By Colin MacGillivray

After a summer of recruiting, training and planning for the season ahead, clubs across the Horsham District Football Netball League relished the return of senior football on Saturday.

The attention of many neutral onlookers turned towards Quantong Recreation Reserve, where reigning premier Harrow-Balmoral took on a team many expect to be the Roos’ top competition for this year’s flag – Noradjuha-Quantong.

The game lived up to its blockbuster billing, with the Roos establishing a slender lead at quarter time before conceding four goals to two in the second term to trail by two points at the half.

Less than two goals separated the teams at the final change before Harrow-Balmoral kicked away with four last-quarter goals to win 12.7 (79) to 8.7 (55).

Former Brisbane Lions player Michael Close was a match-winner for the Roos, booting three goals, while coach Jai Thompson, Matt Jones, Will Plush and Rhys Daffey were among the team’s other standouts.

Big man Jack Vague led the Bombers in defeat, with midfielders Jayden Besford and James Hallett, coach Damian Cameron and veteran Jason Kerr all playing key roles.

Encouraging early wins

Taylors Lake won only two matches in 2023, but already has a win under its belt after defeating Edenhope-Apsley 13.11 (89) to 10.11 (71) in an emotional game at Dock Lake Reserve.

The Lakers commemorated late club legend John ‘JK’ Kelly before playing a game that thrilled coach Justin Beugelaar.

Taylors Lake built a 37-point half-time lead on the back of a five-goals-to-one second quarter, before the Saints came back strongly in the third term.

Beugelaar said the Lakers held their nerve in the last quarter.

“Taylors Lake teams of the past would have fallen over and taken that game as a loss, so to see the maturity of the group in being able to weather the storm, I was really pleased,” he said.

“It’s a position they haven’t been in for a long time, where they were leading a side, and I knew if we came into half time with a big lead like that it was going to be a battle to get their minds right.

“Credit to them, they stuck to the game plan and we fought it out right to the end.”

Midfielder Bray Cullinan, who Beugelaar described as ‘a bull’ in the centre, was a standout with two goals, while Beugelaar kicked four himself.

Beugelaar said the Lakers’ midfield unit shone throughout the day, while some younger players also showed promising signs.

“We had a kid called Tyson Kidney from Darwin play, and he went really well. Billy Finnigan was good as always,” he said.

“For the younger kids, to see Hunter Campey take his game to the next level was a great surprise. The challenge for him is now to keep doing it throughout the year.”

For the Saints, full forward Brock Summerhayes kicked four goals, while onballer Tim Churchin, half forward Boyd Packer and wingman Josh La Rocca were also named among the best.

Beugelaar said his team’s next test was to sustain its momentum against Natimuk United, which also had a first-up win against Kaniva-Leeor United, 13.7 (89) to 8.11 (59).

Zach Smith, Kaiden Sudholz and recruit Cody Frizon – who booted five goals on debut – led the way for the Rams, who ran out the game strongly after trailing by 10 points at quarter time.

Ruckman Hamish Bennett, half back Billy King, onballer Charlie Maddern and half forward Lochlyn Hahne were the Cougars’ best.

Beugelaar said he believed the Rams would be another big test for his team in round two.

“They’re in a similar position to us where they were towards the bottom of the ladder last year and picked up a couple of handy recruits,” he said.

“They’re young and in a similar age group to us. When you’re a young team you can be unpredictable, so I think it’s going to be a great game of footy to watch and heavily contested.

“The team that can settle first will have the best opportunity to win the game.”

Tigers roar

Pimpinio was another team that experienced limited success in 2023 to record a round one victory, overcoming a much-improved Laharum 9.11 (65) to 8.9 (57) at Pimpinio. The Mountain Men were winless last season but found themselves five points ahead at three-quarter time thanks to the efforts of its strong onball brigade in ruckman Shannon Argall and midfielders Daniel Easson, Robbie Miller and Riley Lenehan.

Pimpinio coach Guy Smith was thrilled with his team’s response in the final quarter, as the Tigers booted three goals to one to earn a victory.

“Laharum is a great team. They’re structured well, they’ve got a lot of good-quality personnel among their side, and they’re definitely not the Laharum of the past couple of years,” Smith said.

“I think they’re going to be a real threat actually. We had to play at our best to get on top of them, that’s for sure.”

Smith singled out Dylan Bates and Dylan Thomas for their contributions, while Nick Groves kicked four goals and Noah Jacobsen was sturdy in the back line.

Pimpinio will take on Rupanyup, which had a first-round bye, while Laharum will host Kalkee, which is coming off a loss to Swifts.

Swift start

The Baggies lived up to coach Brett Hargreaves’ pre-season promise to play a more attacking style of football by beating the Kees 22.13 (145) to 12.5 (77) at Kalkee Recreation Reserve.

Paul Summers showed why Swifts were excited to sign him from Wimmera league club Stawell, booting 11 goals in a masterful display, with midfielders Angus Murray and Ryan Folkes, forward pocket Chris Freeman and defender Noah Stirling among the Baggies’ many standouts.

Kalkee’s best included Hamish Exell, Matt Nield, Douglas Grining and Louis Beddison.

Swifts will take on Kaniva-Leeor United in round two, while Noradjuha-Quantong will travel to Edenhope to play the Saints and Harrow-Balmoral has an early bye.

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