Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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Saints inspired, but up against it WIMMERA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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By DEAN LAWSON
orsham Saints will take its hard-fought wildcard reputation into a new-look Wimmera Football League grand final clash against Dimboola on Saturday.
In a season finale promising a fairytale result for either the Saints or the Roos, anything is possible at Nhill’s Davis Park. The Saints thumbed their nose at doubters last week when they ended Horsham’s 10-year reign over the competition and have added a new dimension to premiership expectations. The truth is that few Wimmera League followers would give the Saints any chance of beating the minor premier. In fact, you could almost hear the expression ‘they haven’t got a hope against Dimmy’ resonate across the region when the shock preliminary final results drifted across the ether last Sunday. But the Saints are fired up and Dimboola, the clear pacesetter all year, will have to play well to beat them. Of course, the doubters will still be hovering and will be suggesting the Saints might have already played their grand final against the Demons. We will wait and see. Horsham Saints remain the only club in the league yet to decorate its trophy cabinet with a Wimmera League premiership cup. They have made plenty of attempts, the most recent against Horsham in 2008 and 2004, an unforgettable twopoint thriller in 2001 against Ararat and unsuccessful back-to-back tilts in 1997 and ‘98 against Minyip-Murtoa.
WE’RE IN: Above, Horsham Saints players celebrate their preliminary final win over Horsham. Right, dual Toohey Medalist Peter MacFarlane and best under-21 player Ryan Bell, in action against Horsham in the second semi final, loom as big threats to the Saints’ premiership chances. Below left, dangerous forward Ash Clugston is another potential match-winner for Dimboola. Below right, Horsham Saints onballer Pat Knott, tackled by Demon Rhona Conboy, was a key player in a thrilling final quarter against Horsham. Pictures: WILLAMY IMAGES
Dimboola’s premiership success has been just as lean, its last senior premiership coming in 1985 with a narrow win over Horsham. It too has made bold premiership attempts in the past decade, most notably its mighty 2006 shoot-out with Horsham at Stawell in a game where both sides kicked more than 20 goals. It also fell short of the Demons the previous year. Statistically during the home-andaway season, Dimboola has had Horsham Saints’ measure. Early in the season the Roos put the clamps on the Saints with a 38-point win and in the last minor-round game of the season brushed them aside by more than nine goals.
Needing a trump But history suggests grand finals tend to differ considerably from other games. If we were to compare the contest to a critical moment in a game of cards, Dimboola would be holding all the aces with the Saints needing to come up with some deception and guile to produce a trump. The Roos have had the benefit of a rest, their primary ruckman Justin Chilver would be on a high after winning the Toohey Medal and their team looms big, strong, quick and efficient. Along with Chilver there is Peter MacFarlane, who shone with five goals in the second semi-final, the ever-dangerous forward Ash Clugston on song and Lachie Exell providing a target in the attacking hot spot. Team leader Al McKinnon is also
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muscling his way through the middle, the settling and rebounding influence of Daniel Baker has been profound and midfield runners such as Nigel Sibson, Andrew Seers and front-andcentre specialists Elliot Braithwaite and Hamish Exell continually slip under the radar. There’s also the raw talent of Ryan Bell, the relentless Magees Matt and Tom, who always excel in shutdown roles and Jayden Lehmann provides that extra big-man oomph that has worried some opponents this year.
Finishing talent The Saints gritted their teeth to overcome Horsham and it was far from surprising that Nathan Clough, who enjoys the rough and tumble of the 50-50 contest, led the way. Garry Hallam is also good in the clinches, Alex McRae has had an outstanding season and the strength and balance of Phil Butsch, under an injury cloud, and Gavin Kelm are key reasons why the Saints are in the play-off. But while muscle is crucial in matching Dimboola, it might be through skills and finishing talent where the Saints might be able to upset the Dimboola applecart. Jacob Cooke-Harrison is a match-
turner on his day, Pat Knott enjoys mixing it in big games and Jacob O’Beirne tends to get his hands on the loose ball. High-leaping aerialist Heath Watson has a mighty job to find space to straighten the team up in attack and Steve Cameron will have a similar but defensive role and all eyes will be on Michael Rowe to see how he
combats Chilver and co. The take-the-game-on style of Bernie Ward, Dennis Adams and Steve Thomas will also be important. It will be a huge day at Nhill, its first grand final in almost 90 years in the competition, and Dimboola will ultimately prevail by busting the game open in the third term.
2013 head-to-head Round 8 Dimboola 16.9 (105) Horsham Saints 9.13 (67) Round 17 Horsham Saints 3.3 (21) Dimboola 11.10 (76)
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