THE Ararat Rats move into week two of the Wimmera Football League finals with the goal of improving on last week's winning performance, according to joint-coach David Hosking.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was business as usual at Alexandra Oval this week, with no time for the Rats to celebrate a break through finals' victory against Minyip/Murtoa, as the side prepares for another cut throat contest this weekend against the Warrack Eagles.
Ararat is yet to win from two attempts against the Eagles this season, but Hosking is confident his team can correct that when it returns to Horsham City Oval this Sunday for the first semi final.
"We should have won the first game no two ways about it. It was our fault that we didn't, so do I think we can win this weekend? Yes, I do," he said.
"It doesn't sit very well with me because we clearly should have won the first contest by five goals and we weren't without our chances in the second one.
"We've lost two games against them this year by a combined total of 16 points. When you put that in perspective, I think Minyip/Murtoa had beaten us by 10 goals the second time we played them.
"So it is a neutral venue and past results don't really count for anything."
A lot has changed since Ararat last faced the Eagles late in July, with plenty of positives to take into this weekend.
Midfielder Aaron Searle has sprung to life with 17 goals in his past five games playing deep forward, while talented tall Liam Cavanagh has made a successful transition into defence.
Hosking said the Rats can't afford to be complacent on the back of a 16-point win over the Burras.
"While we are in the finals we still need to improve," he said.
"We played okay last week, but I still think we can do better and we'll need to if we want to go further.
"Our use of the ball and a bit of decision making are areas that can improve, but in saying that there were a couple of things that I was really impressed with.
"I thought especially our ability to stay in the contest even when things weren't going our way and there were a couple of times, particularly in the first and third quarters when that happened.
"Cavanagh's chase downs and pressure acts, those things are the difference I reckon. Just the clawing, fighting and scratching your way to a goal or preventing one is important in finals."
After finishing second on the ladder, Warrack was upset by the Horsham Saints to the tune of 17 points in the qualifying final and the Eagles will be eager to bounce back against the Rats.
The side has no shortage of class players through the centre with Clayton Hinkley, Jake Peters and Ben Spicer capable of winning a match off their own boot, while inside the forward-50 there is plenty of fire power led by Peter Weir and coach Tim Inkster.
Eagles’ captain and former Ararat best and fairest Ben Harrison missed week one of the finals with a hamstring injury and is in doubt to return.
Hosking praised the efforts of his onball brigade of Alan Batchelor, Daniel Mendes and Jake Robinson last week and will be looking for a repeat performance from them once again.
“They were enormous for us and I also thought that Xavier (Vearing) and Zach (Louder) in the ruck were very good too,” he said.
“Winning it through the midfield is not necessarily the be-all and end-all, but I certainly think we saw in the last quarter that if you win some centre clearances and you can put the opposition under attack straight away it does stand you in good stead.”
Hosking and Andrew Louder are hoping to take an unchanged side into Sunday’s match, however defender Stephen Phillips may be unavailable due to work commitments while a fitness cloud hangs over fellow backman James Hosking, who managed only a quarter in the elimination final after injuring his foot.
“James would be the main doubt at this point in time, although we were heartened by the x-rays and scans which cleared him of any structural damage and he was walking reasonably freely Tuesday night,” Hosking said.
“He has still got to get through training Thursday and Friday and to be honest if there is any doubt he won’t play.”
Hosking said the playing group will head into its second do-or-die clash in as many weeks with less apprehension and more belief, which he is hoping will help the Rats score a fourth win on the trot and book a spot in the preliminary final.