Rams fire up in first round of football

Natimuk United will turn its attention to Jeparit-rainbow after getting the best possible start to its Horsham District football campaign.

The Rams will welcome the untested Storm to Natimuk Showground on Saturday after a see-sawing firstround battle against Swifts.

There has been plenty of chatter about the Rams’ potential this year based on its firepower in front of the sticks and that strength was on full show at Stawell’s North Park.

Lively Nathan Koenig was a standout in Natimuk United’s 32-point win, kicking seven goals while sharing the spoils with a variety of others.

An eight-goal final term, with returning Liam Offer, Zach Smith and Callum Cameron also winning votes, secured four premiership points for the Rams.

But Natimuk United didn’t have it all its own way and after a topsyturvy first half had to claw itself out of trouble.

Swifts were more than four goals down at quarter time, but kicked eight goals of their own in the second term and by the last change maintained a five-point lead.

Adam Leslie was the Baggies’ best and Jakob Davis and Nick Pickering also featured while Ben Martin kicked five goals.

While Natimuk United takes on a relative unknown in Jeparit-rainbow, which had a first-round bye, Swifts now need to regroup for a clash against Noradjuha-quantong.

The Bombers were another team to enjoy a flying start to the season, prevailing over Laharum by 32 points at Cameron Oval.

The contest was level-pegging until the third term when the visitors produced seven goals to two and maintained the advantage to the final

siren. Dustin Cross shone for the winners with Corey Williams and Josh Freeman also prominent, while Matt Walsh bagged six goals.

Laharum coach Robbie Miller’s outfit will get a fresh chance at getting points on the board when it meets Pimpinio at Pimpinio this weekend.

The Tigers ran into a charged up Edenhope-apsley at Edenhope in round one and was never really in the contest after the opening term.

Despite the efforts of Liam Jakobi, Dylan Baker, who kicked three goals, and Corey Smith, the Tigers couldn’t keep up with the Saints’ scoreboard pressure.

Leading the way for Edenhope-apsley was newcomer Carl Slape who bagged 11 goals in a best-on-ground performance.

Lachlan Middleton was also good, as were Jeremy Kealy and Shayne Williams as the Saints skipped away and recorded a 102-point win.

The Saints will now take profound early-season form into a clash against Taylors Lake at Dock Lake Reserve.

Taylors Lake, working on developing a strong core, were competitive against Rupanyup last weekend but were always a couple of goals off the pace.

Matt Mcculloch’s efforts won him best player honours for his team and Andrew Phelan and Trae Martin also won club votes.

But the Lakers, who have the benefit of playing at home, will need to find more goals to challenge the Saints this week.

Rupanyup, meanwhile, will take its winning form to Kalkee where it meets an old enemy.

The Panthers celebrated their victory, which came courtesy of the likes of Darby Harrison, Jack Kreuzberger and Elliot Kelly. Trent Grant also kicked four goals.

Their assignment against the Kees will be tough but the side will have critical confidence.

Kalkee came off second best against a predictably potent Harrow-balmoral, which welcomed its 2018 grandfinal opponent to Balmoral with an 87-point result.

The bush telegraph carried early news from the game, suggesting a relatively even contest – at least until half-time.

Harrow-balmoral led by only two goals at the main change but started the afterburners in the third quarter and roared home with a 10-goal final term.

Simon Close and James Staude enjoyed five-goal games while Will Plush, coach Nick Pekin, Mick Phelan and Eric Guthrie fired for the winners.

For the Kees, who need to put the result behind hem, Hamish Exell was in everything and Simon Hobbs and Jasper Gunn also won votes.

Alex Smith was the only multiple goal-kicker for the visitors, bagging two majors for the afternoon.