Eagles, Giants set for ripper clash

One of the most highly anticipated games in Wimmera Football League in the past decade will unfold at Warracknabeal’s Anzac Park on Saturday.

Southern Mallee Giants, the community combine that has taken all before it since its creation through a merger between Beulah and Hopetoun, faces its biggest test.

The Giants, already a proven premiership force at Horsham District level, enter new ground again, this time against Warrack Eagles in Wimmera Football League. Apart from establishing a new position in the regional football world this weekend, the Giants appear set to help create a fresh and most likely intense rivalry that can only be good for football.

Many players in both camps would have rubbed shoulders at secondary school. Older football followers would be looking forward to rekindling former Southern Mallee league rivalries that existed between Brim, part of the Eagles, and Beulah and Hopetoun.

Both sides have enormous incentive to do well this weekend. The Giants obviously want to get off strongly after shifting from Horsham District to Wimmera ranks, while Warrack Eagles want to continue what has been a steady push in the past couple of years towards premiership contention.

Importantly, both camps are looking forward to a big Saturday, which represents a continuation of round one and is the only Wimmera league game scheduled for the weekend.

If we’re to believe all the scuttlebutt doing the rounds on the on the boundary of the Wimmera and Mallee then the contest appears destined to attract one of the biggest crowds of the year.

The Eagles have lost a few players but also gained a few and fans will watch with interest the influence of Nick and Jake Peters and veteran Jeremy Clayton if all are available.

They will also have a quick reminder about the influence a fully fit coach Ryan Mckenzie and assistant coach Shannon Argall have for their team.

The Giants are also excited with their revamped list and although coach Coleman Schache doesn’t have big Kain Robins in the goal-front this year, he has newcomers including goal-kicker Nick O’farrell, ruckman Reece Mcnally and Jimmy Wray in the action this year.

And watch out for Schache himself, along with Sam Weddell and Brock Orval who will return from Darwin football cherry-ripe for the winter season.

This contest should be a game of revelations, providing early insight into the fortunes of both camps.

But apart from that, fans can expect a tremendous contest with the seniors scheduled to kick off at 2.20pm.