A Grade – Millicent 17.9 (111) def. South Gambier 9.17 (71)

Clint Gallio and the Millicent Saints have marched into the history books winning the club’s first back-to-back Bendigo Bank Western Border Football League A Grade premiership and did so in grand style.

For the second year in a row a big crowd gathered to watch Millicent and South Gambier duke it out for the holy grail, but this time they were sitting in the grand old stands at Vansittart Park.

Another close contest was anticipated and with only eight points the difference at half time, a classic was on the cards.

However, the Saints produced a premiership quarter for the ages kicking seven goals to two and suddenly the rest of the game was a celebration.

Millicent eventually sealed the deal by 40 points and it was a result that left coach Clint Gallio extremely emotional for his third grand final in a row.

“I am pretty happy because obviously a lot of hard work goes into it not just from the players, but the entire club from the committee and supporters,” he said.

“I think back in the 1930’s Millicent won four in a row but it is the first time we have gone back-to-back in the Western Border and it is pretty special.

“I am stoked for the entire Millicent community.”

Both sides made their intentions clear at the first ball up with bodies everywhere before a strong Hamish Stevens tackle gained a free kick and provided the Demons with the opportunity to attack, but soon the contested play reigned supreme.

In the rough play the diamonds shine and South’s pressure helped Brett O’Neil go bang from outside 50 to give the minor premiers the first impact on the scoreboard.

After both teams expressed their frustrations at each other across the rough opening eight minutes, Millicent’s offensive pressure eventually helped the side lock the ball in its forward half and move the ball more easily to establish a comfortable lead.

Dylan Bromley opened the Saints’ account before his presence allowed some younger names to flourish including an opportunistic Josh Werchon, who grew the lead to a strong 16-points.

Although Stevens snagged a strike before the first break, Millicent was in control up by 14 points and the Demons had to respond in the second term.

The signs were not good early when Gallio completed a nice passage of play, but soon South’s style of bombing the forward line started to pay off.

In less than 10 minutes the scoreboard was suddenly level at 5.5 with O’Neil being influential in the half forward line and Mason Hein helping his team collect most of the clearances.

The combination of Frazer Bradley and Bromley gave Millicent a much-needed response to carry an eight point lead into the main break where Gallio said he believed his team was on the verge of breaking free with greater control of the ball.

“We felt we nearly cracked them at the start of the second quarter, but could not quite get the scores on the board,” he said.

“Yes, there was only a goal the difference at half time, but we knew we had the run in our legs and backed ourselves at the break.”

This belief inspired the Saints to produce something special in the third term in a performance which lived up to the cliché.

The run was sparked by a Sam Willis bomb from outside 50 and he was equally as prolific from the goal square, while Bromley had also found his range.

The pair kicked three goals in the blink of an eye and the secret was the dominant play in the midfield where the likes of Gallio, Tom Hutchesson, Kade Bradley used their speed to penetrate an open forward line.

As the Saints ran clear, the Demons were pressured into mistakes and found themselves six goals down at the final change.

After taking complete ownership of the game kicking seven goals to two, Gallio said the third term was special.

“That was definitely the best footy we have played all year,” he said.

“I am not sure what happened, we talked about not letting the bloke down next to you, so I guess it was just the hunger to win.”

All hopes of a Demons’ comeback were dashed in the opening minutes when Hamish Nitschke slotted one from around the corner on the left, while Frazer Bradley and Jacob Carger produced something equally as special from the boundary line to seal the deal.

It was clear during the celebrations the last term had turned into a toast of the Saints’ success.

Although both teams recorded the same amount of scoring shots, Millicent was too fast and skillful for South, which did not have the same energy or polish in the physical game despite the best efforts of Mitch Sims inside 50, Stevens and Woodall in the middle and Todd Reid down back.

For his three goals, plus commanding work up the ground, Bromley was named best, while host of names were also in the mix with Willis and Nitschke booting four and three respectively and Hutchesson, Gallio and Jacob “the Pig” Carger controlling the engine room.

History did repeat with Millicent winning by a similar margin to last year where the side won by 35 points against the same opposition.

This year Gallio said the emotions were the same with every Saint having a smile on their face towards the end as the relentless team forged a legacy before being mobbed by their equally as stoked supporters.

“We have built that winning culture and will to win and that comes from being a part of a strong club,” he said.

“I know Dylan won the medal but everyone played really well and there were no passengers.

“I think that last quarter was really enjoyable and it was party time.”