Picture: FRANK MONGER
BOTH Millicent and East Gambier took some positives away from their Round 11 games and will be eager to build on those when they face off in Round 12 of Western Border football on Saturday.
While the taste of victory eluded the Saints by a slim 10-points, to push premiership contender North Gambier to its limits was no small feat.
They will want to carry similar form into this weekend at McDonald Park and prove they can match up with the top teams in the competition, despite a currently winless record.
The Bulldogs caused an upset of their own on the weekend when they triumphed over ladder leader West Gambier by 34 points in a dominant display at the “kennel”.
If they can produce another high-intensity performance this round Millicent could be in trouble, but the Saints will take heart from their previous meeting at McDonald Park – a closer-than-expected 23-point loss back in round two.
Much has happened since then and while the Bulldogs have gone on to win a further six games and sit comfortably in third position with an eight/three win/loss record, Millicent will be hungry for an upset.
Dylan Tincknell has been in top form this season and will be a focal point around the ground for the Saints, while the likes of Jonah Grimes, Sam Willis and youngster Frazer Bradley all carry momentum into the clash.
Willis bagged a game-high five goals against the Tigers on the weekend and found plenty of the ball.
If given the chance he could deal similar damage this week, while the experience of playing coach Lyndon Smith – who returned to the ground on Saturday after a six-week break due to recovering from a fractured spine – will also be vital towards success.
Millicent will be without Dylan Bromley for the rest of the season after he sustained a hip injury on the weekend which requires surgery.
A finals berth is all but out of the picture for the Saints, but Saturday’s game proved there is still some fire in their bellies and East could pay the price if it drops its guard.
However, the Bulldogs enter the clash as clear favourites and it would be a risky move to tip against the only side to have beaten West this season – and twice at that.
Jayden Eldridge will be a big out for East due to state duties, while coach Matt Willson remains on the sidelines as he serves his final week of suspension.
But the Bulldogs are not left without talent and proved against the Roos they do not need a full roster to deal some serious damage.
Kevin Thomson has been a consistent figure in front of goals this season and there has been only two occasions this year he has not scored at least one major.
One of those was on the weekend and he will be eager to make his return to the scorer’s list.
Shem Balshaw had a standout game against West and booted four goals, while the hard-working John Forster received the best-on-ground honours.
Matt Scanlon and Matt Dempsey also rose to the occasion – the former scoring three goals – while Mark Kieselbach enjoyed time in the forward line to bag three majors as well.
They will all be ones to watch on Saturday and will need to be kept quiet if the Saints are to be in with a chance.
However, East should come out guns blazing on its home turf and claim its ninth win for 2019.
