Football
28 July, 2025
Laharum celebrate Miller 200th game with critical win
Laharum’s men’s senior football side went one step closer to making finals football on Saturday as they defeated the Swifts in round 15 of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
The crucial win was even richer, with Laharum celebrating Robbie Miller's 200th senior football game for the club.
The final score saw Laharum kick 10.6 (66) to the Swifts’ 6.1 (37).
In what could be described as the ‘Mud Bowl’, the two sides played out a scrappy and contest-heavy game.
The Demons got on the board early through a Hayden Kemp goal, managing to kick another in the first term while keeping the Swifts scoreless to go up 14-0 by the first break.
Two early goals in the second extended the Demons' lead to 27-0 before the Swifts scored two goals of their own to stay in the game, with Laharum up 33-12 at half-time.
In a scrappy third quarter, the Swifts brought it to 36-18 before decisive goals from Monty Wynne and Ryan Thomas helped push the Laharum lead to 30 (54-24) at the final break.
Despite two goals from the Swifts’ Jordan Motton in the fourth quarter, Laharum held on to be 29-point winners.
As well as a strong performance in the ruck from Shannon Argall, the return of players like Robbie Miller and William Miller proved pivotal in the final result.
For the Swifts, Jesse Galea-Portelli and Joseph Martin impressed at the defensive end.
Motton led all scorers with three goals, while Thomas, Riley Lenehan and Peter Yates scored two each for Laharum.
Laharum co-coach Argall said he was pleased with the team’s approach to the game, which felt like a must-win clash to bolster their finals chances.
“Obviously, really important game to try to write our own story, to make sure that we play finals and to not rely on other results,” Argall said.
“Today was all about heart and determination, grit and just all those cliche things.
“Today was a disgusting weather day but we really embraced it, and we felt that with the conditions the way it was, this actually was going to suit us.”
Argall identified the possession game as critical in helping get Laharum over the line in the challenging conditions.
“We made sure that we got metres when we needed to, and emphasised making sure that at every contest we were trying to get first to the ball,” Argall said.
“With the ball being heavy and clearances being more difficult we made sure we had representation on either the defensive or the forward side, particularly an emphasis on our half forwards and wings to be up and at the contest as the ball was being cleared from the defensive 50s.
“At worst, if we could get a ball-up, the more we had stoppages, the more that suited our style of play in these conditions.”
Argall identified Laharum’s four returnees as having an impact in the crucial game.
“To get Robbie back, Will Miller, Harry Miller and Riley Lenehan, who all love the contest, made a difference,” Argall said.