A Grade
South Gambier v West Gambier
West Gambier advanced to the grand final on Saturday, defeating South Gambier at McLaughlin Park after a big third quarter performance.
Both sides got off to hot starts in the opening term, with the Dees and the Roos both kicking three goals.
However, the Roos had a couple more opportunities in the forward line which resulted in additional minor scores, going into quarter time up by three points.
The Dees struggled in front of goal in the second term, failing to kick a goal while only registering four minor scores.
On the other hand, West continued to add to the scoreboard as they put on two more goals which pushed their lead out to 12 points at half time.
The Roos began to pull away with the victory as they piled on the goals in the third, while the Dees were able to get one goal in the quarter, but it was not anywhere near enough to put pressure on the Roos’ eight goal quarter.
Following the dominant quarter the Roos’ lead blew out to 55 points heading into the final term.
The Dees did a much better job defensively in slowing down Roos in the final quarter, holding them to two goals.
However the damage had been done and their three goal fourth quarter was not enough to cut into the massive lead and as the siren sounded the Dees fell by 52 points.
West Gambier defeated South Gambier 15.11 (101) to 7.7 (49).
Once again West Gambier’s Lawrence Bradley-Brown led by example and was his side’s best while Mitch Larsson and Brandon Newton were elite in front of goal, both kicking four goals in the win.
West coach Daron McElroy was pleased with his team’s performance on Saturday.
“It was pretty bloody good to be honest, they stuck to the game plan and executed what we talked about during the week and on Saturday and it worked for us,” he said.
“I think we had South rattled at half time after we kept them goalless in the second.”
McElroy singled out several player who he felt were stand outs on the day.
“Our midfield brigade were pretty good, Tom Holmes had a job on Mitch Sims and he kept him pretty quiet, Mitch Larsson and Lawrence Bradley-Brown were pretty good inside and outside and Larsson got himself a few goals to go with it too,” he said.
“Two of my young kids were pretty phenomenal, for being 17 years old and playing in a final I thought they did pretty well.
“And obviously my back six, in my opinion they’re the best going around.”
McElroy said his team switched it up in the third quarter to kick eight goals.
“We adjusted our game plan to suit the weather conditions and that was quarter by quarter but I think keeping them goalless in the second was a massive momentum changer,” he said.
“I thought they came out of half time a little flat and my boys came out keen.
“I think momentum was the thing, South got the first goal and for my boys it was like it did not even register in their brain, they just kept going and stuck at it then all of a sudden it just opened up.
“It’s one of the best quarters of footy I have witnessed sitting on the sidelines, they were just kicking goals out of nowhere and were just surging through with handballs everywhere, it was pretty pleasing to watch.”
The stage is now set for Millicent to take on West Gambier in the grand final this Saturday at Island Park in Casterton.
B Grade
Millicent v West Gambier
Milicent came away with the final ticket to the B grade grand final in a thrilling win over West Gambier on Saturday.
Both sides were evenly matched in the opening term, however the Roos were able to edge out to a small seven point lead with two goals in the quarter while the Saints kicked one.
The Saints responded well in the second with four goals, while West remained in striking distance with another two goal quarter.
Following the solid second term the Saints held a six point lead at the main break.
The Roos came out of the break hot as they kicked four goals and snatched back the lead while holding the Saints to one major score.
After a big third term the Roos held a 18 point lead.
The Saints regrouped at the last change following the disappointing third quarter, finding a new level in the final term as they held the Roos to one goal.
While dominating on the defensive end the Saints backed it up moving forward, kicking five goals to storm back and seal a nine point victory.
Millicent defeated West Gambier 11.5 (71) to 9.8 (62).
Millicent’s Tallan Dunn was outstanding for the Saints while Will O’Connor and Mitchell Riley both kicked three goals.
Millicent will now face South Gambier in the B Grade grand final.
U17.5
South Gambier Red v East Gambier
South Gambier Red will head to the grand final after a big win over the Doggies in the U17.5s.
Both sides had solid opening quarters with the Doggies kicking two goals and the Dees one.
East held a small six point lead at the first break.
The Dees responded well in the second quarter, holding the Doggies scoreless while putting four goals of their own on the board to hold a 25 point lead at half time.
The tables turned in the third term as the Dees got a taste of their own medicine, going scoreless for the quarter.
With this opportunity the Doggies kicked two more goals which cut South’s lead to 10 points heading into the final term.
The Dees played solidly in the final quarter as they kicked three goals while holding the Doggies to one goal to help seal a hard fought win.
South Gambier Red defeated East Gambier 8.10 (58) to 5.4 (34).
South Gambier’s Angus Urquhart and Isaak Bouchier finished as their side’s best with Urquhart kicking three and Bouchier two.
South Gambier Red will now take on North Gambier in the grand final this Saturday.
Medal Count ends in tie The Limestone Coast Football Netball League’s inaugural medal count ended in an A Grade tie, with two up and coming young players equally judged best and fairest.
The count, held at East Gambier Football Club, was fairly even after five rounds, with Millicent’s Harry Tunkin leading the way with nine votes while North’s Toby de Wit was right behind him with eight.
After 10 rounds Tunkin remained first, having polled 14 votes with South Gambier’s Emerson Marks on 13.
With 16 rounds in the books the top four ended with Millicent’s Sam Willis and West’s Lawrence Bradley-Brown tying on 12 votes, while runner up went to de Wit who polled 20.
First place was a tie as Tunkin and Marks both finished on 24 votes.
The SE Voice spoke to the winners following the presentation, with both young guns humbled and slightly shocked at their win.
Marks, whose Demons fell to West Gambier in the preliminary final on Saturday, was honoured by the recognition.
“I’m very shocked, it’s not what I would have expected at all,” Marks said.
Tunkin told The SE Voice, while it was a privilege to win, his focus was on this Saturday’s grand final against West Gambier.
“I obviously do not play to win these types of awards but it’s also good to get the recognition,” he said.
“But the big one is next week and that’s where my mind is at the moment.”
In the A grade Football awards the first of the day was the Senior Backman of the Year.
South Gambiers Taylor Saffin was awarded with the trophy.
In the team of the year South Gambiers Peter Duncan was named as the coach.
In the backline Taylor Saffin (South), Kade Bradley (Millicent), Dylan Ayton (CS), Diarmid Cleary (CS), Jake Schutz (North) and Billy Shanks (Millicent) were named in the side.
In the centre Aaron Dally (North), Nick McInerney (North) and Mitchell Sims (South) were named.
Up forward Callum Currie (CS), Sam Stafford (North), Sam Willis (Millicent), Toby de Wit (North), Frazer Bradley (Millicent) and Brandon Newton (West) were named.
In the Ruck Mason Hein (South) was named with Emerson Marks (South) and Harry Tunkin (Millicent) as followers.
On the interchange Lawrence Bradley-Brown (West), Finn Grimes (Millicent), Reece Lilliecrapp (East), Andrew Stone (West), Jacob Carger (Millicent) and Rex Jones (South) were also named in the side.
The best under 21 player went to Millicents Harry Tunkin.
On Sunday afternoon the Limestone Coast Football Netball League held their first Senior Medal count at East Gambier.
In the U17.5 competition South Gambiers Jace Maxwell took home the leading goal kicker award, kicking 58 goals in the season.
In the best and fairest Millicents Aston Linder was the runner up, finishing with 25 votes.
The winner went to East Gambiers Noah Gollan who polled 28 votes.
In the Reserves competition West Gambiers Jack Mullan finished as the leading goal kicking with 63 goals.
In the best and fairest count West Gambiers Sha Nay Than was the runner up with 16 votes.
Finishing as the best and fairest was Millicents Nathaniel Robbins who polled 24 votes.
In the club award Millicent Football Netball Club was awarded with the Norm and Di Facey Champion Club.
In the A grade Netball, West Gambiers Sarah Ritter took home the best and fairest medal and the best under 21 award.
Ritter spoke with The SE Voice after winning the awards with her mind focused on winning the premiership.
“I did not really expect it, I’m in it for the team game, at the end of the day I want that premiership so that’s what I play for”, she said.
