While both teams had a strong year and would have been confident of going deep into finals, but the reserves team failed to get past the semi-final stage of the Wimmera Football League season.

Overall it will still be viewed as a big leap forward after the Rats had not been in reserves finals action in more than eight years.

The under-14 team was able to last an extra week after progressing through to the preliminary final before bowing out of the season.

The junior team will have a new look ahead of the 2018 season with some key players going up to the under-17 team but the juniors will be better for the experience after getting a taste of finals in a year that it was completely expected.

The Ararat Rats will host their junior presentation night on October 1 while the senior awards will be hosted at Alexandra Oval Community Centre on October 13.