James Murphy
South Gambier 22.15 (147) d West Gambier 13.9 (87)
A COMMANDING win has kept South Gambier on top of the 2022 Western Border football premiership table.
The Demons travelled across town for a Round 10 meeting with West Gambier and in a high-scoring affair emerged 60-point victors.
After a tight first quarter, where both sides stacked on four goals each, it was South which put the foot down and a seven-goal second term set up the win.
At half time the difference was 41 points.
From there the arm wrestle continued with the game almost going goal for goal in the second half.
With 35 majors scored over the match, it was South coach Brayden Kain who led the onslaught.
He booted a bag of 10 in a season-best performance to bring his total to 39 for the year.
Kain could do little wrong all day and was rightly named the Demons’ best on ground.
“I wasn’t really expecting that going in,” Kain said.
“I usually play on Jesse Pfitzner and he is an A-one defender, I rate him very highly.
“He is someone who usually always has my number, but Saturday I just managed to kick them all straight and a few of them landed in my lap.
“It was a credit to the guys getting that quick forward entry.”
South was buoyed by the addition of Josh Woodall who played a solid game, while Brodie Foster was another dominant force inside the attacking arc.
He banged through six majors for the day in his second game back from injury.
Mr consistent Mitchell Harrold again wowed his superiors, with the youngster named second best for his hard running down the wing.
He pushed forward to score three goals as well and his mention in the best keeps his streak alive – having been among the top Demons in every game he has played since his debut in Round 7.
Todd Reid was also formidable off half back and found plenty of the ball as the Roos fought to maintain scoreboard pressure.
If it was not for their lapse in the second, where the Roos were held to a single goal, they would have been right in the contest.
“We had a goal in mind that we wanted to score 20 goals and put a big tally on the board – so we kicked a couple of boxes there,” Kain said.
“Credit to West they really stuck at us all day.
“They never gave up and they were never more than four to six goals out of it.”
West coach Daron McElroy, Ben Papps and Jordan Williams are regular presences in front of goal and the trio slotted three majors each in a strong display.
Youngster Mitchell Cornolo also popped up with a couple but it was the efforts of the on-ballers which was most impressive on the day.
Lawry Bradley-Brown put in another strong captain’s game to lead the way through the midfield.
He topped the best player’s list, while Kyle Giddings was another highlight.
In the end it was not enough for the upset and now sets up an important contest with Casterton Sandford next round.
For South a meeting with Millicent is equally as critical, as the league heavyweights do battle.
Their previous encounters have rewarded both teams a win and there will be bragging rights and the top rung of the ladder on the line.
