James Murphy
A ROADTRIP to Island Park looms for Millicent footballers this weekend, as the Saints travel to play Casterton Sandford in Round 2 of Western Border football.
The Saints started their premiership defence with a loss to South Gambier last week, but will have their sight set on an improved result on Saturday.
However, unlike last season the Cats appear to pose a greater threat after a drought-breaking win over West Gambier in Round 1.
The cross-border club has recruited well over the summer and looks to have a good pre-season under its belt.
As such Millicent will do well to not underestimate its host this week and will address a few issues from round one on the training track this week.
Jacob Carger found plenty of the football last week and led well with his voice around the ground.
His never-say-die efforts and three goals helped the Saints greatly against the Demons and he will look to back up his best-on-ground performance again this Saturday.
Dylan Bromley slotted into the Saints’ roster seamlessly and was solid down back, as was Dylan Tincknell, while Hatherleigh recruit Sam Waring showed plenty of promise in the ruck.
Waring will match up against Hamish McCrae this week, who put in a best-on-ground performance for the Cats as he valiantly contested against West’s Daron McElroy in Round 1.
New recruit Ed Pritchard was another standout for the Cats last week, while Dylan Ayton and Billy Galpin will also be ones to watch out for.
Kicking accuracy let the Saints down on the weekend and they will be eager to convert more shots on goal against the Cats.
The Cats did well to find tracks through the midfield into goal last round and off the back of their 29-point win, Millicent playing coach Clint Gallio expects them to be full of confidence on Saturday.
“Without winning a game last year and then coming in and winning round one they will be full of confidence,” he said.
“I think it is going to be a pretty close competition this year, which is good.”
However, Millicent’s focus this week has been on the things it can control, as the Saints look to address a few skill errors which let them down against South.
“We will just concentrate on what we can control and hopefully get our game going again,” Gallio said.
