Under pressure

Horsham will attempt to regroup in an important match against Warrack Eagles on Saturday as Wimmera Football League continues to build towards a dramatic season end.

The Demons, while still sitting on top of the ladder, have lost the fourpoint break they have enjoyed on the rest of the field and will be keen to respond at home.

Horsham found out in no uncertain terms about the potential of Southern Mallee Giants at Beulah last weekend and was caught in a second-half surge against the home side.

Horsham led the Giants by 27 points at half time, but ultimately lowered its colours by 19, recording only its second loss for the year.

Even efforts from the likes of inform Ben Lakin, coach Deek Roberts and Brad Hartigan, and four goals from both Ryan Kemp and John Wood, were not enough to get the team across the line.

Horsham won’t find it easy to return to the winners list, up against a Warrack Eagles team fresh from victory over Minyip-murtoa and in a fight to secure a place in the top five.

Last week, the Eagles were too good for the Burras by 29 points at Brim, with ever-reliable Riley Morrow leading the charge alongside Travis Lawson, Phill Huebner and Josh Bibby. The Eagles are sitting fifth, now a game clear of Minyip-murtoa and Stawell, but would have concerns about percentage in the run home.

Rats and Giants

Another big game this week will unfold at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval where the Giants will assess whether they can take form at home on a big road trip.

The Giants were outstanding in producing the goods when needed last week, Brock Orval’s five goals pivotal in the final wash-up.

Haydn Drew, who kicked three goals, was a primary architect in the mighty comeback and had plenty of mates in the second-half rush including Lou White, James Wray, Reece Mcnally, Leigh Stewart and leader Coleman Schache.

The Giants faced an acid test against the Demons and this week it will be Ararat that needs to perform to hold off the Mallee challenge.

The Rats are coming off a predictable win over Dimboola, but only really dominated the contest in the second half.

Workhorse Ryan Bates led the Ararat charge and others to win accolades included Jarryd Smith, Jake Williamson and Liam Arnott. Lachie Hamilton kicked five goals and Tyler Cronin four.

Ararat is in a perfect position to power home to the finals but must overcome the third-placed Giants this week to cement its premiership credentials.

Minyip-murtoa and Stawell find themselves on the same points outside the five in sixth and seventh positions respectively and have tough games this week.

Minyip-murtoa, despite the efforts of Luke Chamberlain, John Delahunty, Jae Mcgrath and Callum Hobbs, failed to keep up with the Eagles last week.

The Burras now take on Nhill at Murtoa in a game they can ill-afford to drop.

Stawell, on the other hand, which won an entertaining and high-scoring clash with Nhill, faces a Horsham Saints side coming off a bye.

Stawell trailed the Tigers early but a 13-goal second half, led by the efforts of eight-goal David Andrivon, Cam Kimber, Sean Mantell and Tom Taurau, eventually secured the Warriors a 36-point win.

Nhill would have been more than a little annoyed in giving up its threegoal half-time lead.

It had Simon Cave, Ben Jones and Jake Harrap working hard and several players in the goals and needs to again regroup for an opportunity against the Burras.

This weekend is a White Ribbon round. The weeks are quickly ticking by for teams that want to make a serious tilt at finals football.