By Trevor Jackson
MILLICENT 11.13 (79) d EAST GAMBIER 8.7 (55)
ALL eyes were on Gene Robinson at McDonald park on Saturday as the Millicent spearhead looked to bring up his 100 goals for the minor rounds.
Robinson needed just one major to reach the milestone and wasted no time.
With just a minute played, he claimed a mark, went back, lined up and calmly slotted through the major to the joy of his team mates.
That put some of the important work behind the Saints, with both sides also playing for the coveted second position on the ladder.
But the initial joy was short-lived, as the Bulldogs looked to capitalise on their home ground and led the charge at the first break by five points.
In an entertaining contest, the Saints remained in touch and turned the deficit around to a slender one-point lead at the long break.
From there the tide had turned and the Saints could sniff victory.
As has been the case several times throughout the season, Millicent ran away with the game, 24-point victors in the end to claim outright second place and a valuable second chance.
While Robinson was the talk of the town and kicked the opener, he was well-held to just four majors, but it made little difference in the end.
Even on a quiet day for Robinson, Millicent has found ways to score and the weekend’s game was no different.
Frazer Bradley and Jaxon Cushion kicked two majors each, with a few other single-goal efforts, including coach Clint Gallio.
For East, Matt Scanlon was again a strong target up forward with three goals to his name, while Grady Janeway was the only other multiple goal kicker with two.
Millicent will now face South Gambier in the first semi-final on Saturday.
WEST GAMBIER 12.9 (81) d NORTH GAMBIER 6.8 (44)
With nothing gain from either side in the final minor round, West Gambier made short work of North Gambier at Vansittart Park.
The Roos were out of the finals race and the Tigers could not advance any further up the ladder, which made the game a bit null and void.
If the Tigers treated the game as such, the Roos were certainly up to exploit it and after an even first term ran away with the contest.
West held a two-point advantage at the first break, which was converted to a 21-point lead at the main break.
While the Tigers pushed hard in the third term, the Roos came back hard in the last, intent on taking one more scalp to the long off-season.
Jordan Williams kicked three goals for the Roos, while Lawry Bradley-Brown and Josh Schapel kicked two each.
Only Jake Schutz could kick multiples for the Tigers, with three to his name.
North faces East on Sunday in the second semi-final, with just one side going forward and the season for one side in moth balls.
Meanwhile, the game between South Gambier and Casterton Sandford was cancelled due to cross-border restrictions.
