MILLICENT will be hungry for a win when it travels to Blue Lake Sports Park to face South Gambier in the final minor round of the 2018 Western Border football season on Saturday.
The Saints have fallen short in their previous two games, with East Gambier’s 16-point win on the weekend adding salt to the open wound left by West Gambier’s convincing Round 14 victory.
Millicent still remains a highly fancied contender for the flag, sitting comfortably in second place, but there is not a team in the top four which can be ruled out of the fight.
This season has witnessed a major step up in the competition and it is often impossible to predict the outcome of matches week in, week out.
A big win over the Demons this week will be a must as the Saints prepare for their finals campaign, which begins with a qualifying final clash against ladder-leader Casterton Sandford.
Last time the two teams met, Millicent claimed a solid 56-point win at home, while the previous meeting in Round 6 saw a closer match-up which blew out to 48 points after a big final quarter efforts from the Saints.
The young South roster has shown vast improvement throughout the season, but as it stands it will take out the wooden spoon for the year.
However, that only adds more fire to the Demon’s belly and the side will not give in easily, especially on its home deck.
Tom Hutchesson was kept quiet last week against the Bulldogs and it cost the Saints dearly, but coach Clint Gallio played a massive role and will be eager to make an impact again on Saturday.
Steve Duldig has also been in fine form as the Saints general in the backline and will likely be given the task of shutting down Brayden Kain.
Kain currently leads the league goal-kicking by seven goals, with an impressive total of 50 for the season.
To score that many goals in a side which has won just two games for the year is a remarkable feat and he will be out to add some more to his tally if given the chance.
However, the Demons will first need to deliver the ball through the centre of the ground and Millicent boasts one of the best midfields in the league.
With both Hutchesson and Gallio accompanied by the likes of Sam Willis, Hamish Gordon, Will Fleming and Hamish Nitschke, there is an abundance of players on rotation through the middle.
Matt Duldig has been missed the previous two weeks and if he takes to the field on Saturday will be out for another bag of goals.
However, Dylan Bromley, Nitschke and Willis are all capable of lighting up the big sticks when given the chance and if the Saints can take control of the game they are sure to hit the scoreboard.
For South, Brad Bryant will look for another solid game, after squaring up against the Cats’ Callum Currie last round, while Nick Tarca and Jake Tentye will also look to provide some momentum through the centre.
Last week Dion Stratford played a solid game, while Patrick Gale also stepped up to the challenge.
The likes of Todd Reid, Brodie Glynn and Taylor Saffin have also been in fine form of late and were all among the best in South’s narrow 18-point loss to reigning premier East just two short weeks ago.
With the side still in a development stage, there will be nothing to lose when it takes to its home ground on Saturday, but Millicent should pull through and claim a solid win before its week off.
