Reigning premiers Millicent enters finals as the flag favourite after stunning South Gambier behind enemy lines with a scintillating display at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday.
The top of the table final-round Western Border football clash acted as a semi-final preview which provided the perfect platform for the rivals to gain a psychological edge.
Despite the Demons being the form side having comfortably won the previous battle by 57 points, the Saints turned the tables with a 45-point win of their own.
The triumph was all set up by a smashing second quarter effort where Millicent made a statement and marched away with the ascendancy.
The game was nicely poised after an even opening quarter where the intense physical pressure was palpable from the stands.
Due to the heated battle for possession, goals were hard to come by and had to be manufactured with the visitors emerging eight points on top.
But this only set the scene for the Saints to take charge with their midfield group dominating the clearances and leaving the Demons for dust.
Big names such as Tom Hutchesson, Sam Willis, Clint Gallio, Frazer Bradley and Jacob Carger were on fire with their fast speed and pinpoint passing.
As the delivery entered the forward line at lightning speed at times, the likes of Dylan Bromley, Sam Willis and Kade Varcoe were ready to make it count on the scoreboard.
While South made some uncharacteristic misses in front of goal, the Saints were on fire and stormed into the rooms at half time with an imposing 53-17 lead.
Millicent coach Gallio said the devastating passage was set up by a couple of small defensive changes.
“We just fixed a few things defensively and tightened things up at quarter time because South controlled too much of the ball at the start,” he said.
“So we fixed that which was pleasing and then turned the footy over to get it in our hands.
“We just used the football really well and found good options with blokes being free and getting some good delivery up forward.”
This damaging passage of play sent such a big shockwave the Demons were never able to work their way back into the picture.
The Saints were able to maintain their control throughout the second half despite South’s best efforts in the final term where it went goal for goal with Brock Keding and Taylor Saffin fighting hard.
But the ladder leaders could not keep up with Millicent and Bromley in particular.
The strong forward continued his purple patch by scoring seven big ones in the 89-44 win.
Gallio said the fixture was all about building momentum ahead of finals and his team did just that.
“We wanted to put our best foot forward and win a game of footy ahead of finals,” he said.
“Thankfully we were able to get a few nice passages of play and get a bit of momentum ahead of finals is really pleasing.”
