Football
17 May, 2024
High stakes in round six
Stakes are higher than ever in the Horsham and District Football Netball League when round six gets underway on Saturday with football clashes set to heat up.
Pimpinio and Harrow Balmoral are the only two unbeaten teams in the league and at the other end of the ladder, the two winless clubs, Kalkee and Kaniva Leeor, face each other at Kalkee Recreation Reserve in what is an important match for both clubs.
The Cougars have been hit with injury and are still missing players whilst Kalkee is at full strength. Regardless of where both teams are, a close contest is anticipated and it could go down to the wire.
On the other end of the spectrum, the match of the round is between top teams Rupanyup and Noradjuha Quantong at Rupanyup Recreation Reserve.
After losing their match against Pimpinio, the Panthers have easily won their last three matches but face a stern test against a Bombers team that has good momentum following a nine-goal final quarter last week.
Panthers coach Brayden Ison said they are excited to see where they are at.
"Our ball movement still needs work and we are working on things, and we will look to see where we are at this weekend," Ison said.
"We have had good duels over the years. They spread and run hard and we will be ready for that. It will be an interesting game.
"We have defended well over the past couple of weeks and now is the time where we need to continue to do that as the next month will be tough."
The Bombers will be hoping coach Damian Cameron is right as well as Zak Kelly, as both have missed the last few games.
"It's all about consistency for us over four quarters," Cameron said.
"I think the competition is so tight at the moment. If you have a bad day you can be beaten by anyone and this is a danger game.
"You need to win as many games as you can to push deep in finals. We have already lost to Swifts and the Roos and that already puts us on the back foot and we cannot afford to lose these games."
"We haven't had the best of luck with injuries lately but we are slowly getting players back."
At Pimpinio Sporting Complex, the Tigers will look to remain unbeaten when they host Taylors Lake.
The Lakers, after winning their first two games of the season, haven't won since and will be eyeing a win, but face a tough challenge against the biggest improvers of the competition.
The Tigers will welcome back Jordan Barnett and it will be he or Noah Jacobsen who will get the role on the dangerous Justin Beugelaar who is hitting the scoreboard in every game he plays.
Tigers coach Guy Smith just wants a four-quarter effort.
"We seem to put the cue in the rack when we have a winnable lead, and that is a concern, especially when we come up against the tougher teams," Smith said.
"We need to apply that pressure and play over all four quarters. We had a team meeting about this as we can't afford to get complacent.
"We are at a stage now where we need to be playing our best and go on with things and the boys are ready."
The Swifts will look to bounce back when they host an Edenhope Apsley team that has their tails up at North Park.
The Swifts will look to a four-quarter effort whilst the Saints, after securing their first win last week against Natimuk will be buoyed.
For the first time this year, they will be at full strength as Brock Summerhayes will return to the lineup.
Fraser Thompson may get the gig on the dangerous Paul Summers who is leading the goal-kicking tally by quite a margin with 38 goals in five games.
Saints coach Adi Campbell said forward line delivery is a concern.
"Our backline has been great despite being under the pump, but it's moving the ball inside 50 that we are struggling with," Campbell said.
"If we can move the ball well and give our forwards the best chance and maintain the pressure, then we are a chance."
The final match of the round sees another improving team, Laharum, host the benchmark of the competition Harrow Balmoral.
After losing last week, following a three-quarter effort, Laharum will be looking to play four quarters and see how far they have come in 2024.
"Last year when we were struggling we enjoyed playing Harrow Balmoral. We all play to compete and they are the benchmark," Laharum co-coach Shannon Argall said.
"It's great to be able to test yourself and what happens on the scoreboard doesn't always reflect the way the game is played and the intensity of the contest."