MILLICENT 90 d SOUTH GAMBIER 26
WITH Demi Verbena back in the line-up, Millicent already looks a much better combination.
The Saints’ trademark ball movement was on full display on the weekend in their clash with South Gambier, but it was the relentless defensive pressure which should have other sides worrying about a resurgent Millicent.
The damage was well and truly done in the opening 10 minutes where Millicent piled on 16-1 in what amounted to a clinic of full-court defence and speed of ball in attack.
By quarter time that scoreline was 24-4 and the tone was set.
Edie Easterby and Portia McRae created turnover ball at will, with plenty of ball also turned over in the mid court as the Saints made the court feel small and kept forcing the Demons into error.
Verbena and Daisy Tunkin then turned on the speed, finding Nikeisha Facey in space and the defender-turned-shooter did not let them down, converting 16 goals from 18 attempts in a quarter that verged on faultless from the Saints.
South was missing star defender Ellie Bouchier – who was sidelined through illness – and she certainly would have made a difference for the Demons.
Regardless, Millicent was definitely on a mission to build in the second half of the season and it never relented.
It was a game where the numbers told the story.
Millicent generated 101 scoring opportunities to South’s 45 in what was always going to produce a lop-sided scoreboard.
McRae and Easterby were outstanding in the defensive circle, covering the absence of Lauren Van Eeden.
They intercepted wayward passes, had a number of deflections and dominated the rebounding duels.
Once they had created turnover ball, the speed with which Lisa Duldig, Lillie Paul, Tunkin and Verbena connected and converted those turnovers into goals was frightening.
Facey and Verbena have already started to establish some chemistry as a shooting combination, even though their relationship is only two games in.
For South, Megan Reid battled hard all day and kept presenting strongly as the Demons looked to find a way through the Saints smothering defence, while Tully McShane had an impact, especially in the final quarter when she moved to the attacking wing.
