Eagles set mighty challenge
Okay, Warrack Eagles, let’s see if you’re fair dinkum! That’s the Horsham message buzzing up the Henty Highway to the Yarriambiack heartland in anticipation of football action on Saturday.
Horsham takes on the Eagles in a significant Wimmera Football League tester at Warracknabeal’s Anzac Park.
Horsham tripped up against Minyip-murtoa last outing after a previously unbeaten run and is sure to have used a bye last week to re-evaluate what’s needed to win games.
There is a sense that a week off might have been good for Horsham, so used to success despite a hiccup last year, to put any emerging psychological demons to bed.
But the circumstance might be different for the Eagles and a bye might be more detrimental than advantageous.
Warrack Eagles are in hot pursuit of clarification of their new position among the competition pacesetters and, after a landmark victory over Stawell, would have liked to immediately take winning form into a clash against the Demons.
As it stands, however, celebrations and commiserations from the last round have cooled and there is a feeling Saturday’s contest is back on an even keel.
Or is it that even? And does the circumstance now open the door for Horsham to both rebound and at the same time put the home side on the back foot?
The fact there is a conversation about the psychology of the two teams in reference to who might win is testament to how competitive Wimmera league is this season.
Both sides have been playing good football, with the Eagles’ Josh Bibby setting the competition pace in front of the sticks and team leaders Ryan Mckenzie and Shannon Argall prominent in the win over Stawell.
Similar to the Eagles, Horsham has a good mix of experience and young talent and as if on cue, Joel Geue has again slipped under the radar to be the Demons’ most productive forward.
Horsham fans are talking about the form of John Wood and with others such as Deek Roberts, Jack Mentha and Tyler Blake helps lead a slick running group.
A fascinating game is on offer but it will be Horsham that secures a 24-point win.
Rebounding Warriors
Stawell and Horsham Saints are sitting behind the third-placed Eagles and it might simply be a case of goal-front firepower that provides Stawell with much-needed respite at Coughlin Park in Horsham.
The Warriors have a 3-3 win-loss record so far this season, a far cry from what fans had hoped at the start of the year.
There was some expectation the Saints would come back to the field but with coach Luke Fisher now getting plenty of the footy circumstances might quickly change.
Will veteran Gavin Kelm front up again in the teeth of goal for the Saints? If not, why not considering the long-time gun kicked six goals last outing?
Stawell should fight back after two losses and win by 19 points, although the Saints are always hard to beat at home.
Watch the form of Jackson Dark and Sean Mantell for the Warriors and take particular note of Tom Eckel’s leadership by example at the coalface.
Tigers look for two
Nhill will join a queue of teams asking, ‘what’s going on Ararat?’ when it beats the Rats by 30 points at Nhill.
The Tigers have only one win against their name, collecting the points against Dimboola last round, but victory on Saturday will keep them clawing at the edge of the five.
Jake Harrup continues to have a major say for the Tigers and others such as Nathan Sachse, Billy Hayes and Daniel Batson will make life hard for the visiting Saints.
Nhill will get up by 30 points, although fans can expect Rats such as Ryan Bates, Jack Ganley, Xavier Vearing and Tom Mills, who kicked four goals last outing, to provide solid opposition.
Roos up against it
While the Tigers and Saints enjoy a running battle in the far west, Dimboola will need to muster something in the east in an encounter against yardstick Minyip-murtoa.
It seems an eternity since Minyip-murtoa answered everything Horsham could muster last game, but considerably longer since Dimboola enjoyed a win.
Minyip-murtoa will beat the Roos by 51 points but expect a bruising affair at Minyip. While the Burras seem to have the visitors covered across most lines, footy history shows there’s nothing more dangerous than wounded and agitated Kangaroos.
The score might fail to reflect it at the end, but Dimboola, with Tom Magee and Lachie Watts and co having a dip, will be competitive in several areas of general play.
What will be interesting is how Justin Chilver and Jayden Lehmann compete against Minyip-murtoa’s reputable arsenal of tall timber.