Sport
16 August, 2023
HDFL warms up for finals series
Noradjuha Quantong won their fourth consecutive match with a 127 point thrashing of Pimpinio at the Quantong Recreation Reserve in the final round of the Horsham and District Football Netball League. The Bombers had 11 different goal scorers with...
Noradjuha Quantong won their fourth consecutive match with a 127 point thrashing of Pimpinio at the Quantong Recreation Reserve in the final round of the Horsham and District Football Netball League.
The Bombers had 11 different goal scorers with Zane Batson and Dylan Bushby leading the way with four a-piece in the 22.22.154 to 4.3.27 win.
Bombers coach Damian Cameron was thrilled with the big win.
“It was a great team performance and I am very happy with how we played as a team. They kicked a couple of early ones and it took us a while to settle but when we did we were really good,” Cameron said.
“Our pressure and tackling was good and that is what stood out for me. We made it really hard for them to be clean with their skills with the pressure we applied.”
“It was also great to have 11 different goal kickers. We tend to have a few people hit the scoreboard each week and if one or two are nullified to have a different avenue to goal is very important, particularly come finals,” Cameron concluded.
James Hallett and Jayden Besford stood up in the midfield getting plenty of the ball and providing pressure whilst James Gregg, Wade Francis and Zach Kelly were also standouts on the day.
For Pimpinio, they may have finished the season with a loss, but coach Clint Burdett is proud and happy with their season.
“We are pretty happy. We managed to get six wins and doubled the amount of wins we had last year. We obviously would like to have had more wins but we learnt a lot as a team and played better football throughout the year,” Burdett said.
The Tigers have also identified some young talent for the future in Jye Brown, Thomas Naylor and Frederick Frew. Frew as a 16 year old might have a crack for the Rebels.
Rupanyup bounced back from their loss to Kalkee to beat fellow finals team, Edenhope Apsley by 61 points at the Rupanyup Recreation Reserve.
The Panthers got an early run on to lead by 27 points at quarter time. They extended that margin to 54 at half time and didn’t stop in the second half winning 22.7.139 to 12.6.78.
Braydon Ison and Connor Weidemann were brilliant up forward with four goals a-piece whilst Lachlan Weidemann and Jacob Christie were their consistent selves getting plenty of ball over the ground.
Panthers coach Braydon Ison was thrilled with how they started out.
“That first half we played really well. It’s not often you kick 14 goals in a half. I thought we had our running game going, we linked up well and ultimately we hit the scoreboard,” Ison said.
The Panthers also had 10 different goal kickers which Ison pointed out as very important.
“The more avenues to goal we have then the better for us. We have a great forward line but if some of our forwards get shut down, it’s important to have other players be able to hit that scoreboard.”
When asked how the win sets themselves up for the finals, Ison said.
“I think you can always get better. We are at a level where we put the trust in the players in how we go about it. We can always improve and we need to be prepared and ready to go.”
Laharum finished their season with 53 point loss at home to Kalkee. Despite the scoreboard the Demons were competitive.
In the first quarter the Demons only trailed by seven points and then 17 at half time. They fought hard in the second half and never gave up with Kalkee eventually winning 16.10.106 to 7.11.53.
Brett Ervin was the best player for the Demons whilst for Kalkee, Simon Hobbs was best on ground with Jayden Kuhne hitting the scoreboard with five goals.
Laharum coach Hamish Roberts was proud of how they finished off the year.
“We were competitive and we have improved a fair bit. We kicked ourselves out of it as we had many gettable shots and couldn’t capitilise but our effort and intent was there,” Roberts said.
Despite going through the season without a win the future is bright for Laharum with Patt Lattanzio, Ryan Thomas, Jackson Price, Sean Wouters and Oliver Sykes all identified by Roberts as the future of the club.
“Ryan Thomas moved to centre half back in the second half of the year and came along well in that position and improved as the season went on,” Roberts said.
“Jackson Price at the half back flank excelled there and Sean Wouters as a utility also played down back in the second half of the year and did well.”
“Ruckman Oliver Sykes is going to be a brilliant senior football for many years to come. We know where he is at. He is young and still growing into his body but once he develops, he will be a very good player.”
I am proud of the boys. They didn’t get disgracefully blown out and they fought to the very end,” Roberts concluded.
At the Natimuk Showgrounds the Rams finished their great year with an upset 41 point win over finals bound Swifts. The Rams trailed by 13 points at quarter time but after that it was a one way show leading by 32 at half time and 20 at three quarter time before winning 16.9.105 to 9.10.64.
Nathan Koenig was best on ground kicking nine goals whilst Zach Smith and Todd Stevenson were also brilliant for the home team.
It was the 6th win for Natimuk and with some solid performances throughout the year they are showing they have a bright future.
At Dock Lake Recreation Reserve, five goals to Ashley Clugston helped Jeparit Rainbow Storm to a 157 point mauling of Taylors Lake. Trent Burgoyne was best on ground winning plenty of the ball through the middle whilst hitting the scoreboard with 4 goals in the 27.22.184 to 3.9.27 point win.
In the final match at the Kaniva Recreation Reserve, eight goals to Simon Close and seven to James Staude guided Harrow Balmoral to a 130 point win; 23.13.151 to 3.3.21.