Rats run all over hapless Horsham

The Rats twinkled in the brilliant autumn sunshine at Alexandra Oval, using their best silverware to carve up a disappointing Demons to the tune of 93 points.

Ararat's blue-ribbon brigade including Paul McLoughlan, Dale Bligh and Matt Jackson were among conspirators who dismantled the Horsham game with an overwhelming second half.

McLoughlan relished the opportunity to steer the ship out of the middle while the slippery Bligh was equally as damaging, causing the Demon defence all sorts of headaches when he pushed forward.

There was little in the game in the first half despite Horsham going into the contest without the likes of injured Damien Skurrie, David Richardson, on his honeymoon, and Bryan Tepper, yet to win a clearance from Warrack Eagles.

The Demons trailed by 17 points as they ran onto the ground for the start of the second half but then watched Ararat skip away with a devastating eight-goal term.

Forward Rohan May bagged six goals and Brett Dowie and Doug Walton four each as Horsham struggled badly to make any serious impression on the scoreboard.

The Demons ultimately kicked 5.15 for the game, spraying countless shots at goal and sometimes struggling to make the distance from well inside 50 metres.

Horsham coach Guy Smith said his team had simply been taught a footy lesson.

``There's no excuses. All credit to Ararat. They shut down our avenues to goal and we allowed them to outplay us,'' Smith said.

Despite the humbling start to the season, Smith praised the efforts of Brenton Askew running off a black flank, last-line defender Richard Kerr, Damien Bunworth and Scott Dumesny.

Best: Ararat, Paul McLoughlan, Richard Tucker, Dale Bligh, Matt Jackson, Brett Dowie, Sam Pitman; Horsham, Damien Bunworth, Brenton Askew, Scott Dumesny, Richie Kerr, Mark Hallam, Andrew Carter.