Kalkee looks to climb
Horsham District Football Netball League teams will return refreshed after an Easter weekend break for an intriguing round of matches on Saturday.
Edenhope-apsley and Kalkee, both finals teams last season, will meet at Apsley with plenty at stake.
Kalkee has had a turbulent start to the year, thrashed in a 2018 grand final rematch against Harrow-balmoral in round one and narrowly surviving a gallant Rupanyup in round two.
Edenhope-apsley, conversely, romped to a 102-point win against Pimpinio before passing a sterner test against Taylors Lake.
The Saints have benefitted from the addition of spearhead Carl Slape, an import from South Gambier in the Western Border Football League.
Slape has booted 14 goals in the Saints’ two matches, including 11 against Pimpinio.
Slape nearly has more goals to his name than the entire Kalkee team, which has put the ball through the big sticks on just 15 occasions in two games.
The Kees were inaccurate in their last outing, kicking a wasteful 8.19 against Rupanyup.
They will need to capitalise on their chances in front of goal if they are to prevent the Saints from improving their record to 3-0.
Taylors Lake might fancy its chances of creating an upset against Laharum when the sides meet at Cameron Oval.
The Lakers have not tasted victory since round eight of 2017 and conceded an average of 170 points a game last season, but have shown sharp improvement this year on the back of an aggressive recruiting program by new coach Brandon Weatherson.
The Lakers trailed Edenhopeapsley by just two points at three-quarter-time of their round-two meeting before succumbing in the last quarter, but should draw confidence from the performance.
The Mountain Men were ambushed at home by Noradjuhaquantong in round one before steadying the ship against Pimpinio, and will need to be on their mettle against the determined Lakers.
Jeparit-rainbow faces a crucial home stand against Noradjuha-quantong.
The Storm, gutted by the losses of several players including defenders Jayden Werner and Adam Schultz, fell flat against Natimuk United after a firstround bye and risks losing touch with the top five with another loss. Swifts will be confident of a win against struggling Pimpinio at their North Park home, while Rupanyup’s spirited play so far this season might not be enough to save it when reigning premier Harrow-balmoral visits Rupanyup Recreation Reserve.