The top four clash was highly anticipated, the Southern Roos had the last laugh taking out the win 14.13 (97) to 9.10 (64). 

The Saints were the team in control early, the scoreboard didn’t do the travelling outfit complete justice at the end of the first quarter. 

It was high intensity pressure by the Saints, who almost outnumbered the Southern Roos at every contested possession in the first quarter. 

The Saints made it difficult for Nick Pekin’s men to find entries into their defensive 50, represented by the three scoring shots the Southern Roos achieved in the first quarter.

It was an impressive first half performance conducted by Chris Oliver’s soldiers who were on par, if not out performing, the Horsham District league 2017 grand finalists. 

Damian Monaghan was a live-wire in the opening two quarters, he scored two goals and the Southern Roos players were finding it very difficult to stop his run. 

Pekin’s troops went into the change rooms at half time, ready to make amends on the slow start to the game, and did exactly that. 

The Southern Roos took control of the contest and managed six goals in the third quarter, while the Saints managed two goals. 

Pekin said his players’ mindsets changed when they realised they were down by a goal at half time. 

“We knew we had to lift, we were playing some ordinary footy and they were making us look really bad,” he said.

“It was Will Plush’s best game by far this season.

“To the boys’ credit, we dug deep and we weren’t going to lose to Edenhope on the home deck. It was a collective performance.” 

Oliver said fatigue played a role in the slow second half. 

“To Harrow’s credit, they played some really good footy in the second half and they were hard to stop,” he said. “For a half we played the footy we can play and it looked good.”