Rams add spice to final six
Just what does the last-minute confirmation of Natimuk United’s place in Horsham District football finals now mean for the competition’s top six?
If you answered with a fresh level of uncertainty about how the finals are going to unravel then take a bow. That’s how many are feeling.
Coach Sam Anson’s group is now a definite finals wild card. While the Rams might fall short of having the resources to ultimately threaten for a spot in the grand final this year, they have the potential to upset other finalists.
Such is the nature of the Rams this year that, despite a character-revealing and profound win over Swifts last week, they could also stumble badly in the first week of the finals.
Big elimination games are scheduled for the weekend, with the Rams taking on Jeparit-rainbow at Edenhope on Saturday and Edenhope-apsley meeting Swifts on Sunday.
Based on the season, Jeparit-rainbow will start the game as favourite to win on Saturday, but a heavy loss to minor premier Harrow-balmoral at the weekend would have done little for team morale.
The Southern Roos belted the Storm in difficult conditions at Harrow, with Tom Clugston, Peter Weir, Wayne Batson and Shane Maslin among the few who could hold up their hands for the northern force.
But it is a different story now that the finals have arrived and fans are likely to see a different Storm approach against the Rams.
Many were expecting to see Laharum squeeze into the top six, except perhaps Natimuk United, which exploited an early game breakaway to score an upset win against Swifts.
Alex Ridsdale, Justin Bromley, Jaydon Stiles, with six goals, Brent Marra and Jack Ford all conspired to lead their team into the finals.
Match at Rupanyup
Sunday’s elimination final will also be fascinating, with fans curious to see whether Swifts, similar to Jeparit-rainbow, can respond strongly after a significant loss.
Many consider Swifts in the same ilk as Natimuk United, a dangerous team if they get a sniff. But it will take more than Andrew Cameron, Liam Scott and Adrian and Dale Reid playing well to get over Edenhope-apsley and coach Scott Carey is sure to try to lift the Baggies.
Edenhope-apsley coasted into the finals on the back of a hefty one-sided win over Pimpinio, with Damian Monaghan, Taylor Milner, Jak Ryan and Josh Clissold shining as Cam Domaschenz bagged five goals.
This contest on the wide-open spaces of the Rupanyup oval could go to the wire.
The season finished for Laharum, which had a solid win over Taylors Lake and Kalkee set up its finals campaign by proving far too good for Noradjuha-quantong.