Page 27Wednesday, August 17, 2022 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au HDFNL FiNaLs Brought to you by: Horsham District Football Netball League IN THIS LIFT-OUT: We preview the top six football and netball teams ahead of finals HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street Your one stop shop for everything in bedding! Proud sponsors of the HDFNL The largest range of mattresses, bedding and adjustable bases in the Wimmera-Mallee. SOMETHING FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY ALSO STOCKING NURSERY FURNITURE, WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MANCHESTER AND HOMEWARES. Best of luck to all teams in finals!
Page 28 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au 44A Ararat Road Stawell Victoria 3380 Ph: 03 5358 4273 • Manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders • Refurbish underground drill rigs • Fabrication work • Milling & turning • Labour hire • 2 CNC lathes • CNC milling machine PROUD MAJOR SPONSOR OF THE C.K.S. SWIFTS C.K.S Swifts Would like to acknowledge the following businesses NAMING SPONSOR CKS ENGINEERING SPONSORS • CKS Engineering • Frewfoods International • Gift Hotel • Carey Covers • TK Auto Electrix • McDonalds Stawell • Westway Nursery • Carpet Choice • Split ‘n’ Stawell Heating & Cooling • Grampians Adventure Golf GotheSwifts GotheSwifts GotheSwiftsBestof luck to all Swifts teams in the 2022 finals GotheSwifts Location and contact Peter & Robert Carey 14 Ararat Road (Western Highway) Stawell Victoria 3380 Phone 03 5358 1937 Mobile 0400 583 021 - Peter 0400 581 937 - Robert Email sales@careycovers.com.au Website ResidentialShadewww.careycovers.com.auSailsandCommercial Call us for a free quote! sponsorProudof theC.K.S. Swifts CAREYCOVERStarpswindowshadessails usFindon: info@frewgroup.com.au | (03) 5358 0111 | 46 Abattoir Road, Stawell Good luck to all Swifts teams for 2022 Swifts’ road to the finals Coaches: Brett Hargreaves Round 1: W. 12.13 (85) d Laharum 3.5 (23). Away. Round 2: W. 16. 25 (121) d Kaniva-Leeor United 6.8 (44). Home. Round 3: W. 21.20 (146) d Natimuk United 10.4 (64). Away. Round 4: L. 10.12 (72) to Rupanyup 12.11 (83). Away. Round 5: W. 21.17 (143) d Taylors Lake 4.2 (26). Home. Round 6: L. 6.11 (47) to Jeparit-Rainbow 12.5 (77). Away. Round 7: L. 11.9 (75) to Harrow-Balmoral 13.8 (86). Home. Round 8: L. 1.5 (11) to Kalkee 6.8 (44). Home.** Round 9: W. 11.12 (78) d Noradjuha-Quantong 9.3 (57). Away. Round 10: D. 9.7 (61) to Edenhope-Apsley 9.7 (61). Home. Round 11: W. 23.19 (157) d Pimpinio 6.7 (43). Away.* Round 12: W. 14.12 (96) d Laharum 6.5 (41). Home. Round 13: W. 22.14 (146) d Kaniva-Leeor United 7.3 (45). Away. Round 14: W 8.14 (62) d Noradjuha-Quantong 9.4 (58). Home. Round 15: L. 6.5 (41) to Harrow-Balmoral 11.3 (79). Away. Round 16: L. 5.7 (37) to Rupanyup 16.19 (115). Home. * Highest score. ** Lowest score. Total: Won 9. Lost 6. For 1378. Against 946. Points 38. Percentage 145.67. Leading goal-kickers Angus Murray 42, Todd Matthews 25, Matt Healy 23. A damaging HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLsBaggiesSwifts BY MICHAEL SCALZO
Swifts have bounced back in 2022 after a more workmanlike year last season. Still with class around the ball and enough height across the middle of the ground, they have equal amounts experience and youth to bode well for theThefuture.Baggies hit expectations this season, getting off to a confidencebuilding start, topping Laharum, Kaniva-Leeor United and Natimuk United in rounds one to three, before Rupanyup bettered them by 11-points in round four. The Baggies’ loss to Jeparit-Rain bow would sting a bit if the players were looking back now – Swifts inac curacy a factor, with each side hitting the scoreboard 17-times a piece for a six-goal discrepancy. An 11-point loss to Harrow-Balmor al cannot be blamed on inaccuracy, but, gee, would that have been a win the Baggies would have enjoyed in round seven if things had gone their way.Aloss to Kalkee in a low-scoring match was the third of three con secutive losses, which would end up defining the Swifts’ home-and-away season and taking away a chance for a top-four finish. The league’s only draw this season Nick Pickering Ben Leong
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Players to watchcombination came between Swifts and EdenhopeApsley – a result that truly sums up the difference between the two sides and one reflected in the ladder. Playing Harrow-Balmoral on Saturday, the Swifts will know their opponent well. The Swifts travelled to Harrow in round 15 and would be disappointed with a lacklustre second and fourth quarters where the Baggies only added one goal in 50 minutes of football. They will hope to draw out some of their round seven fire, otherwise it could be a quick Southern Roos enforced exit for the Swifts – a result certainly not reflective of their ultimate potential this season. The Swifts have held up well in defence – a sign of a well-structured team, having only conceded more than 10 goals, three times. Even the forward strength of Rupanyup and Jeparit-Rainbow did not get complete hold over the Baggies’ back six. Swifts conceded 12 goals, 11 behinds to the Panthers, and only 12 goals, five behinds to the Storm – a testament to their defensive mindset. But the Swifts towering ruckmen and smooth onballers hardly let through an easy centre-bounce – a luxury for any backline. Former playing coach, two-time Del lar Medal winner and team leader Scott Carey has played off the dominance of the team’s three capable ruckman – sen ior playing-coach Brett Hargreaves, Matt Healy and Ben Martin – to great effect again this year. His silky movement and disposal around the contest, and streaming away from it, are helped by the ball-winning ability of players such as Jakob Salmi, Ethan Blake and Ben Davis. When they hit the outside of the contest with eyes for Angus Murray coming out of the goal score, who has a vertical leap to match any defender, the Baggies are a dangerous outfit. Hargreaves hinted at the potential of its midfield group before the season start. He said leaders were keen to bolster the midfield this year after injuries in 2021 tested depth. “It is so important to have a good en gine room to get you through the year,” he“Hopefullysaid. our opposition will know us as a team that plays out positions well and can use the ball effectively.”
The Baggies’ effective use of the ball in 2022, and lack of unforced turnovers, has limited their opposition’s chance to put their defence under pressure –their members will hope finals heat does not lessen the Baggies capac ity to hit targets and move the ball cleanly through the middle. The Swifts have a mountain to climb this finals series, but given their youth, the experience will benefit them when they get to this point next year. Matt Healy
Jakob Salmi
Scott Carey Carey continues to provide class on the outside of every stoppage and his opposition often gets used to seeing the number 29 streaming away on his left foot. He is experienced and calm and can still turn a game with his class. Angus Murray A leading forward with a huge leap and so danger ous given the foot skills of the Baggies’ midfield. Murray also loves a pack in front of him with the sit on offer if it comes in long. Was quiet last time the Swifts played Harrow-Balmoral in round-15 and was kept goalless. He will need to kick a bag before three-quarter time for the Swifts to feel con fident of an upset. Ben Davis A bigger body and roaming forward, Davis can be a bit of an X-factor around the half-forward line. He is often delivering inside the 50 to the resting ruck man and Murray, or receiving it himself. He is too big for a small defender at times, so often gets the third tall marking him. He has hit the scoreboard during big games this year and will need to again during finals.
The midfielder the Swifts rely on for energy around the ball, inside and out. He is a solid onballer who is ultra-reliable above his head and unflinching on the ground. Like his Baggies teammates, he uses the ball well across the ground and can be a diffi cult player for opposition teams to find a suitable match-up for. He is a consistent game-changer.
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent StreetSaintsEdenhope-Apsley HDFNL FiNaLs
Page 30 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au is your home of football the shirtfront Catching up on all the sportinglocalnews Bringing AFL to you Keep updated online via the 1089 3WM Facebook pageEVERY8am-10amSATURDAY Scan to listen live Edenhope-Apsley’sroadtothefinalsCoach:GuySmith
‘Champion team’
Round 1: W. 23.23 (161) d Taylors Lake 4.4 (28). Away. Round 2: L. 11.4 (70) to Jeparit-Rainbow 12.9 (81). Home. Round 3: L. 10.7 (67) to Noradjuha-Quantong 14.11 (95). Away. Round 4: L. 12.11 (83) to Kalkee 13.9 (87). Home. Round 5: W. 31.15 (201) d Natimuk United 7.6 (48). Away.* Round 6: W. 26.18 (174) d Pimpinio 5.10 (40). Away. Round 7: W. 19.15 (129) d Laharum 10.4 (64). Home. Round 8: L. 6.8 (44) to Harrow-Balmoral 16.10 (106). Home. Round 9: W. 27.12 (174) d Kaniva-Leeor United 6.5 (41). Away. Round 10: D. 9.7 (61) to Swifts 9.7 (61). Away. Round 11: L. 7.12 (54) to Rupanyup 17.12 (114). Home. Round 12: W. 19.18 (132) d Taylors Lake 4.6 (30). Home. Round 13: L. 4.6 (30) to Jeparit-Rainbow. 5.10 (40). Away.** Round 14: W. 19.9 (123) d Kaniva-Leeor United 7.7 (49). Home. Round 15: W. 18.9 (117) d Laharum 4.8 (32). Away. Round 16: W. 14.14 (98) d Natimuk United 8.11 (59). Home. * Highest score. ** Lowest score. Total: Won 9. Lost 6. For 1718. Against 975. Points 38. Percentage 176.21. Leading goal-kickers Matthew Butler 63, Tim McIntyre 37. BY MICHAEL SCALZO It could have gone so much smoother for EdenhopeApsley in 2022 – expectations were higher than this at the Saints. That said, the Saints are a strong team, with flair and ball skills that can cut up an opposition midfield and defence, as well as a dangerous and flexible for ward line. They start this finals series from fifth, but have the components and homeand-away results to suggest there is some unpredictability awaiting JeparitRainbow on Saturday. Early losses to the Storm in round two, Noradjuha-Quantong in round three, and Kalkee in round four, got the Saints’ win count off to a slow start. An 11-point loss to the Storm and four-point loss to Kalkee are standout early-season examples of where the Saints could have been heading into this Saturday had it gone to plan. Notable recruits Tim and Ben McIn tyre, taken back from Minyip-Murtoa, have elevated the Saints substantially this season – the pair bringing class, power and flexibility to the Saints’ mid field and forward line. Matt Butler, recruited from South Australia’s Adelaide Hills league, has also been pretty handy when he has played, kicking 63 goals in eight games. The Saints leadership made a point of
Tim McIntyre
evolving HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLs Edenhope-ApsleySaints
The Saints’ 2022 talent is clear to see, and Smith will hope that tal ent shines through on Saturday as it has at various points throughout theSo,year.while a premiership 2022 sea son might be a brave call for a Saints-favoured punter at this stage, there is an ability within the side that will not rule out potential for a combination of game-breaking quarters or a cheeky title tilt. If the Saints get through the Storm this weekend, they could face Swifts or Harrow-Balmoral – sides they could certainly surprise, but sides they are yet to beat this season. With so much red-white-andblack talent, anything could happen if the Saints midfield and forward line get on a roll, and they will need to, especially with the strength of the Southern Roos and Swifts mid field groups. It is anyone’s guess how the Saints will fair at this stage.
Josh Roman A tall utility in every sense, Roman goes where he is needed. Also among the team of new recruits who joined the Saints in the offseason, he has re turned the favour with consistency. Roman is good on the ground for a big man and has popped up at times for a spattering of goals. Ben McIntyre
George Walker
Senior coach Guy Smith had said during pre-season his previous ex perience coaching inter-club teams would give him an ‘edge’ in turning talented individuals into a champion team, while club president Carolyn Middleton had stipulated the club was aiming for a premiership year.
Daniel Obst Obst came across from Kowree Naracoorte Tati ara Football League to join the Saints in 2022 and is part of a valuable swath of recruits who found a new or familiar home at Edenhope-Apsley. A tap ruckman, Obst can give first use to the Saints midfielders, and on size alone, is hard to beat in the air. He towers over most and should be good value against the Storm this weekend.
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Rodney Oliver Oliver usually starts off in the half-back line but can push up dangerously if left unchecked. He is a tall but agile running half-backer who is just as capable in the air against a key position. He has featured in the Saints’ best for most of the year.
The Saints’ best midfielder and a team game changer. McIntyre competes alongside the league’s premier onballers and will be cru cial for any Saints victory this finals series. McIntyre is a goalkicker, too, with 22 for the year, although he often is the play er delivering into the 50 with his penetrating right boot. He is a classy mover, inside and out. Players to watch not accepting only two wins in 2021, so tracked down west Wim mera locals with a connection to the club and brought them home forThe2022.improvement is stark com pared with last season’s results, and the high-level talent has pushed the Saints from second-last to fifth in 12Aftermonths.their loss to Kalkee, the Saints were heavy handed with Na timuk United in round five and Pimpinio the following week. Butler kicked 20 goals against the Rams that week and glimpses of the Saints’ potential were evident fromAfterafar.aslow start against Laharum at Apsley, the Saints kicked into gear and readied themselves for Harrow-Balmoral the week after with a convincing second half of clean and skilful football. Playing at Edenhope, the Saints started okay against the reigning premiers but fell away during the second half to lose by 62 points. A draw against the Swifts was tough fought, but the Saints can add two costly points lost in their clamber for a top-four spot – ditto a 10-point loss to Jeparit-Rainbow in round 13 during the season’s wettest conditions yet.
Signs are good Peter
Round 1: L. 8.10 (58) to Rupanyup 9.6 (60). Home. Round 2: W. 12.9 (81) d Edenhope-Apsley 11.4 (70). Away. Round 3: W. 22.13 (145) d Laharum 3.3 (21). Away. Round 4: W. 11.6 (72) d Kaniva-Leeor 3.6 (24). Home. Round 5: L. 9.8 (62) to Kalkee 9.14 (68). Away. Round 6: W. 12.5 (77) d Swifts 6.11 (47). Home. Round 7: W. 15.16 (106) d Pimpinio 4.1 (25). Home. Round 8: W. 16.10 (106) d Natimuk-United 7.6 (48). Away. Round 9: W. 28.13 (181) d Taylors Lake 4.4 (28). Home. Round 10: L. 3.10 (28) to Harrow-Balmoral 14.9 (93). Away. Round 11: W. 11.7 (73) d Noradjuha-Quantong 6.9 (45). Home. Round 12: L. 8.5 (53) to Rupanyup 11.15 (81). Away. Round 13: W. 5.10 (40) d Edenhope-Apsley 4.6 (30). Home.** Round 14: W. 29.24 (198) d Taylors Lake 4.5 (29). Away.* Round 15: W. 14.12 (96) d Pimpinio 5.5 (35). Away. Round 16: W. 16.8 (104) d Laharum 1.4 (10). Home. * Highest score. ** Lowest score. Total: Won 12. Lost 4. For 1480. Against 714. Points 48. Percentage 207.28. Leading goal-kickers Jay Kirwood 64, Peter Weir 30. BY MICHAEL SCALZO eparit-Rainbow has built on a decent 2021 season with a strong showing in 2022. While it might not be the Storm’s glory year, the ground work is there for success if the momentum keeps The Storm plays tough, big bodied and competitive football, with a for ward line that can do some damage. Finishing fourth on the ladder this season is completely representative of their efforts – they have beaten every team below them and lost to teams above. But there is less black-and-white here than at first glance. If some close results had gone their way, they could have sat as high as second or as low as sixth. The Storm kicked off the season with a two-point loss to Rupanyup, after remarkably storming back during the second half after scor ing one goal to the Panthers’ eight by Theyhalftime.keptthe Panthers’ scoreless in the final term, while adding Weir Ben
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Jeparit-Rainbow’sroadtothefinalsCoach:DanielBatson
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Another one of the Storm’s midfield-utility players, Wild is a big mover and can cover gaps across the field if they appear. He is a handy type of player to have on your list during finals. He hasn’t hit the scoreboard a lot this year, but can play a role across either half-back or half-forward lines. If it is wet, he is a good player to have when the ball is on the deck.
Clancy
Jakob Cocks
It is a philosophy they have implement ed well all season, given the highestscore kicked against them was HarrowBalmoral’s 93 in round 10. Rupanyup only slipped past their de fence for a combined 20 goals in two games.Sides that can also jag a large score, including Edenhope-Apsley and Swifts, were unable to make a mess of the Storm’s defensive structures, the Saints managing 11 and four goals in their two match-ups, while the Swifts only slot tedThesix.old adage that premierships start in defence could not be truer for Batson’s men here. Batson said a top-two finish was the aim for his side in 2022, but no Storm member would be disappointed with how their senior team has handled the year. Coming from fifth last season, up from sixth in the last full season in 2019 – the signs are good for the Storm. Yet to win a Horsham District Football Netball League flag or contest a grand final since entering the league in 2014, 2022 could be the year Jeparit-Rainbow comes good on the latter of those two tests. But regardless, if the trend contin ues, and the Storm holds up when the heat comes, this finals series could set the benchmark for a 2023 to remember. Breen
Kirwood is the side’s leading goalkicker and most attacking player. He has produced 64 goals for the year – a lot for a fast moving, on-the-run-style goalkicker. He can take a grab, too, and is a true handle for any key backman, especially when Peter Weir can often attract the largest defender.
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLs Jeparit-RainbowStorm
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The young, blonde, flying footballer is a good player. He cracked the senior team in 2018 and became an essential compound of the Storm’s midfield group. While he hasn’t hit the scoreboard much in 2022, the big forwards certainly enjoy his Patrick Grace-Long
Players to watchfor the Storm
The clean midfield runner is tight below his knees and efficient with his disposal. He can cover the ground, too, and exemplifies the Storm’s for ward-running from contest approach. He has been in good form of late, and will need to be, when his midfield associates meet Edenhope-Apsley’s big Charles Wild
A 10-point win against now sixth-placed Edenhope-Apsley in round two, and a six-point loss to now second-placed Kalkee in round five demonstrates how close the Storm was to closing the gap to the teams above, or indeed sliding down to those below. But none of that suggests the Storm cannot do a lot of damage come finals. In fact, a more recent 28-point loss to Rupanyup in round 12 suggests one good quarter might be all it takes to launch the Storm into a grand final. If not, a preliminary final would be the benchmark for the fluoro green. Peter Weir was as dominant when on the park, kicking 29 goals to date; ditto fellow forward Jay Kirwood, who has kicked 58 goals. Either one of them can get the job done against the better defences, too, even if their big bags of goals came against the improving sides of the league. Storm senior playing-coach Daniel Bat son said during the preseason his side’s philosophy would be defence first in 2022.“Itis about having a good team de fence. We want to be known as a team that doesn’t get scored against heavily,” he“Wesaid.attack from our backline and use our star power up forward. We have a few guys that are always capable of kick ing multiple goals.”
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Page 34 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au HARROW-BALMORAL FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS2022 IMPORTANT DATE! McClure’s Earthworks Harrow Tussock Jumpers Victoria Hotel, Horsham Edenhope Butchers Atlex Stockyards Ultra Build Construction Group Shannon Bros Haulage Beulah O’Keeffe Schroeder Lawyers Balmoral Café & Caravan Park Chris Heath Electrical Troy Shrive Cabinet Maker/Builder Australian Wool Network Gary Wilson Pick A WesternPosieHotel Balmoral Johnson WimmeraIntersportHillviewBackUpCharlie/BUCO’ConnorsGoodyearNPembrokeMerchandisePastoral&RLangleyHorshamBorePumpsHorshamTrophies& Gifts MGA Insurance Brokers Lindsay Murray Grey Stud Conway’s Pies Horsham GL & BM Hobbs Harvesting D & P BalmoralCameronCommunity Store MenziesRodwellsHotel Dergholm Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson (TDC) Harrow & District Contracting Horsham Lanes & Games D & A Spring Coleraine Grampians Wool/Coleraine Landmark Casterton Bennett Road Café Toyworld Hamilton & Horsham Livestock Logic Quality Shearing SMS Rural Moree Quarries AXIS Employment McPhee Fuel & Bus Lines Riordan Grains S & T Jones Latus Jewellers Trotter Coaches Hermitage Hotel Harrow Cervus ImpactEquipmentFertilisers Vickery Bros Pty Ltd Bunyip Hotel, Cavendish DJM Equipment The Harrow-Balmoral Football Netball Club would like to congratulate their Senior and Reserves football teams, and B Grade, Under 17 and Under 13 netball teams on making it to the 2022 finals series. Club Presentation Day is to be held on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 10.30am at Balmoral Recreation Reserve. Thanks to all the coaches, volunteersupportersplayers,andmemberswhotohelpruntheclubeachweek.
Round 1: W. 15.16 (106) d Noradjuha-Quantong 4.15 (39). Home. Round 2: W. 20.5 (125) d Kalkee 9.15 (69). Away. Round 3: W. 20.20 (140) d Pimpinio 7.6 (48). Home. Round 4: W. 26.16 (172) d Taylors Lake 4.5 (29) Away. Round 5: W. 10.11 (71) d Kaniva-Leeor 1.4 (10). Home.** Round 6: W. 19.14 (128) d Natimuk-United 15.7 (97). Home. Round 7: W. 13.8 (86) d Swifts 11.9 (75). Away. Round 8: W. 16.10 (106) d Edenhope-Apsley 6.8 (44). Away. Round 9: L. 11.12 (78) to Rupanyup 17.9 (111). Home. Round 10: W. 14.9 (93) d Jeparit-Rainbow 3.10 (28). Home. Round 11: W. 20.19 (139) d Laharum 3.1 (19). Away. Round 12: W. 13.13 (91) d Noradjuha-Quantong 6.17 (53). Away. Round 13: W. 13.14 (92) d Kalkee 8.5 (53). Home. Round 14: L. 12.3 (75) to Rupanyup 12.15 (87). Away. Round 15: W. 11.3 (79) d Swifts 6.5 (41). Home. Round 16: W. 29.16 (190) d Kaniva-Leeor United 4.3 (27). Away.* * Highest score. ** Lowest score. Total: Won 14. Lost 2. For 1771. Against 830. Points 56. Percentage 213.37. Leading goal-kickers Michael Close 43, Simon Close 40, Nick Pekin 31. BY MICHAEL SCALZO Harrow-Balmoral has been a class football act for a long time now. The 2018 and 2019 Horsham District league premiers were hot from round one this year and quickly estab lished themselves as contenders early in the season. It took some time before Rupanyup emerged as se rious contenders to their 2022 campaign and handed the Southern Roos their only two losses of the year in round nine and round 14. But for the first nine weeks of football, the reign ing premiers held the mantle given the weight of expectation.Well-drilled and with experience across all lines, the Southern Roos might be the most well-rounded side in the league, even if they struggled to find an answer to the firepower of the Panthers during their two encoun ters so far. But to be fair, no side has found such an answer, yet. Harrow-Balmoral had injuries to crucial players throughout the year and its best football might come this finals series with more players back on the park. Regardless, it has dealt with the other serious premier ship contender, Kalkee, with ease on both occasions this season. Its 66-point and 39-point wins against the Kees in round two and 13 were strong showings, especially against a side that believes its title-winning window is open.Playing coach and leader of the Southern Roos mid field squad, Nick Pekin, has been in good form and his experience will be crucial for the blue-and-white when it meets larger and bulkier midfields in coming weeks.
Harrow-Balmoral’sroadtothefinalsCoach:NickPekin
Roos aiming for
Dalton Burns Jack Musgrove
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent StreetRoosHarrow-Balmoral HDFNL FiNaLs
d/Harrow-Balmoral Southern Roo – LIKE US to keep up to date with all our social events and happenings through out the year
sponsorsProudBalmoralHarrow-of Michael Close Close makes up part of the Southern Roos ex perienced brigade. The tall utility, former Brisbane Lions player and Harrow local is in decent form this year, kicking 36 goals during the home-and-away season. He is a tough match-up and one part of Harrow-Balmoral’s recent potency. Playing along side brothers Simon and Anthony in the blue and white, Simon also with 36 goals to his name this year – the trio are a tall and talented grouping and ones to be watched again this August.
Good luck to all 2022playingteamsintheHDFNLfinals!
Michael Close
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLs Harrow-BalmoralRoos Proud sponsors of the Harrow-Balmoral Football Netball Club AFSL No: 244601 79 Hamilton Street, Horsham Ph (03) 5382 8600 With over 50 years of local requirements.generaltheFarmTransport,specialisingexperience,inHeavyContractors,&Cropwehaveanswerstoallyourinsurance How can we help? Quotes and premium Claims management Expert Automatedadvicepayments Protecting Australians Since 1975
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three in a row Easy to spot on the park in his black helmet, Pekin could lift if needed this finals series and his opponents know the sound of footsteps does not phase him in the slightest. His path to another medal presentation on grand final Saturday will be harder in 2022 than perhaps it was in 2019, but a win this year will round out the most perfect return from COVID-restricted seasons the club could have hoped for. Pekin said in March he wanted to emphasise ‘enjoyment’ this season, given the setbacks of those two interrupted years. “The more enjoyment for players and spectators, the more success that will follow. We want to get everyone back to enjoying football – we all just want to play,” he said during pre-season. Success has certainly followed the Southern Roos again in 2022 and that must be enjoyable. Pekin also said as the reigning District League pre miers, his side still remained the ‘hunted’. That is true – they are still very much a benchmark of the competition. But are they now hunting, just as much as they are being hunted? The Southern Roos have a reliable professionalism about their football. With talls down the line, albeit less than in previous seasons, a stable midfield and backline experience, they present a formidable team. They have a chance to make it three premierships in a row this season and such an opportunity rarely appears, so expect them to throw everything at it.
Will Burbury
Players to watch
The tough midfielder and see-ball-get-ball play er makes up part of the Southern Roos’ evenly spread on-ball squad. With good skills despite his in-close work, Burbury will give as much in the fourth as he does in the first. Will Plush The experienced midfielder can be found moving out of the packs into outside space where he can be extremely damaging forward of centre. He is not as big as his Southern Roos’ midfield contemporaries but is extremely potent and clever with a hard edge about his play. Plush played his 150th senior game for Harrow-Balmoral against Rupanyup in round 14 and knows his way around a finals series. Peter Staude Staude is another of the Southern Roos’ expe rienced midfielders who offer a relentless con sistency across the middle. Of a good size, the vice-captain will be as important as ever in limiting damaging quick exits from the contest.
Kalkee’s road to the finals Coach: Stuart Farr Round 1: W. 22.21 (153) d Kaniva-Leeor 6.5 (41). Away. Round 2: L. 9.15 (69) to Harrow-Balmoral 20.5 (125). Home. Round 3: W. 13.11 (89) d Rupanyup 9.12 (66). Home. Round 4: W. 13.9 (87) d Edenhope-Apsley 12.11 (83). Away. Round 5: W. 9.14 (68) d Jeparit-Rainbow 9.8 (62). Home. Round 6: W. 16.12 (108) d Laharum 3.7 (25). Away. Round 7: W. 13.11 (89) d Noradjuha-Quantong 13.6 (84). Home. Round 8: W. 6.8 (44) d Swifts 1.5 (11). Away.** Round 9: W. 32.14 (206) d Natimuk United 9.6 (60). Away.* Round 10: W. 24.23 (167) d Pimpinio 2.7 (19). Home. Round 11: W. 28.22 (190) d Taylors Lake 5.9 (39). Away. Round 12: W. 27.21 (183) d Kaniva-Leeor 5.4 (34). Home. Round 13: L. 8.5 (53) to Harrow-Balmoral 13.14 (92) Away. Round 14: W. 22.18 (150) d Natimuk United 5.5 (35). Home. Round 15: W. 7.16 (58) d Noradjuha-Quantong 6.9 (45). Away. Round 16: W. 23.20 (158) d Taylors Lake 1.0 (6). Home. * Highest score. ** Lowest score. Total: Won 14. Lost 2. For 1872. Against 827. Points 56. Percentage 226.36. Leading goal-kickers Jayden Kuhne 61, Corey Williams 23. BY MICHAEL SCALZO
Culture key for Corey Williams HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLsKeesKalkee • Intersport • Conways Pies • Laser Electrical • Adama • Bolwell Denture Clinic • Horsham Lanes & Games • Wendy’s • JD’s Prestige Plumbing • McDonald’s • Wade's • Drift 83 • Emmetts • Buildpro • Altmann Building • Horsham City Meats • Bevanart • Hillross • Belle-Vue • Elite Podiatry Centre • Wimmera Aquatrail • Bentley Group • RES • The Vic Hotel • SMS Rural • O’Connors Farm Machinery • Bigham MaintenanceTransport • Amcal Pharmacy • Bonnie & Clyde’s • PRP Property Valuers MAJOR SPONSORS KALKEE FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB The Kalkee Football Netball Club would like to thank all their sponsors for their support over the 2022 season GOTHEKEES! OTHER SPONSORS Good luck to all particpatingteamsinthefinals
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Kalkee is there or there abouts again in 2022 head ing into finals – just as it was in 2021. The Kees would consider themselves a premiership fancy and it would be hard to mount a case against this belief. They were the only side to beat minor premiers Rupanyup this season and only dropped games to Harrow-Balmoral –in round two and round 13. The Kees spent a get-out-of-jail-free card after only just pulling off a victory against a severely COVID-19 impacted Jeparit-Rainbow in round five – but have since done eve rything needed to land themselves a top-two spot and the crucial double chance. Does the fire still burn for the Kees? They lost the grand fi nal to Harrow-Balmoral in 2018 and it could be the Southern Roos there again, standing in their way. The red and blue would not like the fact it was the Southern Roos who were the only team to get the better of them this year –Theirtwice.round-13 clash saw the Kees reap 13 scoring oppor tunities compared with the Southern Roos’ 27 – so while the final result might be a convincing 39-points, an inaccurate Harrow-Balmoral might have allowed the Kees to cello phane over some cracks in the way they line up against the reigningHowever,premiers.conversely, it seems Rupanyup, at least on paper, has the stronger top-three outfit in 2022. The Kees’ recent success against the Panthers will form part of an interesting dynamic this finals series. The Kees in 2022 have gone to town on teams in the lower third of the ladder, however only scrapped through against sides within the middle tier. A 146-point win against Natimuk United in round nine, a 148-point win against Pimpinio in round 10, a 151-point win
Players to watch
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Simon Hobbs
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLs KalkeeKees
young Kees against Taylors Lake in round 11 and a 149-point win against Kaniva-Leeor United in round 12 are all huge victories against young and inexperienced sides. However, less than one-goal wins against the Storm in round five, and Edenhope-Apsley the round prior, might suggest the Kees, while a strong side, are not ready to storm into the elite tier just yet. However, Kees players and members would think differ ently.Senior coach Stuart Farr, before the start of the season, praised the strong junior football culture at Kalkee and rated highly his young players making inroads into the senior side – and, indeed, those already embedded within itsAfterstructures.someplayer turn over at the end of 2021, his capacity to rebound with Kees young guns has been impressive. He said the Kees hoped to ‘move the ball fast’ and ‘use their leg speed’ as a compensation for a lack of height. “We also want to be a high-pressure side, win the ball back well and lock it in our front half,” he said. Indeed, the Kees pressure on the ball carrier in 2022 has been a weapon of theirs, something obvious to people on the other side of the fence – as is a team buy-in to a hard-nosed element across the centre of the ground. Farr also said there were no excuses for the Kees not to qualify for finals this year. They have done that comfortably; now let’s see how far they can go. There is no doubt the Kees have become part of the league’s stable of powerhouse clubs again, and their success this August would reward a club that has a football culture to rival many.
Jasper Gunn Gunn has become an integral goal-kicker for the Kees in 2022, much more than he has in past seasons. The midfielder-forward has kicked 29 of them this year, besting his recent season totals, his work now more reflective of his younger years as a teenager at Kalkee when he found them regularly. He only kicked one goal against finals sides in 2022, however that does not mean he won’t this weekend. Jayden Kuhne Kuhne, a previous Horsham District league leading goal-kicker, has been racking up bags of goals again in 2022. Multiple bags of six and seven, one of nine and a 13 are highlights of a good season for the forward. He has kept the tally ticking over against the competitive leaders, but without the huge numbers we have seen him kick against the bottom third of the ladder – therefore, a very dan gerous goal kicker if the midfield allows unfettered entry into the forward fifty. Louis Papst A mid-sized defender who can take on the dan gerous small forward, but capable enough in the air to play taller if need be. With dash from deep in the backline, he should be as reliable as ever this August. Simon Hobbs A Kees barometer and consistent ball winner. Hobbs has hit the scoreboard, too, when needed later in the season. Maybe cannot be stopped, but could be limited – and will need to be by sides keen to temper the Kees’ self-belief.
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLsPanthersRupanyup
Page 38 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au Rupanyup Football Netball Club is andnetballers,allclubfamily-orientedaandwelcomesfootballersandseniorsjuniors... Go to www.facebook.com/rupfnc for all your up-to-date Panther news! CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! the emmetts rupanyup panthers would like to thank all their volunteers, players, supporters and sponsors for a great season 2022. good luck to all panthers teams in the finals! Contact Rod Weidemann on 0428 855 232 with any queries about our great club... each year. Travel included within Emmetts dealer AOR, charged at normal travel hours limited warranty on engine and power train. The Limited PowerGard non-covered components specifically mentioned in the contract terms. Always exclusions and limitations. Expires 29/02/2020. LIMITED3 YRS / 1250 PROTECTIONPOWERGARDHRSPLAN ^ Seniors, Reserves, U17, U14 Football U13, U15, C Grade Netball 27RUPANYUPCromieSt MURTOA 19 McDonald St STAWELL 15 Horsham Rd availableServices at this branch: • ServicesAgronomy • Fertiliser • Finance • Insurance • Merchandise OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 8am-6pm, SATURDAY 8am-noon • CLOSED SUNDAY The RetailerAg of the Future. RUPANYUP (03) 5385 5273 Wishing the Panthers all the best in the 2022 finals roadRupanyup’stothefinalsCoaches:BraydenIsonandJackMusgrove Round 1: W. 9.6 (60) d Jeparit-Rainbow 8.10 (58). Away.** Round 2: W. 18.13 (121) d Laharum 7.3 (45). Home. Round 3: L. 9.12 (66) to Kalkee 13.11 (89). Away. Round 4: W. 12.11 (83) d Swifts 10.12 (72). Home. Round 5: W. 24.21 (165) d Pimpinio 8.9 (57). Home. Round 6: W. 27.22 (184) d Taylors Lake 3.3 (21). Away. Round 7: W. 30.20 (200) d Kaniva-Leeor 3.6 (24). Away.* Round 8: W. 10.11 (71) d Noradjuha-Quantong 4.6 (30) Home. Round 9: W. 17.9 (111) d Harrow-Balmoral 11.12 (78). Away. Round 10: W. 16.10 (106) d Natimuk United 7.11 (53). Home. Round 11: W. 17.12 (114) d Edenhope-Apsley 7.12 (54). Away. Round 12: W. 11.15 (81) d Jeparit-Rainbow 8.5 (53). Home. Round 13: W 20.19 (139) d Laharum 4.2 (26). Away. Round 14: W. 12.15 (87) d Harrow-Balmoral 12.3 (75). Round 15: W. 21.19 (145) d Kaniva-Leeor United 2.2 (14). Home. Round 16: W. 16.19 (115) d Swifts 5.7 (37) Away. * Highest score. ** Lowest score.
Jack Musgrove 86, Blake Turner 31. BY MICHAEL SCALZO Rupanyup enters the 2022 finals series at the leading edge of a three-way battle for premiership favouritism. The Panthers finished the interrupted 2021 sea son second to Noradjuha-Quantong, a remarkable improvement since their finals-missed pre-COVID-19 season of Gathering2019.players and improving their list has paid off and the side appears settled heading into its first finals series in some time. But the Panthers were not always in this position, especially during the first third of the season. While they were dismissive of less-competitive opposi tion and did what was needed to seal the four points against the bottom third of the ladder, their early form was mixed against the district’s better sides. A loss against hard-nosed Kalkee, the trailing edge of the league’s top-three premiership charges, in round three, and scraping two- and 11-point wins against Jeparit-Rainbow in round one and Swifts in round four, were proof of the Panthers’ good, but perhaps underwhelming form. That is not the case on the eve of this Saturday.
Total: Won 15. Lost 1. For 1848. Against 786. Points 60. Percentage 235.11. Leading goal-kickers
The Panthers, now minor premiers and a game clear of the Kees and Harrow-Balmoral, have been on-song since they romped past Pimpinio, Taylors Lake and KanivaLeeor United from rounds five to seven. Wins against early ladder leaders Harrow-Balmoral stand out among their best. The first, a six-goal defeat of the admittedly injury-hit Southern Roos in round nine, as well as a closer, but still successful, two-goal victory against the white and blue in roundSome14.straight kicking that Saturday would have made the Musgrove
Working on a Mitch
winning formula
The young forward continues to impress in the dis trict league and has found consistency in 2022. He has held his own against older and solid defenders and has kicked 26 goals for the year, including a bag of five against rival premiership fancies Har The strong midfielder has been a linchpin of the Panthers’ onballer class this year along with com patriots Andy Phelan, Jack Kreuzberger. The for mer Charlton ruckman and North Central Football League Feeny medallist has become important to the red and blue since the Panthers lured him west for the 2020 season. He now forms part of an impressive midfield brigade hoping to hit up big Kelly is another of the Panthers’ solid midfield group. He is good in contest and does his work around the stoppages before feeding it out to the quicks. He is a rounded midfield mover and can hit the scoreboard, too. He came up with four goals against Jeparit-Rainbow in round 12, along with a variety of singles in games across the year. Musgrove, coaching the squad alongside Ison in 2022, has led the Panthers’ forward line all season. Kicking bags of goals in almost every game, in cluding games of 12, 11, 9 and a collection above five, Musgrove has been the league’s premier for ward this season. His 83-goal season speaks vol umes about his impact in the forward 50 this year.
Page 39Wednesday, August 17, 2022 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au HORSHAM • KADINA • MURRAY BRIDGE • OAKBANK • PARNDANA • PINNAROO • RENMARK • ROSEWORTHY • RUPANYUP • SWAN HILL • WARRACKNABEAL
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street
Players to watch
HDFNL FiNaLs
final margin more absolute, the Panthers kicking a lowly 12 goals, 15 behinds compared with Southern Roos’ 12 goal, three behind accuracy. Powerful midfielder Jack Kreuzberg has led Rupanyup consistently through the guts this season and Minyip-Murtoa recruit and co-playing-coach Brayden Ison has stabilised the Panthers with his experience. Jack Musgrove has been a force in front of the sticks, put ting away 71 majors, including three hauls of seven, one of nine and another of 11. Sides hoping to knock the Panthers off their perch early in this series will need to limit his damage or better yet, limit his opportunities with pressure at the source. Ison spoke to The Weekly Advertiser before round one and emphasised his midfield would be one of the league’s best in 2022, and it was a solid projection as it turns out. He said: “Our midfield is really strong and that matches our strength at the ends of the ground. We want to be at tacking this year and not die wondering.”
Jake Kreuzberger
Having come across from Minyip-Murtoa at the end of last season, the reigning Wimmera Football Netball League leading goalkicker and Burras premiership player was a handy pick-up for the Panthers, whose leadership must have known they were on the verge of something special. Can Ison go from premiership player to premiership coach? He said because the Panthers got themselves in a position to challenge for a preliminary final last season, they would know how important a top-two finish was for any team to make a proper finals challenge Well, the Panthers did finish top two and are now minor premiers to boot. Ison had said his motivation was to lead the best ‘teamfootball’ side in the league, and added ‘no individuals, no grandstanding’. As good advice as any – but we will know the real result in a few weeks. A Panthers premiership would make fair reward for a brilliant season.
RupanyupPanthers
Page 40 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au For all your livestock, rural property, real estate and merchandise needs call and see us at DMD – 95-97 Nelson St, Nhill. Ph 5391 2106 Best wishes to all teams playing in the 2022 HDFNL finals series!
Elizabeth Hawker Hawker is a strong defender who plays a consis tent game and puts pressure on her opponents. She, and fellow defender Emma Hawker, are a challenging duo for shooters in the ring.
AbbyCroft
Kaniva-Leeor United’s road to the finals Coach: Emma Hawker Round 1: L. 23 to Kalkee 46. Home.** Round 2: W. 40 d Swifts 37. Away. Round 3: W. d Taylors Lake (no game). Round 4: W. 62 d Jeparit-Rainbow 45. Away. Round 5: W. 57 d Harrow-Balmoral 45. Away. Round 6: L. 32 to Noradjuha-Quantong 45. Home. Round 7: W. 76 d Rupanyup 16. Home.* Round 8: W. 57 d Pimpinio 29. Away. Round 9: L. 29 to Edenhope-Apsley 35. Home. Round 10: L. 35 to Laharum 46. Home. Round 11: W. 43 d Natimuk United 31. Away. Round 12: L. 43 to Kalkee 45. Away. Round 13: W. 44 d Swifts 39. Home. Round 14: L. 25 to Edenhope-Apsley 71. Away. Round 15: W. 68 d Rupanyup 36. Away. Round 16: 16: W. 44 d Harrow-Balmoral 35. Home. * Highest score ** Lowest Total:score. Won: 10. Lost: 6. For: 688. Against: 601. Points: 40. Percentage: 114.48.
Players to watch Ellen Bennett Bennett is a fast-moving midcourter with great vision down the court. Hard to beat, she is a player who can control the speed and flow of the game.
BY MICHAEL SCALZO aniva-Leeor United secured its sixth spot and a finals booking with a win in the last round of the home-and-away It took a nine-goal win against Harrow-Bal moral, who the Cougars saw as only sixthspot placeholders, to get them over the line. The Cougars would have qualified fourth in 2021 if finals had gone ahead, so to have missed the 2022 contest would have been a disappointing return to restriction-free netball, even if by the stats it was a more mixed year than last. The Cougars lost in round one to Kalkee before a string of wins against quality opposition. A 17-goal defeat of Jeparit-Rainbow and a 12-goal win against Harrow-Balmoral were victories against tough opponents and against sides joining them this finals series, while a 13-goal loss to Noradju ha-Quantong seems a fair result given the Bombers’ strength again in 2022. With the rise of Edenhope-Apsley and Kalkee in 2022, the Cougars, all things being equal, were pushed towards the fringes of the top six within only 12 months of netball. Within this new playing field, the Cougars defeated the sides they were expected to defeat and lost to sides expected to beat them. With good recent form against Har row-Balmoral, the Cougars took control of the round-16 elimination game early on and led the Southern Roos by 13-goals at half time. With the Southern Roos aware a finals berth was on the line, and with significant players sidelined for the match, some comeback was launched; but the Cougars, aware of the trick, held onto its half-time lead until the final whistle.Cougars’ shooter Abby Croft was mammoth again, while Brodie Chaston won accolades for her centre-court run in wing-defence. The Cougars have a mixed record against their elimination-final opponents EdenhopeApsley and will have to find something they have not yet found this season to move deeper into the series – a way to beat the Saints. The Saints got the better of the Cougars by six goals in round nine and by 46 goals later in round 14 – a margin Cougars leaders would be disappointed with. They have a chance to make amends at Natimuk on Sunday. Netball club president Hailee Witmitz told The Weekly Advertiser pre-season the club would start 2022 with a similar team to last season and emphasised it would be club cul ture that would propel them forward. “Our culture has been the best it has ever been and there certainly is a positive vibe around the group,” she said. It might be the side who knows each other best that comes out a winner off and on the court this weekend, and on this matter, the Cougars might have an edge. A win on Sun day would be a just reward for 2022 and 2021.
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street Kaniva-Leeor United Cougars HDFNL FiNaLs
Last minute entry
BY MICHAEL SCALZO Jeparit-Rainbow netballers will step onto the court for an A Grade Horsham Dis trict finals series for the first time in a long time this weekend. After being denied the chance to play finals after the abandoned 2021 season and qualifying fifth, the Storm has replicated its efforts in 2022 and can follow through on a chance to make a true August impact. After a strong start to the 2022 season, de feating Rupanyup and Edenhope-Apsley in the first two rounds, the Storm ran into roadblocks in the form of Laharum and Kaniva-Leeor United.Itwas a poor showing against the Cougars in round four with the Storm mounting no fight back after being jumped in the first half and eventually losing by 17 goals. But the result might have something to do with an early onset of the COVID-19-raid that bit down hard on the Storm in round five, impacting the club’s senior football and netball teams, and ultimately forcing a forfeit of the Storm’s A Grade team against Kalkee. The Storm was significantly better than the mid-pack all year, comfortably defeating Swifts, Pimpinio and Natimuk United in con secutive games before losing to Harrow-Bal moral in round 10. Given its losses to teams below them on the ladder, its untested record against Kalkee, its split record against Edenhope-Apsley, and its inability to get the better of Laharum, it is hard to know where the Storm sits among this year’s finals contenders. To finish the season only two wins away from the league’s primary challengers and the edge of the top four provides a strong base for Jeparit-Rain bow to compare themselves with in 2023. But before next season comes around, the Storm has a chance to make a 2022 state ment – in an elimination final against Noradju ha-Quantong on Sunday at Natimuk. Heading into the game as underdogs, the Storm will rely on its leaders Georgia Batson and Penny Fisher, experienced players and 2022 coaches, to get the better of the Bomb ers’ attacking firepower. Before the season got underway, club presi dent Jason Huston said his senior netball and football sides had ‘promised a lot’ but had not yet“Wedelivered.havebeen up there but have not gone to the next level yet,” he said. This is the chance for the Storm to find that next level, even if they sit clear fifth in a long line of sides trying to make something of the league’s post-COVID-restriction return. A basket of goals early from Maddison Mara or Fisher, or a strong first half from Bridget McKenzie in defence could be enough to spur the Storm deeper into its first finals series in nearly a decade.
Round 16: L. 39 to Laharum 58. Home. score ** Lowest score Total: Won: 10. Lost: 6. For: 691. Against: 567. Points: 40. Percentage: 121.87. 46-48 FiNaLs
Round 11: W. 42 to Noradjuha-Quantong 41. Home.
Round 14: W. d Taylors Lake (no game). Round 15: W. 55 d Pimpinio 39. Away.
Round 4: L. 45 to Kaniva-Leeor United 62. Home. Round 5: L. forfeited to Kalkee. Round 6: W. 71 d Swifts 32. Home. Round 7: W. 69 d Pimpinio 40. Home.
CocksRylee Players to watch Maddison Marra Has made her mark on the A Grade competition this year with consistent performances in the goal ring, averaging 23 goals a game. Penny Fisher A crucial element of Storm’s defensive line-up, going into finals with her experience and eye for intercepts an asset to the team.
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707
Round 12: W. 82 d Rupanyup 21. Away.* Round 13: L. 33 to Edenhope-Apsley 60. Home.**
Jeparit-Rainbow’sroadtothefinals
Page 41Wednesday, August 17, 2022 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au Your support is greatly appreciated Sunday, September 11 at the Jeparit Sheds after District League Grand Final Jubilee draw on the same day with first prize $2000 second prize $750 and third prize $300 VOTE COUNT JRFNC also wishes to thank everyone who contributes to the clb through in-kind donations of time and/or products Agri-Lending Solutions SMS Rural Wimmera Mallee Waste Bull & Mouth Hotel Scott Hoffman Contracting Wimmera Glassworks Bow EldersClugstonCommunityBakeryAxisButchersMepungaGrainMogasFuelInsuranceHorshamSmallaireNortonMotorGroupCampbellsSilosDunnezySeedCleaningEldersWarracknabealHorshamWool&Skins Grainrite Tarranyurk Aldo’s Kitchen & Joinery Martin Keller North West Real Estate Cambrelles Nhill Mick UltimateBJWarrackHendersonElectricalBo’sBulkHaulageHawkerContractingSamHollandBalingColleenPetschelConwayPiesTIsmay&CoLarrikinsHotelGrainCleaningMalMattchossSchulzPlumbingMarraAg Rainbow IGA Presh Beauty Odette Heinrich Martion Rural Horsham Lanes & Games LibertyO’ConnorsFuelFindex Matt’s Handyman Services The Jeparit-Rainbow Football Netball Club sincerely thank our generous sponsors
Round 9: W. d Taylors Lake (no game). Round 10: L. 34 to Harrow-Balmoral 47. Away.
Pynsent Street HDFNL
Ready to rise
Jeparit-RainbowStorm
* Highest
Round 2: W. 46 d Edenhope-Apsley 34. Away.
Coaches: Penny Fisher and Georgia Batson Round 1: W. 74 d Rupanyup 22. Home.
Round 8: W. 45 d Natimuk United 22. Away.
Round 3: L. 35 to Laharum 49. Away.
Wishing FootballNoradjuha-QuantongtheNetballCluballthebestforthe2022finalsPROUDSPONSORSOFNQFNC141StawellRoad,HorshamVIC3400 • Phone: (03) 5382 6110 Parts and servicing for all trailers & major truck makes and models Page 42 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au Noradjuha-Quantong Football Netball Club MAJOR SMSDMDRural Services The White Hart Wimmera Glass Works PLATINUM Belle Vue Trading D & B Quick Farming Elwood Pastoral GE LLakebanksConcreting&MFarms DIAMOND Albacutya Gypsum Netherway Farms Heard’s FMCJRSPricelineHirePharmacy&ACrossClarkBulkHaulage GOLD Nutrien Horsham Bryan & Petersen Kirchner WimmeraDIntersportTrucks&GScottTrophies & Gifts Jesse Brown Construction Oakao Park Batson MickHorshamBalingWoolCramerSmash Repairs TerryNuseedCameron Electrical BCH Wade’sPriceNatimukJBakersDickersonShannonAccountantsBros.EarthmovingDelight&KWalterContractingHotelFamilyFarmGas&Paint Corey Price Plastering FlexiAWNGrain SILVER EldersAdamaInsurance Wilson St Horsham Lanes and Games Dunnezy Seed Cleaning PatFarmalinxHarrold Transport SR Mechanical Repairs Klean HorshamAzzCity Meats BRONZE Anson’s Cartage HOPEA White Suffolks KFC HorshamConwayHorshamPiesAuto Electrical Peach’s Fruit & Veg Wimmera Waste Busters Fred Blake Crane Hire Horsham Sports & Community Club Total Computer Technology Brad’s Coffee Good Year 2022 Sponsors Congratulations to all the teams competing in the finals Noradjuha-Quantong’sroadtothefinals Prime challengers BYSCALZOMICHAEL upNoradjuha-Quantonghassnuckonthetopendof the Horsham District com petition in the back end of the But perhaps that should not have been the case. The Bombers ended the 2021 season second, just below minor premiers Laharum, after jostling with and beating Harrow-Balmoral to be the Demons’ prime premiership challenger. They lost to the Southern Roos in a round one reverse of the Bombers’ recent form against the blue-and-white before a three-win run of victories against Natimuk United, Edenhope-Apsley and Pimpinio. The win against the Saints was a valuable one and should give the Bombers confi dence if they beat the Storm this weekend and meet the charging Saints in week two. Their 23-goal loss to Laharum in round five was probably the Bombers’ worst of the year. With the Demons getting off to a flyer, curtailing the chance for Bombers’ shooter Shannon Couch to have an offen sive impact, and never giving the Bombers a chance to get their foot in the door – the game was over before half time. But once again, the Bombers rallied and defeated Kaniva-Leeor United and Kalkee in successive weeks. The victory against Kalkee was convinc ing and it included a brilliant 21 goal to 10 third-quarter effort from the Bombers, who were able to pocket a win against the season’s minor premiers. They backed this up later in the year when they defeated the Kees again in round 15 – this time by only four points, in a lowscoring match at Quantong. But again, a one-goal loss to Jeparit-Rain bow in round 11 was another four points gone astray – points that, if collected, could have sneaked the Bombers an outright toptwo spot and a double chance this finals series. With a capacity to beat the best and lose to the median, the Bombers are a wildcard this year if nothing for the fact they are the only side to beat Kalkee during the home-and-away season – and that has to count for something. Senior netball coach Fiona Rowe, during pre-season, said while finals was the Bomb ers’ goal this year, its leaders were keen to wait until the season got underway before making a more presumptuous call about their 2022 fortunes. “This year we are about creating a dy namic where we can all push each other on and off the court. We want to challenge each other to be better netballers and better team players, too,” she said. Now the season is over and with ample proof the Bombers could match or beat the league’s best when they get on song, they could well be there on the last weekend of the season.
Coach: Fiona Rowe Round 1: L. 44 to Harrow-Balmoral 46. Away. Round 2: W. 51 d Natimuk United 29. Home. Round 3: W. 38 d Edenhope-Apsley 26. Home. Round 4: W. 71 d Pimpinio 45. Away.* Round 5: L. 27 to Laharum 50. Home.** Round 6: W. 45 to Kaniva-Leeor United 32. Away. Round 7: W. 58 d Kalkee 45. Away. Round 8: W. 69. Rupanyup 31. Away. Round 9: W. 51 d Swifts 27. Home. Round 10: W. d Taylors Lake (no game). Round 11: L. 41 to Jeparit-Rainbow 42. Away. Round 12: W. 39 d Harrow-Balmoral 30. Home. Round 13: W. 44 d Natimuk United 29. Away. Round 14: W. 56 d Swifts 39. Away. Round 15: W. 32 d Kalkee 28. Home. Round 16: W. 62 d Pimpinio 35. Home.
Yolanda Molineaux Makes her opponents work hard in the goal ring each game. Combining well with her fellow defend ers, will be a challenging opponent.
Players to watch Shannon Couch A tall target under the ring, Couch is a strong, acurate shooter, averaging 33 goals a game. De fenders will want to shut her down before she has the ball in the ring.
* Highest score ** Lowest score Total: Won: 13. Lost: 3. For: 738. Against: 534. Points: 52. Percentage: 138.20.
Stefanie Cooper HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street
HDFNL FiNaLs
BombersNoradjuha-Quantong
Sacha McDonald
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707 46-48 Pynsent Street HDFNL FiNaLs Edenhope-ApsleySaints
Strong run home
BY MICHAEL SCALZO Edenhope-Apsley has turned its season around since a winless start hurried mem ories of another year without a finals appear ance. The Saints are certainly playing finals this year and finished one win off a top-two double chance after clearing their last hurdle of the year at Laharum in roundFinishing15. sixth when the 2021 season wound up, the climb to third was impressive this year – even if the side was inconsistent in the early part of the season before settling into a winning rhythm. The Saints lost to now fifth-placed Jeparit-Rain bow in round two by 12 goals – a far cry from their 27-goal win in the round-13 rematch against the Storm.They also lost to now fourth-placed Noradju ha-Quantong in round three by 12 goals, before an eight-goal loss to minor premiers Kalkee. A win against Natimuk started the Saints’ winning streak that lasted for the rest of season and included a clutch one-goal victory against Laharum in round seven.While the Saints’ back end of the year contained very few top-end-of-the-ladder challenges, except for that crucial Laharum match in the penultimate home-and-away round, and included another Tay lors Lake and Rupanyup forfeit points haul, Eden hope-Apsley could only beat who it was scheduled to play – and it did. However, the Saints’ netball leaders will hope the inconsistency that dotted their early season does not return if they meet the Kees or Bombers this series. This is important given these will be sides the Saints have not competitively assessed in nearly fiveThemonths.Saints play Kaniva-Leeor United in the first elimination final at Edenhope on Saturday and should start as confident favourites against the Cou gars, who sneaked into the top six at the final moment. Last time the Saints and the Cougars met, the Saints were 46 goals the better during a round 14 match at Edenhope. But looking too far ahead can often be a trap for talented sports teams as they eye the bigger challenge down the road and forget about the weekend ahead.With goal-attack Sacha Mc Donald joining the Saints on the eve of this finals series, the Saints get even more firepower around the ring and throughout the front half. McDonald, along with Emily Burgess, should keep the opposition’s best defenders busy all day, with both players having the ability to make sure the game is played on their terms. If a win against the Cougars goes as planned, the Saints could meet either the Bombers or the Storm during week two, where the Saints have their chance to right their early-round wrongs. Even a week-two finals exit should be con sidered a successful year for the Saints, but you get the idea they are after more than that in 2022.
Page 43Wednesday, August 17, 2022 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au West Currie Accountants,ConsultantsBusinessAdvisorsandTaxConsultants For all your Taxation and Business Services Ph: 03 5585 1522 Fax: 03 5585 1733 Web: www.westcurrie.com Email: reception@westcurrie.com West Currie Consultants wishes all teams the best for the 2022 football and netball finals wishing all football and netball teams anfinalsinjury-freeseries Coach:Edenhope-Apsley’sroadtothefinalsSarahDomaschenz Round 1: W. d Taylors Lake (no game). L. 34 to Jeparit-Rainbow 46. Home. L. 26 to Noradjuha-Quantong 38. Away.** W. 39 d Harrow-Balmoral 28. Home. W. 60 d Jeparit-Rainbow 33. Away. W. 65 d Natimuk United 29. Home
A former Suncorp Super Netball player, Burgess has been a force in Edenhope-Apsley’s line-up since the beginning of the season. A versatile de Has been performing well in the goal ring this sea son, averaging 23 goals a game. Her accuracy and agility in the ring will be indispensable for her team.
A dependable shooter for the Laharum unit, Iredell averages 24 goals a game and is often seen feed ing the ball well into her partnering goalie.
BY MICHAEL SCALZO he reigning premiers and dominant side of the previous three seasons is there again in 2022 and poised to defend its The Demons, while not starting this finals se ries as minor premiers – for the first time in a while – are in no worse shape this time around; even if their rivals think they might be there for the taking. For many, they are still the bench mark of the competition – even if Kalkee and Edenhope-Apsley got the better of them this season. Back in round seven, the Saints jumped the Demons and took a 10goal lead into the final term before the Demons found their gear and clawed back nine of them. A loss to the Kees the week before makes the round-six-seven blip on the Demons’ record perhaps seem larger than in reality Two incredibly close games for the Demons, and the first they had lost in a while, was perhaps a chance to regroup and bounce back – which they did. Wins filled their column until the Saints travelled to the Grampians foothills for a round-15 rematch on Laharum’s courts with the Saints putting another dent in the Demons’ charge towards a three-peat.
A Grade playing coach Erin Mellington, speak ing to The Weekly Advertiser in the pre-season, talked about her belief in her side’s ‘winning formula’.“Weare all playing for the same reason and working towards the same goals. Importantly, we are all really good friends and have lots of fun together,” she said. While some in the league might hope for a new title holder, Laharum will know how to make its formula work in a finals series. And a post-COVID-restriction return to the top for the Demons would be the most fun to Laha rum netballers, as teams spend another summer working out how to supplant them.
Pynsent Street
HDFNL FiNaLs
Page 44 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au CLUBNETBALLFOOTBALLLAHARUM • Allan & Trev’s Workwear • AXIS Employment • Brenton Askew Painters • Grampians Olives • Hillross Horsham • Horsham Hydraulics • J & C Stock Scan • Kiro Kids • KLM Concrete • Lesters Automotive / Wimmera Cooling • Maxi Tankers • Miller Fencing • Onsite Engineering • Petrogas • Plazzer Builders • Winstar Construction A big thank you to all our loyal sponsors and good luck to all our teams playing finals in 2022! HARVESTERSNOW! OAKBANK PARNDANA PINNAROO SWAN HILL www.emmetts.com.auWARRACKNABEAL years free preseason inspections if performed by June each year. Travel included within Emmetts dealer AOR, charged at normal travel 29/02/2020. ^Additional one year offered, totaling 3 years or 1250 hours limited warranty on engine and power train. The Limited PowerGard attachments, maintenance or high-wear items, nor other non-covered components specifically mentioned in the contract terms. Always actual PowerGard Protection Plan contract for details, exclusions and limitations. Expires 29/02/2020. FREEINSPECTIONSSERVICE # CommandAdvisorCentreon700DRigid Draper Cameras JohnsonsMerchandise Insurance Wimmera HORSHAMWOOL WOOL BUYERS
roadLaharum’stothefinals Within reach
With players who have spent years to gether and know how each other operates better than any other, Laharum has contin ued to play elite quality netball, while blooding newWithtalent.anew challenge in front of them and with their closest rivals now teams that have come out of the clouds to try and take their mantle, the Demons netballers have new and previously unconsidered sides to tackle this finals series. Set to face Kalkee on semi-final Sunday in a week’s time, Laharum will have to navigate Paula Weidermann’s Kalkee players to book a spot in the penultimate round of sport. With Caitlin Story shooting more than 430 goals during the home-and-away season, aver aging more 31 goals a game, and her shooting partner Maddie Iredell putting away more than 300 for the year, the Demons can muster a score to beat anyone.
Round 1: W. 58 d Swifts 24. Home. Round 2: W. 72 d Rupanyup 34. Away. Round 3: W. 49 d Jeparit-Rainbow 35. Home. Round 4: W. 51 d Natimuk United 23. Home. Round 5: W. 50 d Noradjuha-Quantong 27. Away. Round 6: L. 37 to Kalkee 43. Home.** Round 7: L. 42 to Edenhope-Apsley 43. Away. Round 8: W. d Taylors Lake (no game). Round 9: W. 84 d Pimpinio 27. Home. Round 10: W. 46 d Kaniva-Leeor United 35. Away. Round 11: W. 51 d Harrow-Balmoral 46. Home. Round 12: W. 55 d Swifts 34. Away. Round 13: W. 76 d Rupanyup 15. Home. Round 14: W. 96 d Pimpinio 29. Away.* Round 15: L. 38 to Edenhope-Apsley 43. Home. Round 16: W. 58 to Jeparit-Rainbow 39. Away. * Highest score ** Lowest score Total: Won: 13. Lost: 3. For: 873. Against: 497. Points: 52. Percentage: 175.65. 5381 1707 46-48
CaitlinStory Players to watch Liv Jones A league best-and-fairest winner in 2021, Jones continues to play an integral role as a centre. Her fast movement down the court drives her team forward to help outrun their opponents. Maddie Iredell
HORSHAM Ph 03
DemonsLaharum
Coaches: Caitlin Story and Erin Mellington
Round 8:
Round 12: W.
Rianna Kuhne
Round 10:
HORSHAM Ph 03 5381 1707
Swifts
Round
Against:
Home. Round 15: L.
BY MICHAEL SCALZO Kalkee enters this finals series as the minor pre mier, and outright minor pre mier in terms of games won. A 14 win and two loss re cord is a convincing season and a home-and-away result seven spots better than in 2021. The Kees have jumped half the league in 16 games of competi tion and are primed to take the challenge to reigning premiers Laharum.Butitwill not just be Laharum the Kees have on their tail, with Edenhope-Apsley and Norad juha-Quantong completing the season one win behind them. It took until round seven for the Kees to register their first loss of the season, against Nor adjuha-Quantong, on their home courts.The13-point loss accompanied the Kees’ largest score against them for the year – the Bombers’ 58 goals were an outlier for a strong Kees defence that regu larly kept opposition below 10 goals a Importantlyquarter.the Kees climbed over the top of the Demons at Cameron Reserve in round six to establish themselves as seri ous 2022 challengers, coming back from a two-goal deficit at three-quarter time to clinch their six-goal victory. The competition took notice afterPerhapsthat. they should have be forehand, when the Kees dealt an eight-goal loss to Eden hope-Apsley – one of the com petition’s late-season bloomers and third-place takers. The experience of Paula Wei dermann, who returned to her home club as A Grade netball coach at the end of last season after a stint at Horsham Demons, might prove to be a valuable grab.Ascrapping victory against Swifts at North Park in round eight surely gave the Kees’ faith ful a scare, with that two-goal win now as valuable as ever; as was their two-goal win against Kaniva-Leeor United. These are two opposition teams that will not feature in this finals series. The Kees will be, however, the team that has played the least netball all season, with Rupanyup in round three and Jeparit-Rainbow in round five forfeiting games, and two not played scheduled games against an absent A Grade Taylors Lake side, the last of those being just lastWillweek.that mean rested netbal lers who have enjoyed the week off before finals or netballers wishing they had more games in their legs before the heat turnsWeidermann,up? before the sea son started, said she was excited to return to Kalkee and from afar she always knew the A Grade squad could play some great netball. “This year will be about reaching finals. Finals and success – it’s the reason we play. We will be building to wards that this year and work on gelling as a team before we hit the court,” she said pre-season. Well, the team has certainly gelled well, and with only the Bombers causing the Kees grief so far in 2022, other sides might be looking at how the Bombers got it done. The Kees will get things start ed against Laharum in the sec ond week of finals at Balmoral in the second semi-final.
Katie Ruwoldt A reliable defender and a player her teammates will look to in the defensive third. Her pressure over the ball will be key in her team gaining turnovers. 46-48 Pynsent Street FiNaLs KalkeeKees
HDFNL
Talylors
Round 4:
32. Away.** Round
14. Lost: 2. For:
Home.* Round 11:
W.
Round 7: L.
Players to watch Jenna Bywaters Has been a consistent shooter for the Kees this season, working hard at the goal end. Her height is a beneficial addition inside the ring.
Round
**
Coach: Paula Weidermann Round 1: W. 46 d Kaniva-Leeor United 23. Away. Round 2: W. 46 d Harrow-Balmoral 24. Home. Round 3: W. 40 d Rupanyup (forfeit). Home. W. 35 d Edenhope-Apsley 27. Away. 5: W. 40 d Jeparit-Rainbow (forfeit). W. 43 d Laharum 37. Away. 45 to Noradjuha-Quantong 58. Home. W. 36 d 34. Away. 9: W. 52 d Natimuk United 31. Away. W. 66 d Pimpinio 40. W. d Taylors Lake (no game). 45 d Kaniva-Leeor United 43. Home. 13: W. 50 d Harrow-Balmoral 44. Away. W. 54 d Natimuk United 25. 28 to Noradjuha-Quantong 16: d Lake (no score Lowest Won: 676. 420.
Page 45Wednesday, August 17, 2022 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au 16 Dimboola Rd, Horsham Ph 5382 1162 d/VictoriaOnTheParkHotel THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE’S PUB hotel Everything you could ever need 11feet7inch(3.5m) is at the Vic where everything is BIGGESTbarintown BIGGESTmealsintownCOLDESTbeerintown BIG!Good luck to all our teams in the Wimmera & Horsham District league football & netball finals roadKalkee’stothefinalsMinor premiers
Round 6:
score Total:
Round
Points: 16. Percentage: 160.95.
game). * Highest
Round 14:
Page 46 Wednesday, August 17, 2022www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au The Horsham District Football Netball League would like to wish all clubs participating in the 2022 Finals Series all the best. The HDFNL would like to acknowledge the valued contribution from our sponsors HORSHAM hotel 56 Darlot Street, Horsham (Previously Tender Breast Poultry) Temporary contact numbers: (03) 5381 1021 or 5382 6170 CAREYCOVERStarpswindowshadessails
