Wimmera football teams launch finals campaigns
By DEAN LAWSON
Considerable 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, Minyip-Murtoa 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 home-and-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.
Get the full story in the August 26, 2015 edition of The Weekly Advertiser.
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Posted on Aug 26 2015