Just like in 2019, North Gambier broke West Gambier hearts in a do-or-die Bendigo Bank Western Border Football League final on Saturday.

Three years on, the occasion was not quite so grand being the elimination semi-final at Malseed Park, but the result was the same with the Tigers powering past the Roos to keep their 2022 dream alive.

The stage was set after the pair met on the same turf just seven days before the big clash with only two points separating them.

Although West was boosted by the return of playing coach Daron McElroy and fought valiantly, especially in the first half, it could not stop the yellow and black.

North Gambier coach Ben Hardy said it was a good win, but just another step on the team’s journey.

“At the start of the year the goal was always to push ourselves as far as we could and it was good to see us step up another level on Saturday,” he said.

“West came out all guns blazing, but we were able to take the heat, control the ball and put the game on our terms in the first quarter, which I was really impressed with.

“We have a lot of experienced players and they all stood up.”

The Roos did jump out of the blocks in the opening minutes, showing their intent from the first bounce.

Michael Minuzzo was on fire showing off his clean skills in the wet weather despite being involved in a little scuffle with rival Brett Shepherdson to the thrill of some of their work colleagues who were stationed on the hill to watch their duel.

Minuzzo’s work helped Tre Davies find an avenue to score and he swung around the corner and slotted the much-wanted opening major with his left boot to get the game off to a big start.

A follow-up set shot from Jordan Williams further enhanced the Roos’ case as they looked energetic and pumped for the big occasion.

But soon the Tigers adjusted and pulled the game back to their terms.

Key target Sam Stafford made his presence felt in the forward line by calmly completing a tricky set shot and taking a commanding pack mark.

With Stafford, Ciaran Buckley and Dale Bachmann all finding range, the Tigers started to make inroads with their slick and fast ball movement and hit the lead after 18 minutes of regaining lost ground.

The experience of Justin McConnell also started to come to the fore at all areas of the ground and when he struck gold himself, North sailed into quarter time with a 30-15 advantage.

Despite being on the back foot, the Roos leaped back into the game with a stronger second quarter.

The hosts found a bit more efficiency into their forward 50 with McElroy leading from the front in the drizzle.

West managed to keep North goalless across the entire second term and cut down the difference to a solitary point.

While he just watched his advantage disappear, Hardy said he was still relaxed when he addressed his troops at the main break.

“When I went into half time I did not feel West was on top and we were still giving it to them,” he said.

“I felt like our fundamentals, skill efficiency and discipline were not at the levels they needed to be.

“So I was not worried about the scoreboard because I knew if we brought back our fundamentals we would get the game back to where we wanted and to the boys’ credit they did.”

The Tigers broke the game open with long kicks and hard tackles throughout the second half.

Their run was sparked by an impressive Hamish Telford goal which complemented his efforts in the midfield nicely.

After opening up some breathing space in the third term, the final quarter became a power struggle until Nicholas Moretti broke the 10-minute power struggle in impressive fashion.

Taylor Redden, Dale Robbins and Davies did their best to keep the Roos in the game with some gutsy efforts across the centre square.

However, any hope of a West fightback was cut off by North’s pressure with overturned and misdirected kicks proving costly.

North was the cleaner and more efficient side and it showed on the scoreboard as it completed a 61-37 win.

Hardy was full of praise for his “sore and tired” team which extended from Dylan Munn and Jake Schutz holding down the backline, Telford, McConnell and McInerney through the middle and Mitchell Kelton rising in the ruck without support from the injured Brett Kennedy.

“We knew West’s game is all about intensity around the stoppage, so we wanted to get the ball in our hands,” he said.

“Our experienced players just rode on their momentum and in his first year in footy we put the onus on Mitch and to win clearances 19-3 against a very experienced ruckman was impressive.

“When we put pressure on the ball carrier, our back six was allowed to set up and take control in the second half.”

The Tigers now await to see whether South Gambier or Millicent meet them in the preliminary final, while the Roos will lick their wounds and focus on 2023, but with plenty of promise following a pleasing campaign from a young side.