Minyip-murtoa on top
Minyip-murtoa seemingly claimed the mantle of Wimmera Football League premiership favouritism after a resounding win against Horsham at the weekend, with a showdown against Warrack Eagles to come.
The Burras came close to premiership glory in 2016 and 2017, losing grand finals to Horsham Saints and Horsham respectively, but might have erased some mental demons from those games with a 15.9 (99) to 5.7 (37) win against the real life Demons.
In what was a physical match, the Burras applied excellent defensive pressure after quarter time, holding Horsham to a single goal for the rest of the match.
Key defender Tim Mackenzie, back at the Burras after a stint in the SANFL, was in complete control in the backline, taking at least 20 intercept marks in the estimation of coach John Delahunty.
With Minyip-murtoa’s forward line and midfield also applying pressure, the Demons were hard pressed to score.
“Horsham came out really strong and we struggled to adjust to their pressure,” Delahunty said.
“At quarter time we needed to catch our breath and get back to how we’d been playing throughout the year.
“The boys did a really good job of playing the way we know we can and getting on the same page.
“That’s not to say Horsham went away; their pressure was there all day.
“The second quarter in particular was as physical as it’s been all year, with strong tackling and strong contested footy.
“It was a credit to the boys that they kept at it even though it was a grind.”
Delahunty said Brad Inglis was a pre-game withdrawal, while Nick Kelson and Angus Trethowan were both injured in the game’s first 10 minutes, leaving the Burras with one fit player on the bench despite the fact Trethowan was able to battle on.
Rhona Conboy was Horsham’s best player on a day when some of the team’s usual stars were subdued.
Adding injury to insult for the Demons was the fact key forward Josh Mibus was stretchered from the ground after appearing to seriously injure his knee late in the contest.
Minyip-murtoa will now set its sights on Warrack Eagles, who barely escaped with a 15.11 (101) to 14.13 (97) win against Nhill at the weekend.
A five-goal haul from forward Dalton Jaensch and a big game from Shannon Argall in the ruck were enough to drag the visitors to victory after trailing the winless Tigers by two points at three-quarter time.
Nhill young gun Drew Schneider and Frazer Driscoll almost delivered a first win of 2019 for their side.
Delahunty said the Burras were wary of the Eagles despite sitting atop the ladder with a league-best percentage of 176.62.
“When we were towards the bottom of the ladder we always managed to have good games against the Eagles, and when they’ve been lower and we’ve been higher it’s still always close,” he said. “It shows the evenness of the competition.”
In other matches this week, Southern Mallee Giants will host Dimboola at Hopetoun and Horsham will attempt to rebound against Nhill.
The Giants came off second best in a scrappy match against Ararat, failing to register a goal in the first half before making inroads.
James Laidlaw and Daniel Mendes led the Rats in the 11.5 (71) to 8.8 (56) win, while Giants coach Coleman Schache led from the front with three goals.
Stawell and Horsham Saints both have a week off after the Warriors proved too good in a 15.11 (101) to 8.10 (58) win.
The Saints fought to stay in the game during the first half but were shut down in the third quarter, scoring two behinds to the Warriors’ 5.4.
Cody Driscoll booted a bag of six majors for Stawell, while Tom Taurau and Tom Eckel also shone.
Saints ruckman Michael Rowe used his big frame to good effect, but his team was ultimately outclassed.