MILLICENT footballers will need to pull out all stops if they are to remain undefeated after Round 2 of the Western Border football season.
Last week the Saints were forced to work hard for their win over South Gambier, claiming the honours by just seven points.
This week they face North Gambier at Vansittart Park, with the Tigers licking their wounds after a game that escaped their grasp against East Gambier.
The Tigers were showing their usual class early in the contest, with clinical ball delivery, but ran out of steam after the long break against the reigning premiers, with the game descending into a physical contest that better suited the Bulldogs.
Both games were hard-fought affairs, which would have pushed players to the limit in the hot conditions, where cramps became a major factor late in the day.
However, it appears this week will provide the opposite, with rain forecast.
While that will help with fitness levels at this early stage of the season, it will not do much for skill levels.
That could hurt both sides and may produce some headaches for the Tigers.
Their play last week suited the dry conditions and once the game became more of a physical contest, they faltered, with accurate delivery hard to come by.
Of course the Saints would also prefer a dry surface, with plenty of run through the mid-field and a big target up forward to hit in Matt Duldig.
Duldig was kept quiet last week and the Saints will need to formulate some plan to counteract that.
Tom Hutchesson made his presence felt when “resting” up forward, but Duldig is certainly the go-to forward.
If he can find some space on the Vansittart Park oval, he may be able to do some damage for the Saints, but on home soil the Tigers will hold all the cards.
They will be keen to post a win early in the season and would surely be disappointed with last week’s effort.
Despite the loss, the usual suspects were rising to the occasion in the opening half, with Brock Egan and Fraser Marshall pushing the ball forward, while the likes of Sam Stafford were presenting well.
It appears Glen Soper could be out for an extended period with a shoulder injury, which would also be disappointing for the Tigers.
However, North certainly looked up to the task – at least for half a game – and do not appear to have lost too much from last season.
If they can create enough space they will certainly be tough to beat at home.
After just one week of play it is anyone’s guess which team will be a real threat to the premiership this year, but it will be a big call for the Saints to prevail tomorrow, with the Tigers to win after another tough battle.
