WEST GAMBIER V CASTERTON SANDFORD
After almost a month of waiting, the final leg of the 2021 Bendigo Bank Western Border Football League season is ready for takeoff.
COVID-19 restrictions have slashed the home-and-away segment to just 14 rounds to ensure finals can be completed in time.
With just three games left, there is no time for teams to get back up to speed after the long layoff and none are more desperate than West Gambier.
The team can still mathemati- cally make September, but must start win every game and hope North stumbles.
This Saturday’s home battle against Casterton Sandford looms as the perfect opportunity, but misfortune has started to catch up with Steve Wenman’s men.
Three straight defeats have meant they lost touch with the final four and they hit a new low in the previous clash against South Gambier when only nine points were scored.
The likes of Lawry Bradley- Brown, Tom Holmes, Todd Lewis and Jesse Pfitzner have carried the team and they will be keen to inspire a victory over the Cats.
The Roos have happy memories of the Victorians with a 94-point win back in round 4 where Garret Ha and Josh Schapel both kicked five goals.
However, Casterton Sandford coach Kane Forbes would be pleased with his side’s progress having compiled its biggest score since round 2 last time out against East Gambier.
Diarmid Cleary and Hamish McCrae will be critical to the Cats’ chances, but West should defend its home turf and keep its season alive.
SOUTH GAMBIER V EAST GAMBIER
South looks to resume its 2021 campaign in style against East.
The Demons have only experi- enced one hiccup so far to be the clear flag favourite and to make matters worse for the competition, they could be even better after the break.
South might welcome back the services of key forward Brodie Foster and midfielder Bronson Saffin, who have been given ample time to return from their respective injuries.
In the Demons’ previous clash with the Bulldogs back in round 4, Brayden Kain’s men proved too good in the winner-takes-all bout.
East could not recover from a scoreless opening term as Dane Handreck and Dion Stratford pushed South to a 50-point victory.
But East believes it has the talent to pull off an upset.
The Bulldogs built a big wave of momentum before the break win- ning three games on the bounce.
Co-coaches Matt Willson and Jayden Eldridge will be welcome editions to the side after they missed the previous game due to SA Country Championships commitments.
They handed over the keys to Dereck Ferguson against Casterton at the beginning of July and the young team did not disappoint in their absence.
Todd Lockwood was the main man with five majors and will be keen to make amends for his goalless performance against the Demons last time.
South should return to winning ways after a tight game between the finalists.
NORTH GAMBIER V MILLICENT
Sitting fourth on the ladder, North Gambier would love to topple a flying Millicent outfit to prove its push for back-to- back titles.
The Tigers may had won the previous battle between the pair, but a lot has changed in the three months since.
The Saints have marched clear of the yellow and black to sit second on the ladder as arguably the form team of the competition having knocked off South and East Gambier, plus some AFL greats in their last three hit outs.
Millicent playing coach Clint Gallio has been inspiring, but is just one of many contributors behind the fast-moving side.
Sam Stafford will add some potency to the Tigers’ forward line after missing the last two games due to a finger injury.
With the likes of Gene Robinson, Justin McConnell and Stafford on show, expect a high-scoring contest.
