Our Wimmera Football League decade in review series resumes with a look back on a drought-breaking 2010s for the Horsham Saints.
The Horsham Saints had waited a long time to taste success in the Wimmera Football League before 2015.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Grand final heartbreaks, lean years, and an empty trophy cabinet culminated in a driving desire to not only win a premiership but give the club's chorus of supporters a memory to savour.
So, when loyal clubman Alexander McRae hoist the premiership trophy into the sky, with coach Shayne Breuer by his side, there were more than a few tears shed by the Saints' faithful.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Andrews offers hope for October roadmap
The clubs' 2015 flag was its first in its 22-year tenure in the Wimmera league.
"It was just huge for those stalwarts at the club," former Saints president Roger Sordello previously said.
"Guys that had been at the club for 40-50 years, had seen us move to the Wimmera league and not get any return on it for 22 years ... it was tears in the eyes all around."
Not content with just the one premiership, the Saints rebounded to top the league in 2016 as well.
While the two premierships remain obvious pillars of the Saints' 2010s, it's been a period of consistent on-field success for the club.
The Saints have never missed finals in the past decade, and have won 65 per cent of their games - a handy feat in its own right.
IN OTHER NEWS TODAY: Climbers launch legal action against Grampians restrictions
Leading the charge for the club has been a forward line more than capable of kicking goals, led by Jacob Cooke-Harrison (240) and Gavin Kelm (212).
Though both have since stepped away from senior football, they still rank as the club's leading goalkickers for the decade.
Despite their two most prolific goal kickers no longer playing at the highest level, the Saints have found a new talisman for their next generation.
Since joining the club in 2014, Sam Clyne has established himself as one of the premier players in the league.
Clyne won the first of his multiple club best-and-fairests in his maiden season with the club, before he went on to win the Toohey Medal in 2016.
The onballer racked up more best player votes (six for being named best, five for second best etc.) than anyone at the club, and was named among the Saints' best in 70 per cent of the games he played.
YEAR-BY-YEAR:
2010
Finished - 2nd (13-3)
lost to Warrack Eagles in semi-final
Most best player votes: Nathan Clough (38)
Leading goalkicker: Thomas Robertson (26)
............................................
2011
Finished - 5th (7-9)
lost to Warrack Eagles in preliminary final
Most best player votes: Bernard Ward (54)
Leading goalkicker: Jacob Cooke-Harrison (33)
............................................
2012
Finished - 3rd (11-5)
lost to Dimboola in semi-final
Most best player votes: Phil Butsch (57)
Leading goalkicker: Heath Watson (55)
............................................
2013
Finished - 4th (10-6)
lost to Dimboola in grand final
Most best player votes: Phil Butsch (56)
Leading goalkicker: Gavin Kelm (80)
2014
Finished - 2nd (12-4)
lost to Horsham in grand final
Most best player votes: Samuel Clyne (58)
Leading goalkicker: Gavin Kelm (83)
............................................
2015
Finished - 1st (15-1)
beat Horsham in grand final
Most best player votes: Jacob O'Beirne (46)
Leading goalkicker: Jacob Cooke-Harrison (42)
............................................
2016
Finished - 2nd (12-4)
beat Minyip-Murtoa in grand final
Most best player votes: Samuel Clyne (80)
Leading goalkicker: Jacob Cooke-Harrison (73)
2017
Finished - 4th (9-7)
lost to Warrack Eagles in semi-final
Most best player votes: Andrew Devereaux and Samuel Clyne (49)
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Combe (32)
............................................
2018
Finished - 4th (10-6)
lost to Ararat in semi-final
Most best player votes: Sam Clyne (50)
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Combe (28)
............................................
2019
Finished - 5th (8-8)
lost to Ararat in semi-final
Most best player votes: Luke Fisher (48)
Leading goalkicker: Angus Martin (21)
BEST PLAYER VOTES:
1 - Sam Clyne
Votes: 301
Times in best: 76
% of games in best: 70.37
Top 3: 49 No.1: 17
............................................
2 - Jacob O'Beirne
Votes: 212
Times in best: 56
% of games in best: 53.84
Top 3: 30. No.1: 13
............................................
3 - Nathan Clough
Votes: 211
Times in best: 65
% of games in best: 46.76
Top 3: 29 No.1: 7
............................................
4 - Michael Rowe
Votes: 201
Times in best: 58
% of games in best: 52.73
Top 3: 29 No.1: 7
5 - Alexander McRae
Votes: 198
Times in best: 50
% of games in best: 37.31
Top 3: 30 No.1: 9
............................................
6 - Phil Butsch
Votes: 197
Times in best: 47
% of games in best: 61.84
Top 3: 30 No.1: 14
............................................
7 - Jacob Cooke-Harrison
Votes: 170
Times in best: 37
% of games in best: 32.45
Top 3: 30 No.1: 12
8 - Garry Hallam
Votes: 152
Times in best: 43
% of games in best: 60.56
Top 3: 24 No.1: 8
............................................
9 - Heath Watson
Votes: 138
Times in best: 43
% of games in best: 33.98
Top 3: 22 No.1: 12
............................................
10 - Andrew Devereaux
Votes: 121
Times in best: 31
% of games in best: 43.05
Top 3: 20 No.1: 5
TOP 10 GOALKICKERS:
1 - Jacob Cooke-Harrison
Goals: 240
High: 8 Games: 114
Average goals per game: 2.1
5+: 14
............................................
2 - Gavin Kelm
Goals: 212
High: 11 Games: 69
Average goals per game: 3.07
5+: 20
............................................
3 - Matthew Combe
Goals: 200
High: 5 Games: 145
Average goals per game: 1.38
5+: 7
............................................
4 - Heath Watson
Goals: 160
High: 11 Games: 103
Average goals per game: 1.55
5+: 5
5 - Sam Jasper
Goals: 111
High: 6 Games: 90
Average goals per game: 1.23
5+: 2
............................................
6 - Jacob O'Beirne
Goals: 98
High: 5 Games: 104
Average goals per game: 0.94
5+: 2
............................................
7 - Nathan Byrne
Goals: 84
High: 7 Games: 124
Average goals per game: 0.67
5+: 1
8 - Phil Butsch
Goals: 74
High: 6 Games: 76
Average goals per game: 0.97
5+: 3
............................................
9 - Sam Clyne
Goals: 64
High: 3 Games: 108
Average goals per game: 0.59
5+: 0
............................................
10 - Luke Fisher
Goals: 38
High: 5 Games: 54
Average goals per game: 0.70
5+: 1
TOP 5 APPEARANCES:
1 - Matthew Combe
Games - 145
............................................
2 - Nathan Clough
Games - 139
............................................
3 - Alexander McRae
Games - 134
............................................
4 - Nathan Byrne
Games - 124
............................................
5 - Ryan Bird
Games - 117
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
v Ararat
Record - (16-6)
............................................
v Dimboola
Record - (18-7)
............................................
v Horsham
Record - (12-16)
............................................
v Horsham United
Record - (7-1)
v Minyip-Murtoa
Record - (14-11)
............................................
v Nhill
Record - (20-2)
............................................
v Southern Mallee Giants
Record - (3-1)
............................................
v Stawell
Record - (19-5)
............................................
v Warrack Eagles
Record - (13-14)
DECADE RECORD:
Played - 185
Won - 122
Lost - 63
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 65.94
Average for/agst - 1612.3/1254.3
Seasons in finals - 10
Finals record - (15-10)
Premierships - 2 (2015, 2016)
League best and fairest winners: 2 (Phil Butsch - 2012, Sam Clyne - 2016)
RESERVES
Played - 183
Won - 127
Lost - 56
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 69.39%
Average for/agst - 1314.3/741.2
Seasons in finals - 10
Finals record - 12-11
Premierships - 3 (2015, 2016, 2017)
League best and fairest winners: 3 (Tom Robertson - 2011, Heath Kelm - 2015, Gavin Kelm - 2018, 2019)
UNDER-17'S
Played - 185
Won - 124
Lost - 61
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 67.02%
Average for/agst - 1351.4/723.6
Seasons in finals - 10
Finals record - 10-17
Premierships - 1 (2019)
League best and fairest winners: 1 (Ollie Timms, 2015)
AFL DRAFTEES
Rory Taggert - (pick 36, 2011 national draft, Melbourne)
Darcy Tucker - (pick 27, 2015 national draft, Fremantle)
Jarrod Berry - (pick 17, 2016 national draft, Brisbane Lions)
Tom Berry - (pick 36, 2018 national draft, Brisbane Lions)
WFL DECADE IN REVIEW
While you're here...
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to the Wimmera Mail-Times, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling the Wimmera's story. We appreciate your support of local journalism.
Did you know you can receive updates straight to your inbox? To make sure you're up-to-date with news from across the region, sign up below.
Matt Currill
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
