James Murphy
SOUTH GAMBIER v CASTERTON SANDFORD
REDEMPTION will be on the minds of both teams in Saturday’s A Grade football clash at Blue Lake Sports Park.
South Gambier hosts Casterton Sandford for Round 13 of Western Border football, with both sides coming off stinging losses.
The Demons were kept goalless until the last quarter against Millicent last week in a performance which left plenty to be desired.
Meanwhile, the Cats hosted East Gambier in Round 12 and at the final siren the latter claimed its first win of 2023.
With everything to prove and a place in finals potentially on the line, there is plenty to play for this weekend.
The Cats currently hold onto fourth spot on the ladder, but are only one win ahead of South.
The Demons have the better percentage – albeit by the slimmest of margins – and as such a win to the home team would lift them into the four for the first time this season.
That is something Casterton will do everything in its power to prevent.
After a few rounds of disappointing results, the Victorians will be hungry for the taste of victory.
They have had the jump on South in both meetings this year, with the most recent a 24-point result in a low-scoring day in the wet.
On that occasion Jarrod O’Brien led the Cats with his defensive efforts.
Despite their recent string of losses, the Cats’ back six has been in fine form and have not given up any easy chances.
O’Brien will be one to watch again, while the likes of Matt Killey and Dylan Ayton are also having strong seasons.
Michael Kreiger is a regular performer through the middle, while up front the likes of Hamish McCrae and Adam McKinnon have proven more than capable.
South has its own talent and despite its youth has tested some of the top teams.
Last week’s lapse aside, the Demons’ recently triumphed over third-placed North Gambier, while they have shown glimpses of football which would have them placed higher up the pecking order.
Mitchell Harold has been tearing up the wing and enters the round off consecutive best-on-ground performances.
Hugh Winterfield is another young-gun who continues to impress and his defensive efforts will be looked to again.
Throw in the likes of Ethan Chuck, Mitchell Sims and ruckman Bryce Whicker and South has a good selection of in-form talent.
The club will aim towards a whole-team performance, similar to what earned it the win over North.
A close battle should unfold and the result could easily go either way.
