Injury intrigue as Rats play Demons
The potential impact of late-season injuries on the prospects of Wimmera Football League finalists will become evident in a big game between Horsham and Ararat on Saturday.
While Horsham coach Deek Roberts attempts to direct traffic from the sidelines with a season-ending broken leg, Ararat will be missing important midfielder Dan Mendes with hamstring trouble.
Mendes hurt his leg during the Rats’ game against Minyip-murtoa and his absence alongside Jack Ganley, broken leg, will again force the Ararat brains trust into a major reshuffle.
Ararat consolidated its position in the top five on Saturday with a comfortable win over Minyip-murtoa, but the Mendes injury at Alexandra Oval soured the victory.
Harry Ganley, Riley Taylor, Nic Mendes and Adam Haslett all played well in the wings and will all need to be back on their game to meet the Demons at Horsham City Oval.
Horsham also scored a win last week, producing a match-winning seven-goal third term to shrug off a determined Nhill.
It was players such as Ryan Kemp, with eight goals, and rover Brodie Mines who stepped up for the Demons this week, as Alex Harfield, Ben Lakin and Jordyn Burke also put in strong games in the 44-point win.
The match between the Demons and Rats should be a ripping test for both sides.
With three home-and-away rounds remaining, Minyip-murtoa’s finals hopes appear almost dashed.
The team, two games outside the five, will make up ground with a bye this week and then plays Stawell and Horsham Saints.
But coach Damian Cameron might be out of action, also with a hamstring injury.
Warrack Eagles sit in fifth spot ahead of six-placed Stawell, a team they meet on Saturday, and are scheduled to play the Saints and Dimboola in their other remaining games.
Stawell is obviously also in the mix, taking on the Burras before finishing the season against Horsham.
For the moment, the Eagles and Stawell will touch gloves in what looms as an intriguing contest at Warracknabeal.
The Eagles had a bye last week, while Stawell showed plenty of gumption in taking it up to balanced South- ern Mallee Giants. In fact Stawell, with Jakob Salmi, Jackson Dark, Tom Taurau and Sean Mantell driving the Warriors, led the Giants at quarter and half times.
The Giants eventually won by 25 points, but Stawell would have taken plenty away from the contest.
Giants v Saints
The result was probably also a wakeup call for the Giants, who will rekindle an intriguing relationship with Horsham Saints, this time at Beulah.
The Giants copped it from the Saints the last time the teams met and will be keen to turn the tables this time around.
Coleman Schache led the Giants to victory last week, alongside Sam Weddell, Haydn Drew and Ryan McNally and will be looking for his players to take charge early.
Horsham Saints produced an 11-goal opening term before coasting to a big win over Dimboola and will be expecting a major Giants assault.
Ruckman Michael Rowe, Sam Jasper and Oliver Timms led best-player votes last week, while brothers Jarred and Matt Combe kicked five goals each.
Western Highway games between Nhill and Dimboola rarely disappoint and a game at Dimboola this weekend will be no exception.
Nhill has been close without having much success this year and last week it was players such as Ed Pritchard, six-goal Scott Hughes, Lochie Pilgrim and Mitch Dahlenburg who flew the Tigers flag.
Dimboola has struggled all year and if nothing more, its players will have hardened off considerably by the end of the season.
The Roos had to wait until the final term to kick goals against Horsham Saints, but Josh Edgar, Elliot Braithwaite, Jack Hatcher and Mitch Jorgensen impressed.