By Michael Scalzo

Harrow-Balmoral has been a class football act for a long time now. 

The 2018 and 2019 Horsham District league premiers were hot from round one this year and quickly established themselves as contenders early in the season. 

It took some time before Rupanyup emerged as serious contenders to their 2022 campaign and handed the Southern Roos their only two losses of the year in round nine and round 14. 

But for the first nine weeks of football, the reigning premiers held the mantle given the weight of expectation. 

Well-drilled and with experience across all lines, the Southern Roos might be the most well-rounded side in the league, even if they struggled to find an answer to the firepower of the Panthers during their two encounters so far. 

But to be fair, no side has found such an answer, yet. 

Harrow-Balmoral had injuries to crucial players throughout the year and its best football might come this finals series with more players back on the park. 

Regardless, it has dealt with the other serious premiership contender, Kalkee, with ease on both occasions this season. 

Its 66-point and 39-point wins against the Kees in round two and 13 were strong showings, especially against a side that believes its title-winning window is open. 

Playing coach and leader of the Southern Roos midfield squad, Nick Pekin, has been in good form and his experience will be crucial for the blue-and-white when it meets larger and bulkier midfields in coming weeks. 

Easy to spot on the park in his black helmet, Pekin could lift if needed this finals series and his opponents know the sound of footsteps does not phase him in the slightest. 

His path to another medal presentation on grand final Saturday will be harder in 2022 than perhaps it was in 2019, but a win this year will round out the most perfect return from COVID-restricted seasons the club could have hoped for. 

Pekin said in March he wanted to emphasise ‘enjoyment’ this season, given the setbacks of those two interrupted years. 

“The more enjoyment for players and spectators, the more success that will follow. We want to get everyone back to enjoying football – we all just want to play,” he said during pre-season. 

Success has certainly followed the Southern Roos again in 2022 and that must be enjoyable. 

Pekin also said as the reigning District League premiers, his side still remained the ‘hunted’. 

That is true – they are still very much a benchmark of the competition. But are they now hunting, just as much as they are being hunted? 

The Southern Roos have a reliable professionalism about their football. 

With talls down the line, albeit less than in previous seasons, a stable midfield and backline experience, they present a formidable team. 

They have a chance to make it three premierships in a row this season and such an opportunity rarely appears, so expect them to throw everything at it.

Players to watch

Michael Close

 

Close makes up part of the Southern Roos experienced brigade. The tall utility, former Brisbane Lions player and Harrow local is in decent form this year, kicking 36 goals during the home-and-away season. He is a tough match-up and one part of Harrow-Balmoral’s recent potency. Playing alongside brothers Simon and Anthony in the blue and white, Simon also with 36 goals to his name this year – the trio are a tall and talented grouping and ones to be watched again this August. 

 

Will Burbury

 

The tough midfielder and see-ball-get-ball player makes up part of the Southern Roos’ evenly spread on-ball squad. With good skills despite his in-close work, Burbury will give as much in the fourth as he does in the first. 

 

Will Plush

 

The experienced midfielder can be found moving out of the packs into outside space where he can be extremely damaging forward of centre. He is not as big as his Southern Roos’ midfield contemporaries but is extremely potent and clever with a hard edge about his play. Plush played his 150th senior game for Harrow-Balmoral against Rupanyup in round 14 and knows his way around a finals series. 

 

Peter Staude

 

Staude is another of the Southern Roos’ experienced midfielders who offer a relentless consistency across the middle. Of a good size, the vice-captain will be as important as ever in limiting damaging quick exits from the contest.

Harrow-Balmoral’s road to the finals

Coach: Nick Pekin

 

Round 1: W. 15.16 (106) d Noradjuha-Quantong 4.15 (39). Home.

Round 2: W. 20.5 (125) d Kalkee 9.15 (69). Away.

Round 3: W. 20.20 (140) d Pimpinio 7.6 (48). Home.

Round 4: W. 26.16 (172) d Taylors Lake 4.5 (29) Away.

Round 5: W. 10.11 (71) d Kaniva-Leeor 1.4 (10). Home.**

Round 6: W. 19.14 (128) d Natimuk-United 15.7 (97). Home.

Round 7: W. 13.8 (86) d Swifts 11.9 (75). Away.

Round 8: W. 16.10 (106) d Edenhope-Apsley 6.8 (44). Away.

Round 9: L. 11.12 (78) to Rupanyup 17.9 (111). Home.

Round 10: W. 14.9 (93) d Jeparit-Rainbow 3.10 (28). Home.

Round 11: W. 20.19 (139) d Laharum 3.1 (19). Away.

Round 12: W. 13.13 (91) d Noradjuha-Quantong 6.17 (53). Away.

Round 13: W. 13.14 (92) d Kalkee 8.5 (53). Home. 

Round 14: L. 12.3 (75) to Rupanyup 12.15 (87). Away.

Round 15: W. 11.3 (79) d Swifts 6.5 (41). Home.

Round 16: W. 29.16 (190) d Kaniva-Leeor United 4.3 (27). Away.*

* Highest score. ** Lowest score.

Total: Won 14. Lost 2. For 1771. Against 830. Points 56. Percentage 213.37.

 

Leading goal-kickers 

Michael Close 43, Simon Close 40, Nick Pekin 31.

The entire August 17, 2022 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!