MILLICENT continued its impressive Western Border football season on Saturday with a comfortable Round 10 victory over reigning premier East Gambier.
A first-quarter blitz set up the win in slippery conditions, with five major scores to one for a 27-point lead.
Plenty of run through the mid-field came from the likes of Tom Hutchesson, Hamish Nitschke, Lyndon Smith and coach Clint Gallio – and of course the list goes on, as has been the case all season for the Saints.
From there Millicent was never really bothered, despite the Bulldogs renewed effort after the first break.
Poor execution in front of goals was East’s biggest enemy in the second term, with eight scoring shots to one, but only a return of two goals and six behinds.
That still left the Saints with a 15-point margin at the long break and time to recompose.
A relatively even third term saw the Bulldogs challenge again, but the Saints held strong in the back half through the likes of Blake Kenny and James Weir – in the absence of Steve Duldig – and extended their lead to 21 points, leaving plenty for East to do in the final stanza if they were to challenge for the win.
But Millicent had more of the play in its forward half in the final quarter, running out comfortable 24-point victors.
The game saw Nitschke and youngster Sam Willis with two majors each, while another seven Saints stood up to bang on single goals.
In contrast Shem Balshaw was the only multiple goal kicker for the Bulldogs.
For Gallio the opening term ran to plan and set the game up.
“We try and obviously get a good fast start every week, but I think this week was key,” he said.
“East have had a couple of down weeks so we knew they would come out firing and have a bit of a dip.
“We were really focused at the start and our first quarter was good.
“We could not maintain that throughout the second quarter, but the fast start was a key for us and I thought we did well to execute it.”
Much of that forward pressure came through the mid-field, which has been a highlight of the Saints’ games this season.
Gallio said that was one area where his side took the advantage early.
“We have a lot of blokes playing well and going through there,” he said.
“I thought we got on top there early, which was key.
“We got plenty of ball forward and if we did not kick a goal were able to hold it forward with the pressure from our mids and our forwards.”
Once in the attacking half the Saints found plenty of chances to score through such a long list of goal kickers.
“We have two good targets up forward in Matt (Duldig) and Bomber (Dylan Bromley), but other blokes just keep popping up,” Gallio said.
“If Matt and Bomber are struggling it is also really handy to have blokes able to rest up forward without losing too much through the mid-field.”
While the final result was comfortable, Gallio said the game was by no means a cake-walk, with the Bulldogs challenging several times throughout the day.
“They are a good side with some very good players,” he said.
“We are obviously wary of them and knew they would give all they had.
“It was a tough, tight contest.
“They have a lot of scoring power, so our backs were on their toes all day.”
Gallio said it was an important victory in the scheme of the season, with a clear gap still remaining from third-placed West Gambier.
“There are a few games to go yet, but we have done some hard work early and have some wins on the board,” he said.
“Now this middle section is where we need to keep motoring on, keep winning games of footy and keep improving.
“If we do that now, hopefully at the back end of the season we can keep that form and keep that rolling along.
“These wins are just as important as early in the season or late in the season to keep everyone focused.
“We just need to keep ticking the boxes we want to tick – winning is one of those, but improving is another.”
Gallio said with the reserves also sitting second on the ladder, it provided a positive feel in the senior ranks.
“The whole senior group is on the same page, we are all there for each other, so I am super happy at the moment,” he said.
“To have two senior grades up the top of the ladder is a good sign for the season.”
