Weekly Times | TODAY starts the next chapter of the Horsham township’s football rivalry.
Horsham is one of the most successful senior sides in Victoria, winning 11 of the past 12 Wimmera Football League premierships.
But Horsham Saints, currently coached by former Port Adelaide and Geelong player Shayne Breuer, again loom as a major threat to the reigning premier.
There was only a kick between them in last year’s grand final and Horsham’s 11-point loss to the Saints on Anzac Day was its only defeat this season.
In today’s blockbuster clash at the Saints’ Coughlin Park, the sides are playing for the Pelican Cup, named in memory of John “Pelican” O’Callaghan, a stalwart of both clubs.
Horsham Saints will be out to bounce back after dropping their first game of the season to Minyip Murtoa last week.
Breuer confirmed forward Gavin Kelm (knee) and league best-and-fairest winner Phil Butsch (ankle) would sit out.
“Horsham and Minyip Murtoa are probably going to be the benchmark, but in saying that I think the second half of the year will be a lot tighter,” Breuer said.
“On any given day you could get knocked off which I think is fantastic for footy if you can have that.”
Horsham’s first year co-coach Nick Pekin, Wimmera’s interleague captain and a previous Vic Country No. 2 representative, again named in its initial squad, hoped last week’s loss had “rattled the cage” at the Saints.
“We went into the (Anzac Day) game probably putting too much emphasis on their key target players,” he said.
“We just didn’t know their recruits and how good they actually are.
“This time around we’ll be keeping a close eye on those middle-tier players more so than their top-tier players.”