With South Gambier the runaway leaders, Millicent and West Gambier had established themselves as the next best in B Grade and their skirmish was going to conclude at Island Park on Saturday in the Western Border Preliminary Final.

The Saints had held the high ground having won the two previous clashes and were determined to show that in the early stages.

But the Roos were also up for the fight and were the first to hit the scoreboard when Josh Schapel ran through the goal square and found the big sticks.

However, the joy was short lived as Millicent responded immediately after Nathaniel Robbins soccered the ball straightly also from the comforts of the goal square.

This breakthrough allowed the Saints to get into their stride and take the game away from their rivals.

Robbins was everywhere, using his years of experience to dominate across the half-forward line and he completed a dominant quarter with a polished finish from outside 50 on the boundary paint.

It pushed Millicent to a commanding 27-8 quarter time lead and this was only strengthened during a similarly impressive second term as Clay Rielly and Harry Willis showcased their skills.

The biggest star of the day was Mitchell Rielly, who could hardly miss in the air or along the ground on his way to a six-goal bag.

Although Abdullah Kamara, Callum Wagstaffe and Jack Carson did raise the Roos’ intensity across a more evenly fought second half, they struggled to cut down the deficit and a comfortable 86-45 win was the result to ensure both Millicent senior teams will face the Demons in the big one.


Under 18 – North Gambier v Millicent


North Gambier’s improvement across 2022 was on full display in the Under 18’s preliminary final against Millicent.

Back in April in round 4, the Tigers were beaten up by the Saints and lost 80-8

However, with a grand final spot on the line, the boys in yellow and black were different beats winning convincingly.

The game looked set to be a nail-biter as the teams exchanged goals across the opening sequences.

However, the efforts of Oscar Dempsey holding down the fort as the last line of defence for North impressed many onlookers with intercept contested marks and Dempsey cutting off many of the Saints’ forays forward ensured the Tigers carried a narrow one-goal lead into the first change.

This pattern of play continued with Millicent’s fight being fronted by Ty Lang, Austin Fuller and Matt Varcoe.

When half time arrived it was still anyone’s game with the Saints only being two straight kicks ahead.

But the game was turned on its head in the third term as the Tigers ran rampant.

Brodie Allen led the charge with his attacking game play and suddenly North opened up a strong advantage.

Four goals to one in the premiership quarter blew Millicent away and the side had no answer in a lower-scoring final term.

With captain Allen leading from the front alongside Dempsey and Tyler Harris, North was full of celebrations marking arrival to the big dance on home turf with a 75-41 triumph.


Under 16 – North Gambier v Millicent

With a date in the Under 16’s decider with South Gambier on the line, little separated North Gambier and Millicent during the tense opening plays of their preliminary final.

As both sides went hard at the ball, scoring was tough with the stop-start play being contested between the 50-metre arcs.

When the ball was able to break through the fierce tackling pressure and get booted forward, neither team could make the most of the rare chance and they regrouped at quarter time level.

The contested and tight style of play suited North as the likes of Brodie Anderson and Aaron Dally scoring some hard-earned goals to edge their team in front.

But being five points down at half time was enough of a motivation for the Saints to march back into the game.

With Harry Gibbs and Ashton Lindner firing inside 50, Millicent went on a game-changing charge kicking four goals to one in the third term to overwhelm the Tigers.

Despite only being 15 points down at three-quarter time, two goals in the blink of an eye effectively sealed the game for the Saints.

Gibbs was the big player finishing with four majors in the 57-22 win where Kobe Gibson and Jack Haggett also impressed.


Under 14 – East Gambier v West Gambier

East Gambier’s only remaining team has ensured its club will be represented at Vansittart Park this Saturday after a thrilling come from behind effort against West Gambier.

All the chips were stacked against the Bulldogs after they were hardly given a sniff during a crushing opening from the Roos.

Bailey Noble, Harvey Croker and Kane Gilbert were in full flight tearing the field apart to put West in the box seat leading 19-1 at quarter time.

After a big chat at the first break the red and black returned to the field as a different force.

The likes of Evan Clark, Jackson Saunders and Andison Perryman led the charge as the Bulldogs changed the complexion of the game.

Doing the damage on the scoreboard were leaders Jarvi Mee and Jaiden Picken with the respective captain and vice captain booting two majors each.

Their work ensured East kicked six unanswered goals against the clueless Roos across the second and third terms.

After a 38-point turnaround, West struggled to make any more inroads during a quieter final term which completed the Bulldogs comeback.