Football
12 August, 2025
Burras defeated by Saints
Minyip Murtoa didn't do their finals hopes any benefit after being defeated by the Horsham Saints on Saturday.
Despite a slower start in the first quarter, the Saints held the lead by just a couple of points at halftime.
The difference was 10 points going into the final quarter with the Burra's on the back foot, but despite an effort of mammoth proportions from Oscar Gawith, who kicked eight majors, the Saints were too strong, 13.9 (87) to 16.9 (105).
Gawith was best on ground for Minyip Murtoa along with Kade Petering, while the winners were led best by Cody Bryan and Gage Wright.
It was the second time this season the Burras have been defeated by the Saints, with the Horsham side accounting for them in Round Seven, back on May 31, by 13 points.
Ben Knott, coach of the Horsham Saints, said his side has been playing okay footy in patches, so it was nice the boys were able to get the reward for the hard work.
Knott said on Saturday, the Saints moved the ball as well as they had in a while, and he thought this allowed them to get over the top of the opposition.
"It took us a bit to get going," Knott said.
"The Burras put the clamps on us in that first quarter, but we felt going to the second if we ironed out a few little things, in terms of the way we wanted to move the footy and where we were moving it, we could get ourselves on top, and that is what happened."
Knott said one of the Horsham side's biggest issues all year has been the forward line, but a defender moving into that forward 50 has proven successful for them recently.
"To kick over 100 points is pleasing," Knott said.
"There were a little bit of changes to personnel, forced, in terms of where we put players, which also helped on Saturday.
"Kegan Millington has been played forward for the last couple of weeks, and it seems to be working for us; it seems we should have put him there earlier," Knott laughed.
"He's played predominantly back-mid, coming from Ballarat this season, he was the captain of the Swans last year, and has been unbelievable down back for us too.
"But he's been a big banged up the past few weeks, so we thought we would put him forward and give his body a rest, which I don't know has worked or not, but he's been good for us."