ARARAT Rats' coach David Hosking admits his team won't be at full strength for tomorrow's opening round match against the Warrack Eagles with a number of key players set to miss due to injury.
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While the Rats have worked hard for almost five months to ensure their fitness is at peak level and have fine tuned their skills and structures with three competitive practice matches in the build up to round one, Hosking said you can't plan for injuries that occur along the way.
"Organisation wise we are fine, but in terms of playing personnel we certainly have more injuries than previous seasons and that has led to disruptions," he said.
"Missing will be Peter Thompson (groin), James Laidlaw (hamstring), Jack Ganley (ankle) and Ryan Bates (collarbone), they're all going to be out for more than one week. I'm not sure if Chris Jerram (bruised kidney) will be available either.
"Then we've also had some other guys with injury interrupted build-ups, Justin Summons hurt his ankle, Jake Williamson will also play but he cut his leg at work so he missed the last practice game.
"So yes, player numbers have been solid and the club is in a good space, that is all well and good, but we haven't even started and we have injuries.
"That's just footy and bad luck I guess, we'll manage all those guys as best we can."
Ararat will also be without gun recruit Gordon Laurie, who is unavailable for the Warrack clash.
With key players set to miss, Hosking said it took the pressure off slightly at the selection table.
"There would have been some really serious competition for a few of the spots if we had a full list to choose from," he said.
"What it means is certain blokes get first chop at it and possession is nine-tenths of the law. So if they earn a spot and we are up and about and winning, good luck to them."
This round one clash could be an early indication of how the Rats and Eagles will shape up in 2015.
Warrack ended Ararat's finals' run last September and while the Rats will be eager to avenge that loss, both teams will have vastly different line-ups that take to Anzac Park, Warracknabeal tomorrow.
The Eagles have farewelled their 2014 best and fairest Ben Harrison, who was Beau Cosson's direct opponent during the three encounters last season.
Hosking believes that the defender's absence could lead to Cosson having a profound impact on the game.
"Harro is not going to be there and I think they will find it hard to match up on him," he said.
"I think our forward line structure will make things easier for Beau too, because we are going to have Cosson, Justin Summons, Mick Fratin, Liam Cavanagh and Aaron Searle all lining up good luck keeping them all quiet.
"The key difference for us on last year is going to be our ability to kick a winning score. I think we have more firepower in the forward line.
“Gordo (Laurie) is one who is unavailable Saturday, but from the practice match last week where he kicked five goals (5.4) we saw what a threat he is going to be.”
Jake Robinson is another player key to Ararat’s success.
The classy onballer has put in a number of strong performances during the Rats’ pre-season hitouts and looks set to pick-up where he left off in September.
Hosking will be hoping Ararat can emulate its 2014 start to the Wimmera Football League season, where the side won four on the trot, but concedes that will be a much more difficult task 12 months on.
“There is no doubt that this year we are not going to surprise anyone like we did last season,” he said.
“We snuck up on a couple last year, no two ways about it, but I think teams will be ready and knowing what to expect from us.
“I think the players should feel expectation, but I have always said to them that they shouldn’t fear competition. The aim when we do this is be the best we can be — to be successful you have to beat good teams.
“Once you’ve equipped yourself physically through fitness and you’ve got enough experience and talent on your list, then you should be going out expecting to win.”
See pages 34-35 for full season preview of the Ararat Football-Netball Club.