MILLICENT faces the biggest test of its 2019 Western Border football premiership defence in round five tomorrow when it hosts West Gambier at McLaughlin Park.
The Saints have struggled this year, yet to record a victory, while the Roos are on a charge, with just one loss after four rounds.
The reigning premiers have lost many big names from last season’s lineup, which has become evident on the ground.
While they have shown glimpses of competitive football, the final results have not come.
The smallest margin the Saints have experienced this season is 23 points to last year’s runner-up East Gambier at McDonald Park.
While Millicent was always on the back foot in that game, there were some solid passages of play which forced the Bulldogs to dig deep to ensure the win.
At home against Casterton Sandford the Saints took the game up to the Victorians, but again were always behind the eight-ball.
They went down by 31 points in that one.
The remaining two rounds were not kind, with a big loss to a resurgent North Gambier in the opening clash, then a 47-point defeat at the hands of South Gambier last week.
In contrast West has certainly enjoyed a solid start to the season.
The only blemish was an after-the-siren loss to the Bulldogs in the opening round.
Since then the Roos have surged ahead, taking all before them, even the Tigers, now led by league leading goal kicker Justin McConnell.
Roos coach Brad Wilson clearly had a plan to combat McConnell in front of goals last week and it worked a treat.
He will no doubt have something up his sleeve this week to ensure his players do not take the reigning premiers for granted.
While Millicent has struggled with personnel this year, the Roos have enjoyed the inclusion of several players, notably Ben Papps and Michael Minuzzo, who have slotted into the side well.
But it has also been the usual suspects who continue to stand tall for West.
Lawry Bradley-Brown has been in exceptional form this season, while Wilson himself is certainly a hard player to stop.
His football smarts on the ground have been invaluable to the Roos since his return to Malseed Park, as has Tom Holmes, who had another solid game last week.
Big man Todd Lewis was solid in the ruck contests and around the ground last week and provides good use of the ball to the running players.
It all adds up to a tough day at the office for Millicent.
If coach Lyndon Smith can rally his troops the Saints could put up a fight, but it is hard to see them coming close to a team which is fast becoming a real premiership contender.
