WFL: Horsham reigns supreme with 11th premiership in 12 years

Against all odds, the Demons held off the Horsham Saints by one straight kick to win its 11th Wimmera Football League premiership in 12 years in a thriller at Central Park, Stawell, on Saturday afternoon.

Hampered by injuries, which left co-coach Brad Hartigan and skipper Jeremy Hartigan on the bench for most of the match, the Demons overcame an 11-point three-quarter-time deficit to triumph 12.10 (82) to 11.10 (76).

A number of players stepped up to help lead the Demons to victory.

Youngsters Ben Lakin, Billy Lloyd, Beau Nelson and Jack Mentha were tireless with their work ethic, while Joel Geue finished with four goals. Lakin was named the best under-21 player. 

Together the Demons defeated a Saints outfit that was not lacking in effort either.

Gavin Kelm was massive for the Saints, kicking nine of their 11 goals to receive the Greg Binns Medal for best on ground, while Daniel Rees and Michael Rowe were also invaluable.

But Horsham started like a side that knew all about playing in the last game of the season.

Geue, who started at full-forward, Lloyd and Nick Pekin got the Demons off to a flyer with a goal each in the first eight minutes.

The Saints players found their feet with one of the plays of the day, with Nathan Clough and Jacob Cooke-Harrison laying shepherds, allowing Pat Knott to tear down the grandstand side wing and hit up Kelm for his first major.

Kelm added a second goal after a behind-play hold, but it was the Demons who led by seven points at the first change. 

Nelson kicked two goals for the Demons in the first five minutes of the second term.

Again the Saints found a reply as Clough, Knott and Michael Rowe continued to help their side make an impact on the scoreboard.

Rowe began to win his ruck duel with Demon Sean Christopher, who probably had the honours at quarter time.

Two more Saints goals came from Kelm – the second from a strong mark and 50-metre penalty – but a late Jordyn Burke goal saw the Demons lead by 14 points at the major break.

The tables turned in the third quarter.

Kelm kicked the first four goals of the term, the first a minute in.

The third came nine minutes in after a link-up with Sam Clyne and Keegan Mellington and put the Saints in front for the first time in the match.

Geue responded for the Demons before a long-range goal to Saint Mat Combe was disallowed after a Kelm shepherd in the goal square was deemed illegal.

Saint Kyle O’Connor was rewarded for a tackle not long after and goaled. 

Mentha replied for the Dees after crumbing a pack but Kelm kicked his fifth for the quarter to give the Saints an 11-point lead at three-quarter-time. 

The two-week break was meant to drive the Saints home.

But goals to Geue and Burke in the first three minutes saw the lead switch hands.

 Lakin then marked on the goal-line to deny Kelm his 10th – arguably one of the most influential moments of the game.

The Demons’ pressure around the ball was intense and Geue weaved in traffic to slot the match-winner in the 19th minute.

From there, the Demons held fast, consigning the Saints to a seventh Wimmera league grand final loss.