James Murphy
THE 2022 Western Border Football season is upon us and reigning A Grade premier Millicent is ready to hit the ground running.
The Saints have enjoyed a solid pre-season and while a couple of key premiership players will be absent from the roster this year, they have recruited well to cover their losses.
Of those additions, Thomas Hutchesson is sure to spark some life into the midfield when he returns to his home club.
He last played for Millicent when he put in a best-on-ground performance in its drought-breaking 2018 premiership, before making the big trip to Sydney to pursue AFL dreams after he was picked up by the GWS Giants in the 2019 AFL Draft.
Since then Hutchesson has faced some injury struggles and will now make his return to home turf, much to the delight of Saints’ fans.
Returning coach Clint Gallio is excited for the year ahead and said his team is champing at the bit to start the season.
“It’s been a good preseason – we’ve had some good sessions,” he said.
“Training attendance has been really good – we are just ready to get into the games.
“We have had a couple of trial matches and now we are just at that tipping point where we are ready to get into it.”
The Saints played two trial matches against Penola and Mount Burr in recent weeks, which provided a chance to get a feel for some new combinations around the field.
“Both were really good hit outs,” Gallio said.
“We got to trial some blokes in different positions and they were really worth it on our behalf.”
One loss which will weigh heavily on the Saints is Gene Robinson, who bagged himself the league leading scorer award with a prolific 116-goal haul in 2021.
As such, a more diverse attack is expected from the Saints this season.
“We’ll have a few guys rotate through there depending on the opposition and the match-ups on the day,” Gallio said.
“We have a few options up our sleave which is really exciting.
“Whether we are tall, small, big – whatever that looks like will depend on the opposition really.”
Billy Shanks is another out as he moves to Adelaide for study, while Sam Gray has left for Hatherleigh.
On the in road, Dylan Bromley returns to Millicent after a stint at Port MacDonnell and Hatherleigh ruckman Sam Waring also joins the side.
They will slot in well to bolster the ranks of a team Gallio hopes to be competitive once again this year.
Looking internally, the two-time premiership coach expects promising things from a few of the Saints’ emerging talents.
“There are a couple of guys who have stepped out of 18’s now who I think can be really crucial for us,” Gallio said.
“Kade Varcoe and Josh Werchon, they have had really good pre-seasons and Frazer Bradley is on the verge of taking his game to the next level too.
“I’d say they are probably the three who can really take their games to the next level as young kids.”
There is no denying Millicent will enter the competition as an expected front runner once again, but Gallio is under no illusions heading into a first-round grand final rematch against South Gambier.
He said the focus has been on keeping the side grounded to eliminate any false pretenses heading into the new season.
“I think now that everyone has a taste of what success if like, I think it makes you hungry,” he said.
“Obviously we have grounded everyone and reset – it’s a new season and nothing is guaranteed.
“We have been working hard and I think there is that confidence there, but it is not cockiness.
“There is definitely excitement as reigning premiers heading into a season, but we have made everyone well aware that is not the way it works every year.
“We worked hard to get there and we are prepared to do it again.”
