JAMES Laidlaw says he was "excited" to have been a part of the Ararat Football Netball Club senior side's win against the Horsham Demons last weekend - something the side hasn't achieved since he was a little tacker.
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"That was probably one of the most exciting games I've ever been involved in with the club," he said.
"Ararat has not beaten Horsham for a long time. I would have been a kid last time we beat them so it's a nice bit of history I guess."
His excitement couldn't be dampened post-game.
"Probably for an hour or so after the game I still had a big smile on my face," Laidlaw said.
"Us boys were very excited. I think even the supporters were excited as well - the amount of support we had in the room after the game was fantastic."
The success was well deserved for Laidlaw, who has put in years with the club.
"I've been playing with Ararat since under 14s and continued all the way onto 17s and then to seniors when I was 17," he said.
"My family has always played for Ararat and it's just something I've always done. I love the club and I've never thought of leaving.
"Us boys have all sort of decided to stick together the past few years and make something happen."
Laidlaw mainly plays forward but has been rotating through the midfield this season, which he said has been a nice opportunity for him.
"It's a lot more running, you've got to help out the backs a lot more," he said.
"You don't have the ball and another player in front of you - you've got them in front and behind you and you have to have a bit more awareness all around you I guess.
"I've had a few jobs as a run with player but I've also had a few chances to get off the leash and try with my own ball as well."
Laidlaw is in good form at the moment but this will be his first full season since 2017.
"I've been quite injured over the past four or five years, with a broken hand and countless hammie injuries," he said.
"I've had surgery on my hamstring as well. I've had shoulder injuries and last year I had a serious knee that put me out for most of the year."
He's looking forward to clashing with Minyip-Murtoa this weekend though.
Minyip-Murtoa is a key side the Rats want to tick off.
"I expect it's going to take it to the last minute to win the game," Laidlaw said. "We've ticked off the Giants, Horsham - now is our big challenge to tick off Minyip-Murtoa, who are on the top of the ladder. We just need to be strong around the ball. Minyip-Murtoa throw a strong physical side."
The game will be played at Murtoa.
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