Bombers, Roos in perfect footy start
There is plenty of expectation surrounding the opening round of Horsham District football action this weekend with big games scheduled across the region.
And none appear bigger, based on little more than reputations and recent history, than a season opener between Harrow-balmoral and Noradjuha-quantong.
Both camps continue to generate considerable discussion throughout the football fraternity and a sense of ‘unfinished business’ hovers over the respective teams.
Noradjuha-quantong appeared well and truly on track to clinch an elusive flag last year, finishing a home-andaway season unbeaten and a clear ladder leader, but missed an opportunity to take success into a finals series.
The Bombers have worked hard on club foundations during the pandemic lay-off and coaches Gareth Hose and Damian Cameron would be happy their team will finally get to test itself again in a contest for premiership points.
Perennial southwest powerhouse Harrow-balmoral was also in the hunt last year, finishing third with a 9-3 win-loss record. Amid fragmented seasons the team remains the competition’s defending champion.
The Southern Roos have a tradition of strongly representing a considerable fan base and returning coach Nick Pekin’s effervescence in promoting fun among the ranks is sure to generate plenty of enthusiasm.
How each and every other team in the competition will perform this season, similar to last year, will remain a mystery until players jump out of the blocks on Saturday. In fact early rounds, before the competition settles, loom as a tipster’s headache.
Another team the regional football fraternity will be watching closely is Dunmunkle force Rupanyup, which from many accounts has done well in bolstering its ranks under joint coaches Jack Musgrove and Brayden Ison.
Rupanyup finished second on the ladder last year and word from the Panther leadership group this year was that they would exploit a potent midfield and go on the attack.
The Panthers hit the road to take on Jeparit-rainbow, which has been hungry for success and determined to shrug the tag as an ‘almost’ team.
Coach Daniel Batson is sure to drive his players strongly into the new season and the contest at Rainbow represents the start of the attempted push.
A Grampians battle between Laharum and Stawell Swifts at Laharum also promises plenty with the home side under new direction from coach Glenn Doyle.
Doyle’s coaching style has previously been about allowing players to have considerable input into structure and process and he has a good test first up against Swifts.
Swifts have long enjoyed keeping the region guessing about its strengths and weaknesses but suggestions are that the Baggies have evolved, socially and structurally, at home at Stawell’s North Park where they enjoy some of the best facilities in the competition.
Natimuk United sneaked into the top six last year and there is plenty of speculation about which Rams team will emerge this year – the finalist or the also-ran? Jarred Combe’s Rams, which have had a habit of producing enigmatic performances, take on perennial survivor Pimpinio, which hopes to push up the ladder under new coach Clint Burdett.
The Tigers have been pushing hard during pre-season sessions and fitness could be telling as teams press deeply into Saturday’s contest at Natimuk.
And whereabouts will Kaniva-leeor sit after welcoming Kalkee to Kaniva this weekend?
The Cougars are in a love-hate circumstance on the Victorian-south Australia border, where they might be able to draw recruits from South Australia but suffer a tyranny of distance in attracting Victorian players. Border restrictions during the pandemic would have also been tough on the club.
Coach Beau Harris is in charge of the Cougars and will draw plenty from player direction established in a review at the end of last season.
Kalkee is among the most successful of district league clubs and with Stuart Farr again at the coaching helm will take a considerable store of desire to the west.
Another west Wimmera team, Edenhope-apsley, has drawn Taylors Lake in its first game and again high degrees of uncertainty surround both camps.
Edenhope-apsley has a rich football heritage and has a proven leader in Guy Smith manipulating a variety of players across his whiteboard.
The Saints meet a young Lakers list led by coach Lee Marshall at Dock Lake Reserve.
With another year under their belt, the league’s young talent will start grabbing attention and this might be where the Lakers show their wares. Draw: Laharum v Swifts, Taylors Lake v Edenhope-apsley, Harrow-balmoral v Noradjuha-quantong at Harrow, Kaniva-leeor United v Kalkee, Natimuk United v Pimpinio, Jeparit-rainbow v Rupanyup.