James Murphy
SOUTH GAMBIER 9.12 (66) d NORTH GAMBIER 6.8 (44)
SOUTH GAMBIER returned to the winner’s list with a gallant performance against North Gambier on Saturday.
The Western Border A Grade football clash was tipped the match of the round and it did not disappoint.
The Demons entered the clash as the underdog despite the home-ground advantage, but after four quarters they emerged 22-point victors.
North was slightly understaffed, with league leading goal scorer Sam Stafford a noticeable absence.
Regardless, the Tigers had the early jump on the game with the first goal of the match.
However, when South’s Ethan Chuck slotted back-to-back majors to wrap up the quarter he sparked a fire in the Demons’ bellies.
North responded in the second term and the two sides traded blows, with the game still up for grabs at the main break.
However, South hit the ground running after half time and pushed out to a healthy lead against the breeze.
“Coming out after half time we really put the foot down and I think we kicked five goals to none in the third,” South coach Brayden Kain said.
“It was good to see our boys not get complacent and think we had done well enough and save it for the last quarter with the wind.
“We really put the foot down in the third and put ourselves into a winnable position.”
A couple of late goals to the Tigers kept them in touch, but the Demons brought it home in the fourth to secure their third win of the season.
Kain was pleased to come away with the points, especially after losing to North in its earlier encounters this campaign.
“I think it was something we had been hoping would come for a little while,” he said.
“Certainly after our last North game – we felt like we let ourselves down late in the game and let them come over the top of us.”
Kain said not much had changed compared to the previous two games, other than the continued development of South’s young talent.
“One thing with a really young group, I have really just given them free rein,” he said.
“The thing which is going to win us these games is their creativity, their flair, their natural ability.
“This is also what is going to lose us games due to the inexperience, but I have really told them just to go out and play their natural game.”
That paid off on Saturday and as has been the case throughout the year, the young brigade stood tall.
Mitchell Harrold received the best-on-ground honours for South with his efforts down the wing providing a vital link between the back and forward lines.
“He has taken his footy to another level,” Kain said.
“He is only young but he has stepped up into a senior role now.
“He played on the wing and just had a mountain of space out there.
“He is one of the quickest blokes in the team and his execution by foot has been first class.”
Chuck was another standout and Kain has been impressed by the way he has stepped up into an important role this year after a few seasons spread across various positions.
“He has been a bit of a barometer for us this season,” Kain said.
“This year he (is playing as) a high half forward.
“It is a tricky position to play, but he has gotten himself in good shape and he is full of confidence.
“He has been hitting the scoreboard, he has been landing tackles and his forward line pressure has been A1.”
Also featuring highly in the best was Bryce Whicker, who rotated through the ruck with Rex Jones.
Whicker played a solid game and even pushed forward for a goal, while resting back behind the ball to take some good intercept marks.
Youngsters Elliott Fisher and Hugh Winterfield rounded out the best in a solid all-round performance from the Demons.
The result puts South just one win outside of the top four and the pressure is now on Casterton Sandford as the competition enters its pointy end.
“It leaves a little bit of a light on that we might still have a chance and finals might not be as far out of the picture as what everyone may think,” Kain said.
“Some of these (young) guys are really starting to come into their games now and they are evolving into some mature senior footballers.”
