A FIVE-goal second quarter effort was enough to seal the deal for Millicent when it hosted Casterton Sandford in the top-of-the-table clash at McLaughlin Park on Saturday for Round 13 of Western Border football.
With a strong breeze form the North, the wind favoured the South-Eastern end of the ground and the Saints were able to take advantage of that in the second term to take a 37-point lead into the long break.
That was after the hosts held the Cats to just one behind in the opening quarter, while managing nine points against the wind to set up a good start, in a term which saw both sides missing targets and turnovers in large supply.
Aside from the second quarter the contest was an even match-up, with both teams living up to the intensity of the top-two clash.
With the wind in their favour again in the third term, the Cats had plenty of opportunities to reel in the margin, but six behinds and just one major score saw them unable to do so.
The fourth quarter was the most even of the match, with the Saints scoring 2.3 to the Cats’ two goals.
That final quarter was a glimpse into the potential closeness of the game, had it not been for Millicent’s break away before half time.
The Saints’ defence had a big impact on the outcome of the match, with high intensity and capable hands in a contest holding the former ladder-leaders at bay throughout the game.
Led by Steve Duldig and bolstered by the likes of Dylan Tincknell, Brady Gibbs and James Weir, the Cats faced a brick wall when it came to pushing the ball into their attacking 50.
That saw every scoring opportunity for the Cats hard earned, but it was the young names among the squad who made their mark on the scoreboard.
Tynan Shannon lent his services around the ground on Saturday, while also booting two goals to top score for the Cats.
He was joined by Jackson Gibbs and Billy Galpin, who both bagged single majors to be the only other goal-kickers for the team.
For Millicent the top score was also just two goals, with rising star Sam Willis leading the way in what was a massive team effort both in front of goals and around the ground.
With nine majors for the match, the Saints had eight goal scorers, which sums up the depth of the squad this season.
Will Macdonald returned to the Cats’ roster on the weekend and showed fine form in the ruck, while Jonah Grimes held his own in an impressive performance for the young Saint.
However, with Macdonald’s return came the absence of both Trent Nesbitt and Josh Stephenson for the Cats, while Daniel Richardson was taken off in the second term with a potential season-ending shoulder injury.
Nesbitt’s services around half-back were especially missed, as he has led the defence well all year, but Dylan Ayton stepped up to the task on the weekend.
He was named as the Cats’ best, along with Daniel Wombwell who also held his own against the Millicent attack.
In the midfield, Angus Cleary and Tom Sullivan were both rightly mentioned, while Aaron Nesbitt and Macdonald were also in good form.
Millicent coach Clint Gallio said his team was prepared for a close, hard contest and he was pleased to come away with the result heading into the pointy end of the season.
“We knew it was going to be a good game being top-of-the-table clash,” he said.
“We were ready for a good, hard contest, which it was.
“There was a pretty strong breeze favouring one end and I think in the end we made the most of it.
“But on the other hand, we also defended well when they were going with the wind.”
The second-quarter effort was the standout for the Saints and Gallio was pleased they were able to set up the buffer going into the second half.
“It comes back to our pressure I think,” he said.
“We pressed the footy, turned the footy over and made the most of the wind.
“A lot of people in footy think the wind sort of does the job for you, but it comes down to how hard you want to work.”
Gallio had nothing but praise for his defenders on the day, with Duldig rightly named as best-on-ground as the general of the backline put in a solid effort.
“I think our back six have been excellent the whole season,” Gallio said.
“They’ve really settled now and there is some leadership there in Steve Duldig, who has been there for years and some of the younger guys coming in have been great.
“They just back each other, back themselves and communication down there is really good.”
With many players rotating through the midfeld, Gallio said the ability of these players to push back and turn the ball over, before attacking forward has provided even more assistance to the already strong backline.
Of these, the likes of Willis, Tom Hutchesson, Hamish Gordon and Lyndon Smith are all worthy of mention, while Gallio himself also makes an impact in a contested ball.
In terms of other players who stood out, Gallio mentioned a few who have found form at the right time of year, all of which were listed among the best.
“Jonah Grimes was excellent in the ruck again, he just competes all day,” he said.
“Dylan Tincknell and Brady Gibbs, they are a couple more who play in the backline, they do their job and have the ability to run off and are really good with the ball.
“And I think Hamish Nitschke is slowly starting to find a bit of form again.”
Happy with where his team is sitting at this point in the season, Gallio will be away from the side this week for the club’s heritage round against West due to state commitments, but said it will give the chance for others to step up and hopefully claim another win on their home deck.
