Answer critics

Kemp, so good in last year’s grand final, appears cherry ripe for roaming commission and has featured prominently in the past few games.

Whether Roberts’ absence represents a weakness in the line-up remains to be seen. The Demons have kept winning without him.

Jordyn Burke, Billy Carberry and Alex Harfield are warriors in the midfield mix.

Burke will be important as a marking target and bringing smaller team-mates into the game.

Brad Hartigan looms large in any finals campaign. He is set to be the general for the Demons and his example will be critical for Horsham defending its title.

Much of the overall Horsham game rides on the back of the likes of players such as Ben Lakin, who has had a stellar season rebounding from half back, and Rhona Conboy, whose overall on-field leadership is second to none.

It’s important to note the Demons go in as minor premiers despite having a reserves team that has struggled all year.

This is reflective of the club’s willingness to draw on an overall list and give opportunities to four or five under-17s to cut their teeth at senior level.

Can Horsham win the premiership again? I think they will be there on the last day, but the four other highly rated teams will have something to say about that.

One thing the Wimmera league has given us all year is uncertainty on game days.

Favourites have turned out on a few occasions not to be such great favourites.

A big question for Horsham is whether a rest this week and perhaps another one in the finals will do the Demons more harm than good?

They might play three games in six weeks. We’ll wait and see.