HORSHAM has staged a memorable fight back after conceding five first-quarter goals to win a second consecutive Wimmera Football League senior flag.
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The Giants came out of the blocks in blistering and devastating fashion and kicking with the breeze the side had the perfect start.
Giants playing coach Coleman Schache was pivotal in rebounding from defensive 50 and set up repeated Giants attacks as they had Horsham on the ropes.
Horsham forward and leading goal scorer for the league during the season Ryan Kemp played on the ball in the first quarter. Kemp dealt with tag and it hurt the Demons going forward in the first half.
The Demons failed to kick a goal in the opening quarter but two kick goals in the second term had the Demons right back in it.
Josh Mibus started to cause issues for the Giants defence but still the Giants held strong in the second quarter.
Horsham’s Ben Lakin was also influential in the first half. The Giants’ lead could have been more if it wasn’t for some of Lakin’s rebounding work.
Kicking against the breeze, the Demons started off shaky but found their groove in the third term.
Giants forwards Nick O’Farrell and Ben Webster kicked goals for the Giants before Mibus kicked a couple for the Demons.
As the Giants’ lead lessened the tension increased and the crowd started to get involved in the game.
When Ryan Kemp kicked a goal late in the third term the Demons were well and truly up and about.
Horsham veteran Jordyn Burke caused plenty of problems for the Giants in the third term with his height and was one of the Demons’ best on the day.
The Giants led by seven points going into the final term but that was very quickly turned around as 15-year-old Horsham forward Ben Hobbs kicked a major minutes into the opening term.
Horsham then kicked two goals and when Jordyn Burke gave a handball off to Brad Hartigan who kicked a major, it was seven in a row for the Demons.
With the sting out of the game, the Demons ran out winners 10.16 (76) to 9.3 (57) for their second straight flag.
Horsham coach Deek Roberts said his side improved as the game went on.
“We played some really good football in the first and second quarters but we just had to capitalise going forward. We needed to lower the eyes instead of just kicking it forward,” Roberts said.
“Around the stoppages we were getting caught but we fixed that in the second half.
“The first quarter was chalk and cheese compared to what our team has been through this season. We have trained since November and it paid off. Sometimes it doesn’t but today it did.”
Giants coach Coleman Schache said it was disappointing not to get the win after a great start to the game.
“We had really good intent and pressure in the first half, and that’s how we wanted to play,” he said.
“It was a couple-goal breeze and both teams used it, but credit to Horsham and we couldn’t keep up with them in the second half.
“We didn’t get our hands enough to the ball in the third quarter.”
