A GRADE – SOUTH GAMBIER v NORTH GAMBIER

Two of the most decorated clubs in Western Border Football League history will clash in Saturday’s blockbuster preliminary final at Island Park.

South Gambier is the only team to win more than 10 A Grade premierships, while North Gambier sits a close second, but only one of these modern-era supergiant’s can grace the big dance this year.

Despite last week’s hard-fought defeat to Millicent in the qualifying semi-final, the form guide backs the Demons having won all three head to heads with the Tigers in 2022.

Brayden Kain’s team fell heartbreakingly short to the Saints with small patches of play proving costly in an otherwise even and tense affair last Saturday.

Reflecting on the defeat Kain said there were still plenty of positives to take into this week where he hopes to go one better.

“It is hard to sort of gauge when it was neck and neck like that and you have to go back to the drawing board with not much to change,” he said.

“It was a good lesson for our younger guys that you have to stay switched on 100%.

“We felt like we had the majority of the play in the last and struggled to get through their backline kicking 1.5 when they kicked 3.2, so if we tidy a few things up it might have been a different story but that is why we love footy.”

The likes of Mitch Sims made some big impacts forward, Todd Reid and Taylor Saffin scrapped hard, while the squad emerged injury free.

Although Millicent is the only team to overcome South, the minor premiers were given tremendous scares from North in the Anzac Day and round 8 battles.

Kain is aware the threat players such as Nick McInerney and Sam Stafford pose in a side which rises come finals time.

“They have been a well-structured and driven team with a great finals record over the last decade,” he said.

“We have had the wood over them this year, which gives us a lot of confidence but it is finals footy and we have to be at our best.

“We will tidy some things up and take it one step at a time, but we should be that other side playing in the grand final.

“It should be a great spectacle in Casterton this weekend.”

Following their solid win over West Gambier in the elimination semi-final, the Tigers have enjoyed a week off to be primed for the preliminary final against their Anzac Day rivals.

North was not quite at full strength, but believes it should be almost firing on all cylinders come game day with Brett Kennedy hoping to provide the impressive Mitch Kelton assistance in the ruck.

Tigers coach Ben Hardy believes his experienced side will stack up well against the young and exuberant South, so brace yourselves for some action.

“I feel like we match up well against South because they are a very structured and methodical side with the way they want to move the ball,” he said.

“We had three guys out in the semi final and we will have at least two come back into the frame.

“Everyone loves a North and South game and it could be one better than the Anzac Day game which will make it a great one to watch.”

The Tigers will look to dominate the clearances and get the ball in the hands of Sam Stafford, while the Demons hope to catch the Tigers off guard with fast football and allow the twin targets of Brodie Foster and Brayden Kain to have big days out.

An intriguing battle awaits with everything to win and lose.

Reserves – Millicent v West Gambier

It is tough to pick a winner in the Reserves preliminary final as two evenly matched teams fight for the right to meet South Gambier.

The Saints have won two of the three clashes with all decided by 15 points or less.

They would believe they have the edge and the likes of Clay Reilly and Matthew Withers will be determined to respond after scoring just three behinds in the second half as they let a quarter time lead slip to the Demons.

The Roos are still probably on a high following their unforgettable heist in the first semi-final against Casterton Sandford and big names Nathan Lewis and Riley Wilson hope to make some more magic.

Under 18 – North Gambier v Millicent

Millicent and North Gambier have had a strange rivalry this year and it will come to a conclusion this Saturday as they chase an Under 18’s grand final berth.

It started off with Eli Redman pushing the Saints to a huge 80-8 win in round 4, but the Tigers bounced back in the two more competitive fixtures since.

North will still be licking its wounds from last week so there could be an opportunity for Millicent to pounce.

Under 16 – North Gambier v Millicent

Much like their older foes, the Under 16 North Gambier and Millicent semi-final is an interesting proposition.

The first two face offs this year were nail-biting affairs evenly shared, however, those memories are distant following the Tigers’ huge 95-point thrashing in the most recent contest.

Darcy Arthurson and Aaron Dally ran riot that day so the Saints will need to be on the ball to stop them.

Under 14 – East Gambier v West Gambier

The day at Island Park will kick off with East and West Gambier going toe to toe in the Under 14’s arena.

The Bulldogs have enjoyed the more consistent season having won the last two clashes.

Jarvi Mee and Cruz McCracken have been the big contributors and will have their eyes on a grand final.

But the Roos cannot be ruled out, especially having smashed the Dogs 76-3 in round 4.

Harvey Croker and Kane Gilbert pushed West to glory in the semi final against Millicent and will strive for more success against another more fancied rival.