Harrow-Balmoral senior football coach Jai Thompson has hailed his side’s ability to dig deep after the Roos came from behind to defeat Pimpinio at the weekend, preserving a 40-game winning streak that stretches from the start of the 2023 season.

The round-five Horsham District Football Netball League clash saw the visiting Tigers take a 10-point lead after one quarter at Harrow Recreation Reserve, booting 3.2 to 1.4 in the opening frame.

Pimpinio maintained an eight-point edge at the long break after both sides kicked three goals in the second term, but Harrow-Balmoral appeared vulnerable with James Staude straining his achilles tendon and Connor Deutscher sidelined with a back injury, leaving the home side with one fit player on the bench for the second half.

But the Roos drew on their wealth of experience, with veterans Will Plush and Peter Staude coming to the fore in the midfield.

While Pimpinio’s own veteran leaders – brothers Adam and Jason Westley and midfielder Matt Rosier – were also prominent, the Roos were able to shut down the Tigers’ avenues to goal.

The visitors kicked only one goal in the second half, but the game remained in the balance until early in the final quarter, when a flurry of four goals in less than five minutes – three of them kicked by Cody Deutscher – turned the match firmly in Harrow-Balmoral’s favour. Thompson praised his side for finding a way to win 11.9 (75) to 7.11 (53) despite being undermanned and trailing for much of the afternoon.

“We’ve got a fair few injuries at the moment. We had about five or six guys out at the weekend but the blokes that we’re able to bring in to fill some roles seem to just be able to step up into senior footy,” he said.

“It comes down to the work we do at training and trying to bring everyone in to do the same stuff, regardless of whether you’re in the seniors or reserves.

“You see that when we bring these guys into the senior team and they know straight away exactly the role they need to play and how they need to play it.”

While the win sustained a Roo winning streak that spans three seasons, it follows a trend of the team’s results this season being closer than last.

When Harrow-Balmoral and Pimpinio played last season the Roos emerged victorious by 78 points – a margin 56 points greater than Saturday’s result.

“I think the competition has evened up a fair bit. I think the other teams have gotten better,” Thompson said.

“We’ve been the yardstick the last couple of years and I think teams are striving to either pick up some extra players or play better footy to try to raise themselves to the standard we’ve set.

“That’s creating such a good league. You’re getting a lot of competitive games at the moment.

“A few of the guys on the weekend said it’s one of the best games they’ve played for a while, just from the competitive nature of it and having to dig deep to try to win it.

“I think the fight for the top five coming towards the end of the year is going to be interesting.”

Another of the teams fighting for a top-five berth – and Harrow-Balmoral’s next opponent – is Swifts, which demolished Kalkee by 94 points at the weekend.

Led by Ryan Folkes, Sean Mantell and coach Brett Hargreaves, the Baggies jumped to a five-goal quarter-time lead and never looked like losing.

Folkes kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance, with Jordan Motton adding five of his own and Chris Freeman kicking four.

Karl Campbell, Patrick Mills and Isaiah Adams were named Kalkee’s best in the 23.11 (149) to 8.7 (55) loss.

Rupanyup earned its second win of the season, dispatching Edenhope-Apsley 14.6 (90) to 9.12 (66) after a big last quarter in which the Panthers kicked 4.3 while allowing only three behinds.

Defender Zach Robinson was fittingly named the Panthers’ best player, with Jack Kreuzberger starring in the centre and full forward Blake Turner kicking four goals.

Turner’s counterpart Jason Eagle booted six at the other end for the Saints, with midfielder Ryan Obst and ruckman Angus Wood also turning in strong performances.

Laharum led from the opening bounce until the final siren against a visiting Kaniva-Leeor United, winning 20.8 (128) to 7.4 (46).

The Demons spread the load in attack, with Phil Butsch, Monty Wynne, Josh Hutchinson, co-coach Robbie Miller, Brodie Mines and Astrin Morrison all kicking multiple goals.

For the Cougars, Lochie Eats and Blake Dodson – playing on forward and back flanks respectively – were among the best players.

Noradjuha-Quantong posted the largest win of the round, defeating Taylors Lake 23.17 (155) to 6.5 (41) at Quantong Recreation Reserve.

Declan Phyland and Brock Orval, five goals each, led the onslaught, with Judah Hobbs kicking four and ruckman Jack Vague also prominent.

The Lakers’ top performers included Mitchell Crough, Thomas Clugston and Patrick Lindsey.

This weekend will see Kaniva-Leeor United host Kalkee, Taylors Lake travel to Rupanyup, Natimuk United at home to Edenhope-Apsley, and Laharum travelling to play Noradjuha-Quantong.

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