The final two rounds of the 2021 Bendigo Bank Western Border Football League season are all about one man – Millicent’s champion forward Gene Robinson.

The goal-kicking maestro is within touching distance of becoming just the second player to kick 100 goals in the WBFL and it could happen this Saturday.

Robinson only needs nine goals to reach the magic mark and his recent form gives good reason for fans to get excited.

West Gambier’s defence was clueless as Robinson compiled a season-best tally of 14 goals to fly into the nineties.

Although only Justin McConnell has kicked a Western Border hundred in the 21st century, Robinson is no stranger to the feat.

In 2013 he kicked 115 goals for Mypolonga and backed that up with 107 for Bordertown two years later.

With an average of seven goals per game, it is not a stretch to suggest Robinson could break the barrier this weekend.

However, if there is one team that can deny the century, it is North Gambier.

The Tigers backline is the only combination Robinson has not kicked 10-plus goals against in a single game and the previous clash a fortnight ago was the perfect example.

Coming up against solid defender Jake Schutz, the star Saint struggled to out-muscle his similarly sized opponent in a daring duel.

Although Robinson still found a way to kick five goals, Schutz did his job to get under the skin of his rival as North took the honours by just three points.

With eight wins on the board, Millicent has a steady grip on second spot on the ladder, but none of them have arrived against the Tigers.

A last-quarter blitz in the re-scheduled round 9 contest would fill the Saints with hope.

However, Millicent must produce a four-quarter effort to overcome the yellow and black, while another forward could hold the key.

North’s Sam Stafford has been a big reason behind his team’s success against the Saints this year.

Back in May, the left-footer banged home seven majors to inspire a 21-point win, while he made impacts at crucial times to keep his team ahead in the recent Vansittart Park clash.

Despite all of the hype around Robinson, Millicent coach Clint Gallio said his team would not get carried away and focus on the bigger picture.

“I think Gene has kicked 100 goals before and I am sure he would be thinking about it,” Gallio said.

“But we are not going to change the way we play and just want to make sure we carry good form into finals.”

East Gambier v South Gambier

If this weekend follows a similar path to the rescheduled round 9 a fortnight ago, East and South Gambier could be another unmissable contest.

As the WBFL emerged from lockdown, only seven points split the Demons and Bulldogs following four quarters full of tension.

Despite finishing on the losing side, the red and black would have taken a lot of heart from the fighting effort being the only team to challenge South in home conditions.

The result showed East had come a long way from slipping to a 50-point defeat in round 4 and Matt Willson and Jayden Eldridge will be keen to showcase the improvement by snatching a win back from the ladder leaders at McDonald Park.

The Bulldogs will be eager to be let off the chain following another week on the sidelines after their clash with Casterton Sandford was not possible last weekend.

The likes of Willson, Brad Rathjen and Giancarlo Cooper have provided plenty of flow through the middle and trouble the Demons, while Eldridge hopes to remain on cloud nine following his maiden hole-in-one earlier this week.

Journeyman Matthew Scanlon has added a new dimension to East’s forward line since he returned before lockdown and hopes to make it a hat-trick of three-goal outings.

Even in the twilight of the 2021 season, the challenge of beating South continues to evolve and a new strength was unveiled last week.

Missing the likes of Scott Enderl, Chris Williams and Brett O’Neil to injury, the Demons tapped into their reserves for last week’s North Gambier battle and the new names loved the taste of Broadway.

Young ones Mitch and Noah Sims, Todd Reid, Ethan Chuck, Brock Keding and Oscar Adams all showed why their talents cannot go unnoticed.

Thanks to their unbeaten Reserves and Under 18 sides, South is blessed with depth and the success of its replacements is yet another reason for the rivals to fear.

Coach Brayden Kain is confident at least Enderl, Williams and O’Neil will return from their “niggles” this weekend.

The Bulldogs are also hosting a past-players day at the “kennel” with drinks and nibbles available from 1.30pm as the action unfolds on the field.

West Gambier v Casterton Sandford

Areturn to the field for Casterton Sandford is still up in the air at the time of print, but many will be praying on both sides of the border.

The contest appears the Cats’ best chance to score the elusive victory in 2021 as they meet a Roos side searching for confidence.

West could do little, but watch on as Gene Robinson slotted 14 majors to inspire Millicent to the side’s heaviest defeat of the year.

Having not exceeded 50 points in the last four games, scoring has been an issue for the Roos, but their previous Cats’ clash is a source of hope.

Five goals to Garret Ha and Josh Schapel guided West to a 94-point smashing back in round 4.

Due to Casterton Sandford being unable to play for more than a month, a lack of match fitness could prove costly.