Milgate was playing in the Castlereagh Cup grand final qualifier for Gulargambone against Baradine and scored their first try before collapsing 10 minutes later on the field.

He was taken to the Baradine Multi Purpose Health Service then Coonabarabran District Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3pm.

The final continued with the players unaware of Milgate's passing with Baradine winning 38-34.

When the full-time whistle sounded the players learned of Milgate's death and were shattered.

A skillful front-rower, Milgate was part of a small team of Gulargambone locals who resurrected the local football team after 17 years on the sideline.

Milgate served on the committee and was also the team's vice-captain.

"He was a player and one of the backbone members of the club," friend and football club committeeman Paul Marsh said.

"It's devastated this community. He was really well liked and a top bloke. It's just sad. Really, really sad.

"Every bloke on the committee was Michael's best mate."

Milgate is survived by wife Lorraine and five young children.

He was born and bred in Gulargambone and lived in the town of 600 all his life except for some short periods when he attended courses and training in Sydney.

He was a shearer by trade and as a footballer he was "very, very skillful and highly regarded by every player in the shire", according to Marsh.

Baradine will face the daunting task of lining up against favourites Coonamble at Coonamble this Saturday.

Saturday's game opened with both sides suffering from nerves.

The ball was spilt regularly until Baradine second-rower Ivan Dewson managed to cross for the Magpies in the seventh minute.

Paul Daniels conversion had the home side leading 6-0, then Todd McConnaughty extended that lead to 10 with a try.

The score became 10-6 when Milgate scored in the 19th minute and Jason Carter converted.

One of Baradine's best players, centre Darren Worrell, was the next to score and with the conversion and another try Marty Johnson in the 32nd minute the Magpies were in front 20-6

Gulargambone's Wayne Weldon trimmed that back to 20-10 four minutes later but it was Baradine who completed the first-half scoring when five-eighth Troy Hawkins crossed to make the halftime score 26-10.

Gulargambone came back from the break with renewed intensity but a charge down and an 80 metre run from Dewson rocked the Galahs who faced a 22 point deficit.

This inspired them however, and they scored tries in the 49th, 52nd, 56th and 62nd minutes to race to an incredible 34-32 lead.

But Baradine were not to be denied and with eight minutes remaining Craig Harris scored the match-winning try which was converted by Daniels to make it 38-34.

BARADINE 38 (Ivan Dewson 2, Todd McConnaughty, Darren Worrell, Marty Johnson, Troy Hawkins, Craig Harris tries Paul Daniels 4, Hawkins goals) def GULARGAMBONE 34 (Michael Milgate, Wayne Weldon, Darryl Gordon, Mark Milgate, Graham Hammond, Les Hammond tries, Jason Carter 4 goals).

Baradine play Coonamble in the grand final this Saturday at Coonamble, 2.30pm.