Ground: Cameron Oval, Laharum, Saturday, 2.20pm.
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Umpires: P. Clough and J. Brand.
Last time they met: Round six, 2014. Laharum 20.21 (141) d Harrow-Balmoral 6.9 (45).
A 96-POINT loss to Laharum marked the low point of Harrow-Balmoral’s season so far, but the team is ready to atone.
The Roos make their way to Cameron Oval on Saturday for what could be a season-defining game.
Harrow-Balmoral was seen by some opposition coaches as a genuine threat to challenge Laharum for this year’s flag in the early rounds, but that talk mostly dissipated after their big loss.
Saturday will determine whether the performance was an aberration, or a true reflection of the gulf between the sides.
Roos coach Brent Forsyth said his team wanted to prove itself.
“We had no real response or plan B when they got on top, and we were really waiting for the final siren which is out of character,” he said.
“We’ve been working hard on contingency plans, not just for Laharum but in other scenarios.
“Hopefully if need be, we’ll have something to fall back on.”
Aaron McDonald is set to return to the side after missing at the weekend.
Luke Merryfull is unavailable, and David Vickery will need to prove his fitness after hurting a hamstring.
Laharum coach Shannon Argall received a corkie during Saturday’s win over Kalkee, but is expected to play.
Ollie Harrison will be unavailable for selection, with Jack Shields looking a likely replacement.
Mountain Men coach Marcus Demaria said his team did not expect another easy victory over the Roos.
“They’ll definitely come out with something to prove after the last time we played them, and Brent Forsyth is an astute coach, so no doubt he would have put a fair bit of planning into it,” he said.
“It surprised us a little bit how much we won by last time, but I’ve got no doubt it will be a lot tighter this time around.”