ARARAT has sent a warning to the three remaining Wimmera Football League contenders that it isn't just in the 2014 finals series to make up the numbers after advancing through to the semi finals.
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The Rats sent Minyip/Murtoa packing on Sunday at Horsham City Oval with a gritty 16-point elimination final victory the club's first senior finals' win in 11 years.
Joint-coach Andrew Louder said the Rats took their chances in the 15.8 (98) to 11.16 (82) result and are starting to get back to their best form.
"It is a really good reward for the boys for the hard work they have put in, not only on the day but over the whole year," he said.
"I thought leading up to the finals they were getting back to playing some of their best footy, so this win is a bit of a relief and I am just very happy for the playing group.
"We needed to get away to a good start and then continue that on for the rest of the game that was always going to be really important.
"I think they achieved that, and to kick that first goal was a good beginning. Minyip did fight back, but I thought our first quarter overall was quite solid."
Ararat's onball brigade, led by Daniel Mendes, Alan Batchelor and Jake Robinson, were sensational throughout the do or die clash, and all three players combined to win the first centre clearance of the match which resulted in a Jacob Bates' goal in the opening minute.
After a couple of early misses, the Burras scored their first major courtesy of a free kick, which proved to be the trend of the day as five of the team’s 11 goals came from free kicks inside their forward-50.
The Rats were dealt a blow late in the quarter when James Hosking left the field with an injury and failed to return.
Despite the setback, Ararat started the second term in top fashion, with goals to Matt North, Aaron Searle, Robinson and Bates seeing their team skip to a 20-point buffer, however the Burras responded with back-to-back goals as the quarter entered the latter stages.
Minutes before halftime a long kick deep inside-50 from Jack Ganley gave Searle the chance to show off his party tricks, selling some ‘foot candy’ and slotting his second major of the afternoon to give the Rats momentum and a 14-point lead at the main break.
Minyip/Murtoa tried to unsettle Ararat with physical tactics throughout the second quarter, but Louder said his charges stood up to the challenge.
“I think we responded in a manner that said we are not going to get pushed around anymore,” he said.
“That is something the group has got better at, particularly in the last four or five weeks, standing up and saying we aren’t intimidated.
“That has helped us gel more as a group too, knowing that we won’t be easy beats for physical teams anymore, because we can match them physically.”
After regrouping at the main break, the Burras started the better of the two teams in the third quarter, with two quick goals pegging the margin back to an even playing field.
Louder said the premiership quarter proved a real arm wrestle.
“I thought they threw everything at us in the first half of the third quarter and I don’t think we handled that pressure all that well,” he said.
“In saying that, the next half we got our composure back. We gave our lead away within 15 minutes and ended up going seven points down, but in the second half of the quarter we got ourselves back together.
“We had our leaders stand up on the field and when Tyler (Cronin) kicked the goal just before three quarter time all their hard work had become undone because we had withstood the storm.”
With the match tied up heading into the final quarter, Louder’s message to the players was again not to go into their shell.
“Take the game on once more,” he said.
“The week before against Stawell was a really high pressure fourth quarter, which stood us in a little bit of good form going into this week.
“It was do or die, I asked them not to come off the park at the end of the game thinking I could have done this or I should have done that.”
The Rats responded, with the quarter belonging to Robinson.
While the Burras scored the first goal to race out to a seven point buffer, Ararat gritted its teeth and refused to let the opportunity slip.
Robinson helped the Rats claim back the lead with four final term majors as Minyip/Murtoa capitulated.
At the 29-minute mark Mendes slotted a goal on his trusty left foot and Ararat had booked its spot in week two of the Wimmera finals.
“I thought Mendes and Batchelor were good, it wasn’t a flashy game or anything from those two, but their hard work in and under through the midfield was excellent,” Louder said.
“I thought Cav (Liam Cavanagh) was good too. He is a work in progress down back, but that is where his best footy is going to be in the coming years. He is heading in the right direction.”
Louder said the man of the moment, Robinson was simply outstanding, with the class player finishing with six goals from the midfield.
“His work rate, his ability to win the ball and use his speed at that stage of the game, as well as keep his composure and kick goals was just superb,” he said.
“He has basically been a new recruit for the second half of this year. We didn’t think he’d play a game all season and then when he came back and played reserves we thought that’s about where he’d finish.
“We brought him into the seniors probably a couple of weeks earlier than we needed to, but we wanted his grunt and he has just got better week-in, week-out.
“That is what Jake Robinson does best in tight games, he steps up to another level. Jake sets the mark and he has done it numerous times in finals that I have coached him.
“This week against Warrack we want more players to do the same.”