Demons, Burras in major return game
Wimmera Football League’s home-and-away season will resume with a bang on Saturday with a top-of-the-table clash between Horsham and Minyip-murtoa.
Horsham sits unbeaten on top of the ladder while the Burras are second, having fallen to Warrack Eagles before a spell for interleague action last weekend.
What will be interesting in the contest is how well players involved in representing the Big W respond in returning to their home camps.
The Demons and Burras both had plenty of representatives taking on Bellarine and if tradition continues will carry an elevated level of the game back to the league.
If this is the case, then a big winner for the Burras will be utility Warwick Stone who worked hard against the flow while representing the league.
Another will be coach Damian Cameron, who seems every bit the type of player to take championship form back to his club. We wait and see if it rubs off on the other Burras who wore the Big W.
Horsham is also set to benefit from last week’s form-building environment. Ben Lakin appeared to enjoy the experience representing the league, Ryan Kemp seemed at home at the higher level and we expect Deek Roberts, John Wood and Rhona Conboy to have sharpened their games.
A big ‘in’ or ‘out’ will surround the availability of Minyip-murtoa’s Kieran Delahunty.
The intensity will be just as hot at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval where Ararat meets Warrack Eagles.
Ararat will want to bounce back after Southern Mallee Giants ended its winning streak, while the Eagles will be keen to reset after a last-start loss against Horsham.
Again, players who took part in interleague action, unless they are carrying injuries, are set to play their part.
Interleague action might be just the game Eagles leader Ryan Mckenzie needed to build momentum into his season.
Chat from across the league puts Ararat’s Dan and Nick Mendes on a pedestal this season, while the form of Nick Peters and Shannon Argall is generating discussion for the Eagles.
This contest will be a ripper and the Eagles have a tough job against the Rats at home.
A fascinating clash is also set to evolve at Nhill’s Davis Park where Nhill, which threatened to upset Minyip-murtoa last game, takes on Horsham Saints.
The Tigers have yet to win a game and will have Saturday ear-marked to change their fortunes.
Keep an eye out for prominent Tigers such as Stephen Craig and Jess Morano and do not be surprised if Horsham Saints coach Luke Fisher turns in a blinder.
Fisher was outstanding for Wimmera last week and is also the type of player to take that form back to his home club.
Stawell tackles Dimboola at Stawell’s Central Park with both sides, similar to Nhill, desperately searching for winning points. Stawell turned into a spectator against Horsham Saints last game but had Tom Taurau and Cam Kimber in good nick at a better level last week.
Dimboola is coming off a bye and while import Justin Beugelaar appears to be performing every week, the Roos need to find something extra to become more competitive.