IT HAS been an enthralling season in the Horsham District Football Netball League this year and, after a tense final home and away round, teams will start their finals campaign tomorrow.
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The finals will start with an elimination final between Natimuk United and the Swifts in the senior football at the Beulah Recreation Reserve.
The second senior football elimination final will see Jeparit-Rainbow face Laharum at North Park in Stawell on Sunday.
Two benchmark teams in the competition, the Southern Mallee Giants and Harrow-Balmoral, were favourites coming into the season.
However, the middle tier of teams, including Swifts, Jeparit-Rainbow, Laharum, Natimuk United and Edenhope-Apsley, was hotly contested.
The top six in the competition was only decided in the final round of the home and away season.
The Rams had been sniffing down the neck of a place in the six throughout the year while the Saints were struggling to put together consistent form.
It was only in round 16 that the Rams managed to break into the top six with a win over the Saints.
The Rams will now make their first finals appearance since 1997.
This finals series will be one of the most competitive for years for third place to sixth place.
The Giants will take on the Southern Roos in the first qualifying final at Cameron Oval, Laharum, on September 2.
The contest will be close and hard-fought with the Giants defeating the Southern Roos by just four points in round 14.
The A Grade netball home and away season was also close.
Horsham District Football Netball League netball director Linda Kelly expects this year’s finals campaign to be one of the most unpredictable for a long time.
“It was down to eight or nine teams that could have played finals netball this year,” she said.
“Kalkee’s and Pimpinio’s runs home were very strong.”
Kelly said the top three teams on the ladder were a bit further ahead than the fourth, fifth and sixth teams.
“I don’t think the competition is decided though,” she said.
“It’s very open at the moment – I wouldn’t want to be picking a winner yet.
“It will all depend on which shooters are converting their chances on the day.”
In the first elimination final Natimuk United will take on Edenhope-Apsley.
“The Saints have had to scratch and borrow players all year and they have done a mighty effort to make it to the finals,” Kelly said.
The sought after game at the weekend will be between dark horse the Southern Mallee Giants and in-form outfit Noradjuha-Quantong.
