James Murphy
MILLICENT 22.15 (147) d EAST GAMBIER 6.5 (41)
THE Saints train keeps on rolling with another win in Round 8 of Limestone Coast football on Saturday.
This time it was a comfortable result over East Gambier, with the Bulldogs unable to match it with the ladder leaders despite the home-ground advantage.
What started somewhat evenly in the opening quarter, turned into an eventual 106-point thrashing, with the second half in particular all about Millicent.
East mustered two goals to the Saints’ 3.3 in the first term, before an inaccurate quarter from Millicent kept the margin to 19 points at the main break.
The Saints scored four-goals-seven in the second, but they straightened up the kicking after half time.
The defensive pressure was also lifted by the guests and East would only score a single goal for the rest of the match.
A five-goal effort in the third quarter extended Millicent’s lead significantly, with Frazer Bradley and Kobe Gibson most notable in the forward line.
The duo would combine for an impressive 12 goals, with six each at the end of the day.
With the win all but secured, the Saints put the foot down in the final stanza to push out to the percentage-boosting result.
A huge 10-goals and three behinds left the Bulldogs muzzled and facing a three-figure deficit.
Two behinds were all the hosts could manage in the fourth term, leaving plenty to be desired.
Bradley and Gibson unsurprisingly featured in the best players, but it was Harry Tunkin who topped the list.
Tunkin has been in dangerous form, with consecutive best-on-ground performances for the Saints bookending a best player award at last week’s South East Zone Regional Football Carnival representing the league.
His pressure through the midfield was unmatched, while Finn Grimes dominated in the ruck.
Harry Willis was another highlight and Kade Bradley rounded out the best players for another trademark performance.
Also among the goal kickers were Kade Varcoe with three and Tunkin with two, while a list of single goal scorers continued to show the Saints’ deadly depth in all areas of the ground.
Nick Lock stood tall for the Bulldogs despite the result, while John Forster and Darcy Lillecrapp were also in solid form.
Bean Nunan did the bulk of the scoring with three majors, while Mark Rumbelow, Carl Slape and Nick Walters also hit the scoreboard with single goals.
Next week East faces another challenge against North Gambier, while the Saints host South Gambier in what should be a thriller.
