HOSE AT THE READY:
Horsham Fire Brigade junior competitors, from left, Claire Longstaff, Arjai Johnston and Riley Innes prepare for Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria State Junior Championships in Kerang this weekend. The Horsham brigade has won the right to host the titles in 2020.
Last year Laharum was tantalisingly close to playing in Horsham District league football finals.
Solid results ending the season gave the Demons a sniff, but a few disappointing mid-season results, when Laharum lost games by less than two goals, came home to bite the team.
The reality was that when it came to the crunch Laharum also fell short of matching the competition pacesetters.
So where to now for the Mountain Men from Cameron Oval as they prepare for an approaching 2019 season?
While retaining the coaching services of league star Robbie Miller, Laharum has undergone a reshuffle at both administrative and playing levels in a hope to recharge club batteries.
Tim Nagorcka has taken the reins as president of a new-look board and the club has installed a favourite son in Hamish Roberts as football director.
Mr Nagorcka said while recruiting had been difficult with the club ‘gaining and losing a few players’, preparations for the season were going well.
“The club is promoting a strong family-orientated feel,” he said. “There is excitement pushing forward, we have a strong junior list and we’re finalising sponsorship arrangements.
“Success will come from consolidation of where we want to be as a club – whether it comes this year, next year or the year after.
“We have good juniors coming through who will push up into senior football and establish themselves as leaders in the next few years.”
Whatever Laharum plans for the season, fans will be banking on a better winning return than last year.
In finishing seventh, with six wins and 10 losses, the Demons confirmed their place as mid-field runners, and have plenty of work to do this year to push into the finals.
Laharum is lucky to have a lead-by-example coach in Miller, who has fellow home-grown leader Tom Crawford as his assistant.
Miller’s absence with injury hurt the Demons badly last season and when he’s playing and winning a high percentage of 50-50 balls, his side lifts considerably.
Miller was upbeat about season preparations and delighted with confirmed newcomers including Kym Leahy from Wedderburn, Alex Stef, South Australia, Mitch Horwood, Wangaratta and Josh Morrow, Murrabit.
“We’re chatting to another two at the moment and have others in the pipeline,” he said.
“Things are going well and the plan for everyone this year will be to find a nice, even consistency. That cost us last year, and inexperience as well. Hopefully everyone can learn from mistakes and find that edge you need to win close games.”
Miller said as well as gaining new players, the Demons had also lost a few, perhaps the most significant Angus Martin to Horsham Saints.
“Everyone will probably see a bit of restructure with Laharum this year,” he said.
“They might see blokes in different positions and others taking on greater responsibilities, which we’re excited about.
“This year what we want to bring to opposition teams is pressure.
“We want to be the team that can win the hard ball. If we can maintain high-intensity pressure it will play into our favour.”
Miller added that a plan was to expose emerging junior talent to senior competition this year.
“There will be perhaps half a dozen guys rotating through the team during the year, which is also exciting,” he said.