James Murphy
After a bye for the SA Country Championships, Western Border football resumes with Round 11 this Saturday.
All three games will be played in Mount Gambier, with Millicent making the venture to the Blue Lake city to face East Gambier.
The two teams sit at opposite ends of the table, with the Saints on top and the Bulldogs currently possessing the wooden spoon.
Millicent had not been defeated until its most recent outing, where a quick start from West Gambier ultimately delivered the first blemish of the year to the reigning premiers.
Clint Gallio was a leading force in that clash and he backed up those efforts during the weekend’s Country Football Championships to be named best player of the carnival for the South East.
His performance also had him named in the team of the championships as the Millicent coach continues to build on an impressive season.
The likes of young talents Kade Bradley and Kade Varcoe have also been in impressive form this year.
Another young-gun in Hamish McRae also comes off a recent best-on-ground performance, while Zac McGuinness will stand tall in defence.
Jacob Carger and Sam Willis have been the main culprits in front of goal across the las 10 rounds, but the Saints boast a diverse attack and have no shortage of players able to make an impact inside 50.
This will keep East’s defence on its toes throughout Saturday’s game and should the hosts not be at their best defensively, Millicent will capitalise.
While the Saints have basked mostly in success this season, the Bulldogs on the other hand have not tasted success in 2023.
That is not for lack of trying and they have probably been unlucky not to notch up at least one win this campaign.
Last round they led at every change against South Gambier, before a fourth-quarter blitz rewarded the Demons with four goals and a two-point win.
It was a similar scenario against West in the wet in Round 8, where East was in front at every break, only to falter in the final term and fall by 10 points.
An equally painful three-point loss to North Gambier separated those two outings in what has been a period of improvement from the young Bulldogs.
They will be eager to turn this improved form into a win, but it will be a tall ask against the Saints.
Regardless, the likes of Nick, Sam and Shaun Lock, Reece Lillecrapp and John Forster – to name but a few – will look to carry their good form into the clash.
Last time the sides met the Saints dealt their guests a 128-point thrashing at McLaughlin Park.
The home-ground advantage may help East’s case this week, but Millicent should bounce back in convincing style.
