KALANGADOO (113) DEF. PORT MAC (86)
Ladder leader Kalangadoo has short-ened the odds of defending its 2019 premiership following a 27-point win at home over second-placed Port MacDonnell in the eleventh round of the Mid South East Football League on Saturday.
It was a free-flowing and high-scoring contest played before one of the largest home-and-away crowds of the 2021 season.
Little separated the teams in the first half and then the Demons eked out an 11-point lead midway through the third term.
The next six goals were booted by the Magpies and it was premiership-quality play.
The undefeated Magpies have not won consecutive flags since the 1982/83 and 84 hat- trick of successes under then captain-coach Roger Doody.
Going on Saturday’s form, supporters of the black-and-whites might well start ordering the Moet champagne for grand final day at Tantanoola on September 18.
Coming into the match, the Demons had only lost one game and that was narrowly to the Magpies at the Bay in round two on April 17.
The home team had the benefit of a three- week break owing to interleague and the scheduled bye.
The club had received a boost on the eve of the match with the news that “favourite” son Ben Mules had been elevated to Hall of Fame status by SANFL zone team Glenelg.
His attendance at the gala event in Adelaide meant Mules missed the local club match along with injured brother and reigning premiership coach Chris Mules.
The visitors could not select injured four-time Mail Medallist Will Macdonald nor suspended skipper Daron Mcelroy.
The loss was not the way the seasiders wanted to mark the 200th game of past captain Zack Williams and it also allowed third-placed Robe to leapfrog them into second place.
Port MacDonnell now has a three week break due to the scheduled bye and the competition-wide break for the annual SA Country Championships on July 10.
KONGORONG (47) DEF. TANTANOOLA (38)
Kongorong players would have been pleased to hear the final siren with their home scoreboard showing their side nine points ahead of Tantanoola.
The Hawks have had a number of disappointing outings over the past month and the victory would have been a tonic.
Given the low-scoring game when only 11 goals were posted, the Tigers were never out of the contest.
It was Tantanoola’s second single digit loss in the space of a month.
ROBE (192) DEF. NANGWARRY (55)
Robe had two obvious aims when it hosted Nangwarry and both were achieved with relative ease.
The Roosters were hell-bent on securing the double chance second place on the premiership table and building percentage in order to keep in touch with the ladder leader.
Their vast home ground suits their fast-running style of play and was not to the liking of the Saints.
The talented talls of club stalwarts Zack Deane and Riley Dickinson together with new-comer Billy Laurie contributed 15 of the 30 goals kicked by the seasiders.
The final winning margin of 137 points belie the number of intensive one-on-one contests throughout the two hours of play.
With questions being asked in footy circles, there is no doubting the long-term commitment of the Nangwarry Football Club to the MSEFL.
Despite the 250km round trip in the depths of winter, the Saints still sent four competitive teams to Guichen Bay.
If Millicent were ever to re-join the MSEFL after an absence of 75 years, Nangwarry would retain the Saints colours, guernsey style, logo and nick-name.
MOUNT BURR (105) DEF. GLENCOE (60)
Mount Burr has crept closer to returning to the top four thanks to a 45-point win at over the Murphies at Glencoe.
The visitors welcomed the return from injury of recruit Hamish Smith and he proved his worth in attack and on the ball.
The Mozzies returned home along the Overland Track to their Thomas Drive clubrooms in the knowledge they now sit one win and 10%age points behind the fourth-placed Hatherleigh Eagles.
However, Hatherleigh players have just sat out their second scheduled bye with Mount Burr’s scheduled for July 17.
