden Heylar as they might be required for Rebels duties again.
Import Justin Beugelaar continues to shine brightly in a somewhat bleak season for the Roos, but it will be impossible for him to thwart the onslaught of Saints attacking forays.