Laharum finishes dream season with 99-point win over Natimuk United
WIMMERA MAIL-TIMES
Laharum 134 d Natimuk United 35
LAHARUM capped off a perfect home and away season with a 99-point win over Natimuk United at Horsham City Oval on Saturday.
The Mountain Men became the sixth team in the past 20 years to finish the home and away season without a blemish, joining Rupanyup in 1998 and 2001, Pimpinio in 2005, Harrow-Balmoral in 2007 and Kalkee in 2009.
The 2010 Kalkee team was undefeated, but drew with Edenhope-Apsley in the penultimate round of the season.
Every one of those sides went on to claim the premiership.
One of the consistent themes for the Mountain Men in their quest for back-to-back flags has been their emerging younger players’ stellar form. The form was on full display at the weekend.
Daniel Easson, only a year removed from the under-17s, was named best-on-ground for the seventh time this season.
He has been named in the best in 15 of Laharum’s 18 games.
Fellow young guns Angus Martin and Tom Crawford were also among the best.
The team shared the wealth in the forward line, with Martin, Jason Przibilla, Jack Shields and Rhys Bennett kicking three goals each.
Former Horsham Demons premiership player Jerome Williams made his first senior appearance for the Mountain Men after six games in the reserves.
Ash Pekin, consistently Natimuk United’s best performer this year, played another strong game, kicking a goal.
Greg Hamilton, two goals, was the focal point in the Rams’ forward line in suspended coach Tim Friend’s absence.
Despite the undefeated record and big winning margin, Laharum coach Shannon Argall said the game had given his team plenty to work on in the finals.
“It wasn’t really an ideal hitout for us, it was a very scrappy game and not free-flowing on either side,” he said.
“A 100-point win is still a 100-point win, but they were able to get a lot of congestion around the ball and flood our forward line.
“That’s something we have to be ready for.”
The Mountain Men will have a week off in the first round of the finals before playing the winner of the Kalkee-Swifts qualifying final for the right to advance straight to the grand final.
Last Modified on 28/08/2014 16:26