Demons host premiership reunion
Horsham fans young and old will celebrate their club’s rich history with a triple premiership reunion when the Demons host Stawell at Horsham City Oval on Saturday night.
The Demons have planned a reunion for their 1979, 1989 and 2009 premiership sides, with strong representation expected from each.
Long-time Horsham committee member and club stalwart Rod Dumesny said only two members of the 1979 team would be absent, while five members of the 1989 team would be missing including the late John O’callaghan and coach Peter Hickmott.
Mr Dumesney said many of the club’s 2009 premiership players were still active, and would be coming from across the state.
“A lot of them will be coming overnight because a lot of them are still playing down in Geelong,” he said.
“Jeremy Hartigan is coming down from Echuca after he plays.
“Jason Kerr is coming from Noradjuha-quantong.
“Stuart Farr coaches Kalkee and will be coming in after that.
“The night match works well for us – we wouldn’t have been able to do the 2009 reunion unless it was a night match or a Sunday match.”
Horsham’s 1979 premiership team, coached by Peter ‘Dickie’ Morrison, defeated the favoured Murtoa 24.14 (158) to 18.16 (124) at Dimboola, with Phil Bunn booting eight goals on a badly sprained ankle.
The 1989 team was led to a 23.18 (156) to 16.9 (105) win by Essendon premiership player Shane Heard and Kell in Duncan, who was named best afield.
The 2009 team, coached by Stuart Farr, ran away with the match against Warrack Eagles despite kicking into a stiff breeze in the last quarter, winning 16.14 (110) to 13.8 (86). Horsham’s 1979 reserves premiership against Ararat will also be celebrated.
Mr Dumesny said the reunion would be an excellent opportunity for people to catch up with old friends and reminisce on some of the club’s greatest triumphs.
On the field, the Demons will attempt to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive against Stawell, which earned its first win with a resounding victory against Warrack Eagles.
Five goals to Cody Driscoll helped the Warriors run away with the match after quarter time, and the 17.24 (126) to 6.8 (44) gave the team a big percentage boost.
The Eagles now face Dimboola, which had some struggles of its own in a 14.23 (107) to 5.5 (35) loss to Ararat.
Despite the efforts of Roo Ash Clugston, the Rats ran rampant after the first change, midfielder Nick Mendes and Jake Williamson dominating and Dylan Shelley booting four goals up forward.
The Roos and Eagles sit seventh and eighth on the ladder respectively, and a loss to either would make a finals berth seem very far away.
Horsham Saints will host Ararat after surviving a scare from Nhill, winning 10.18 (78) to 10.6 (66) on the back of big games from Andrew Devereaux and Jacob O’beirne.
The Saints led by 41 points at the last change but only managed four behinds in the fourth quarter as Toby Case, Jake Harrap and Scott Hughes nearly led the Tigers back.
Finals aspirants Minyip-murtoa and Southern Mallee Giants will meet at Murtoa, the Burras coming off a bye and the Giants a 10.9 (69) to 8.6 (54) loss to Horsham in a rematch of last year’s grand final.
Coach Coleman Schache and forward Sam White could overcome the run of Horsham coach Deek Roberts, whose scintillating four-goal effort was enough to carry his team across the line.