Kalangadoo v Port MacDonnell
The meeting of reigning premiers Kalangadoo and ladder leaders Port MacDonnell is the undoubted match-of-the-day in round 16 of the Mid South East Football League on Saturday.
Many believe the premiership contest has become a two-horse race as these two teams will also contest the second semi final at Tantanoola on September 9 and also the season decider at the Bay on September 23.
It was less than two years ago the Demons defeated the Magpies at Tigerland to lift the Wilf Sprengel premiership shield.
The home ground advantage lies with the black-and-whites this weekend and both teams are in sparkling form.
It was a real arm wrestle at the Bay in round seven when the home team held on to win by just nine points.
The last quarter was a battle of defences with Kalangadoo booting 1.1 while Port MacDonnell registered seven behinds.
There were only 15 goals booted on the day and the sole multiple goalscorer was Port MacDonnell recruit Christian Howlett with two.
The ability of the forwards to break the shackles and kick truly will be vital in determining the victor.
Demon recruit Colby Munro has played the small forward role to perfection and been rewarded with 48 goals and eight mentions in the best players.
This places him only four goals behind the competition leader Jack Gregory of Mount Burr.
Gregory has two minor round games remaining while Colby has three.
Colby could become the first non-full-forward to win this trophy since Mount Burr coach Tom Renzi booted 69 goals in 2016.
Over in the Kalangadoo camp, returning player Dylan Bromley has partially covered the loss of dual winner Michael Krieger to Casterton Sandford.
His current haul of 38 goals puts him 14 goals off the pace for the trophy he first won as a Port MacDonnell player a decade ago with 93 goals.
Four-time Mail Medallist Will Macdonald was at the Bay last Saturday and on duty in the barbecue and beer stall.
It is a safe bet that he will be recalled for this important match as a win would almost certainly secure the minor premiership for Port MacDonnell.
On the other hand, a Kalangadoo loss would tip it out of second place and possibly consign it to a cut-throat first semi-final at Hatherleigh on September 2.
Tantanoola v Hatherleigh
Hatherleigh is yet to hit peak form and there are only few weeks of the minor round to fine tune its play.
There is an opportunity to narrow the gap on the top two by winning at Tantanoola and winning well.
With percentage likely to decide the placings of the top four, the Eagles need to improve on the result of their first meeting with the Tigers in 2023.
Back on May 27, Hatherleigh exactly doubled Tantanoola’s score and won by 50 points.
Much of the credit for the Eagles’ victory was put down to incoming coach Tom Hutchesson who bagged five goals.
Tantanoola kept up with Port MacDonnell at the Bay for only the first term on Saturday and lost in-form teen Ellis Cushion to injury.
The Eagles have a great incentive to do well in this cross-town derby.
Nangwarry v Glencoe
The Nangwarry Saints are running out of chances to avoid the wooden spoon but hosting the inconsistent Glencoe Murphies is one.
In round seven, Nangwarry and Glencoe put on a goal-fest with a total of 42 majors being recorded.
This has been the highest total number of goals scored in a single game in the Mid SE in 2023 and testimony to the high-quality playing surface of the Glencoe Oval.
Tory Weaver led the way for the Murphies in their 90-point victory with a bag of seven goals out of 28.
Nangwarry co-captain Andrew Hyland had an even higher percentage with five goals out of 14.
It is hard to see the visitors having their colours lowered in round 16.
Mount Burr v Kongorong
Mount Burr only has two more games to play and would be keen to farewell respected coach Reece Duncan with victories.
The Mozzies did not have matters all their own way when they played at the home ground of the Hawks almost three months ago.
Mount Burr was nine points in arrears at the last change and then kept Kongorong to a mere behind in the final 30 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, the visitors slammed on six goals at the other end of the oval to win by 33 points.
Mount Burr’s Jack Gregory was on song to record a five-goal haul and such efforts have kept him at the head of the league’s goalkickers in 2023.
After beginning his career at Tantanoola, Gregory loves playing at his adopted home ground of Mick and Jean Walker Oval.
For many seasons, Kongorong could deploy Aaron Lightbody to mind Gregory.
With Lightbody away in 2023, the Hawks will be hard-pressed to thwart the Mozzie attack.
