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QUALIFYING SHOWDOWN: Horsham Demon Joel Geue, Minyip-Murtoa’s John Delahunty and Demon Darcy Taylor will feature prominently in Saturday’s match. Pictures: WILLAMY IMAGES
Mighty launch of Wimmera finals BY DEAN LAWSON
C
onsiderable intrigue surrounds Wimmera Football League this weekend with all teams shaping up for the first round of finals more than capable of producing the unexpected.
While reigning premier Horsham is trying to rekindle its winning formula amid a juggle of players, MinyipMurtoa appears to have found its feet again after obvious soul searching. Ararat is suddenly threatening despite a loss to the Demons, and Stawell looms as a wildcard after firming up a place in the top five. There won’t be any need to stoke the finals fire with qualifying final action at Ararat on Saturday. Horsham and Minyip-Murtoa are set to generate plenty of heat from the first whistle. The Demons, who have lost only to Horsham Saints during the homeand-away season, and the Burras, who have been snapping at their heels, have had curious lead-up games to the finals. Horsham, with a core group of its best players out of action, endured its heaviest loss of the season a fortnight ago before bouncing back to beat Ararat in a hard-fought encounter at Horsham City Oval last weekend. The report of joint coach Nick Pekin, who will appear before the league
tribunal tonight, has further fuelled speculation about an unpredictable finals series. If Pekin is absent then the door starts to creak open for the Burras, who would love nothing more than the prospect of taking on an undermanned Demons. But it is critical to understand the ability of Horsham to creatively cover any deficiencies that might emerge in big games. There was no better example than last week when Pekin’s red card for a heavy bump on Harry Ganley in the opening term left Horsham one man short for more than 90 percent of the game. Regardless of the absence, Horsham manipulated its structure to win what evolved into a shoot-out by 16 points. The circumstance prompted the Demons to perhaps reveal an ace up their sleeve a week earlier than they might have liked with Luke Carr, in his 200th game, proving the difference between the teams. Carr slotted into full forward, turned back the clock and kicked eight goals in a best-on-ground performance. Some watchers suggest Ararat would have probably won had Carr not turned on such a show in front of the sticks. But Horsham’s opponent at Alexandra Oval this weekend will be the
Burras, who used the final home-andaway round against Warrack Eagles to arrest a three-game losing streak. It was the tall timber who steered the Burras back onto the winner’s podium with Kieran Delahunty kicking nine goals and Braydon Ison reminding everyone of his talent with four goals and a big game in the ruck.
Aerial battle
The Burras might try to expose Horsham in the air if they can tie up key Demon tall Jordyn Burke, who looms as dangerous target pushing through the centre corridor. Warwick Stone will be involved somewhere in the formula and it would be ill-advised to neglect the potential effect of Demon Billy Carberry in the clinches. Minyip-Murtoa also has John Delahunty running into form, and Kade Petering and Adam Gerdtz won accolades last week. The big Ararat ground will suit both camps, which enjoy finding space and running the ball. Minyip-Murtoa will find penetrating the forward 50 considerably tougher against the likes of level-headed rebounding defenders Rhona Conboy and Ben Lakin. Tremendous battles look to be all over the ground. The Burras have Blake Young and Gus Trethowan link-
ing through the ground and the Demons have Simon Hobbs and Darcy Taylor working with joint coach Brad Hartigan. It will be fascinating to see what happens if Minyip-Murtoa coach Jaye Macumber continues to adopt the Burras’ defensive-pressure style against a quality opponent now finals have arrived. It has worked well for them for much of the year but might come unstuck against the Demons who appear primed to progress to the second semi-final.
Battle of Great Divide
The footy action will be just as intense at Horsham City Oval on Sunday, when traditional rivals Ararat and Stawell lock horns in a muchanticipated elimination final. This game appears well and truly up for grabs considering the lead-up form of both outfits. Ararat can’t seem to make up its mind whether it wants chocolates or boiled lollies, while Stawell has gradually built momentum and secured its place in the finals. All Stawell coach Brad Thomas wanted this year was his team to have a taste of finals and, now he has his wish, must try to mastermind an upset. Stawell was always going to be too good for Nhill last week and stamped
its authority all over its last homeand-away game of the year with a big second half. The big talking point at Central Park, Stawell, was the goal-kicking form of Jack Musgrove, whose nine goals took his tally for the last three games to 21. He has also ranked as either best or second best player for his team in the past month. Stawell has won its past four games, including defining victories over Dimboola and Minyip-Murtoa. The likes of Tom Eckel, David Morris, Sam Williams, Jamie Bach and Luke Hendy have been in glowing form and will be hard to beat. Stawell, which has come off secondbest to Ararat twice this year, might not have the firepower to negate Ararat’s potent forward structure including Beau Cosson, Gordon Laurie, Justin Summons and Mick Fratin. This means it might be forced to try to out-shoot the Rats, which in turn should produce an exciting contest. Ararat, like Horsham, tries to exploit the centre corridor and use players such as Jack Ganley and Liam Cavanagh to open the game for the likes of Alan Batchelor, Aaron Searle and Sam Shalders. The potential for this game to go to the wire is high but it will be Ararat that gets its nose across the line.
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015