Penola’s Adam Merrett, from the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara league, booted six goals and his Eagles teammate Ben McIntyre kicked two.

Before this season, O’Neil had played exclusively for South Gambier in the Western Border league, on the Victorian and South Australian border. The 26-year-old midfielder ­received the SA Country nod after eye-catching representative performances for the Western Border’s interleague side in June and the Murray South East side at the state carnival earlier this month.

O’Neil, named second best in the Croweaters’ 82-point victory, relished the trip west to test his skills against some of WA’s best.

“It was a really good experience,” he said. “It was my first time playing at that level, so I really enjoyed it.”

With his stellar year of representative football behind him, O’Neil said he was aiming for more success this season — this time for his home club.

Even with O’Neil away on representative duties over the weekend, the Demons managed to fend off fast-finishing top side North Gambier by one point on Saturday.

South Gambier led by 31 points at three-quarter time, but a scoreless last quarter made for a nervous ­finish.

South Gambier has not won the premiership since 2009.

O’Neil was part of the club’s last premiership and said Saturday’s ­result showed North Gambier was not invincible.

“They’ve been the benchmark for a while now, winning the last three premierships,” he said.

“A win like that gives the whole group confidence that we can definitely compete with them.”

The win brought South Gambier within striking distance of North Gambier, sitting only a game and percentage adrift of top spot.