The 2024 minor round season of the Mid South Eastern Football League is two-thirds done with unbeaten Hatherleigh looking well-placed to win the minor premiership after downing reigning premiers Kalangadoo at home by 42 points.
Round 12 also produced an upset, of sorts, with Tantanoola defeating Glencoe by 23 points at Tigerland.
The Tigers achieved a 40-point turnaround from their 17-point loss on April 27 in round three and won the Neil Von Duve Memorial Cup for the third consecutive season.
Mount Burr’s big win at home over Nangwarry and Robe’s comprehensive victory over bottom-placed Kongorong meant the average margin in the four games was almost 14 goals.
Although the mismatch was obvious in these two matches, some personal bests were achieved by teens in A Grade competition.
Robe’s Joel Bryant threaded through eight goals while Mount Burr’s Jackson Dean booted six majors.
Speaking of goalkickers, Hatherleigh’s Paddy Chay has maintained his place at the head of the table with 45.
He will need to average 11 goals per game to reach the ton by the end of the minor round.
Glencoe’s Alex Hentschke is in second place with 37 while six others have booted at least 31 goals.
All grades in the MSEFL have a bye on Saturday to enable the SE zone team to be as strong as possible for the annual State Country Championships to be staged at Victor Harbor.
Hatherleigh 16.13 d. Kalaangadoo 10.7
Kalangadoo experienced a reality check before a huge crowd at Hatherleigh as the reigning premiers were behind all day and lost by 42 points.
This was a slight improvement on the 55-point loss in the third round but those two results have given the Eagles the bragging rights ahead of the major round.
Both teams can nominate at least six first-choice players missing due to injury including some with season-ending ailments.
The home side was quick out of the blocks and had clocked up four goals before their opponents had scored.
This margin was maintained until quarter time when the difference was 25 points.
Hatherleigh had the opportunity to inflict further pain in the second term but all five gettable shots for goals returned only minor scores.
The Magpies managed to reply with 2.1 to keep in touch.
Thereafter, the day belonged to the Eagles.
Among the crowd was ex-Eagle Mitch Leek who is nowadays a professional boxer and the newly-minted Australian Middleweight Champion.
Hatherleigh heads to Nangwarry in round 13 while Kalangadoo is home to Robe.
Robe 26.11 d. Kongorong 3.1
As expected, Robe strived to achieve a significant percentage and morale booster at home at the expense of Kongorong and it was a case of “mission accomplished”.
The Roosters face a much more formidable opponent and venue in round 13 as they travel to meet reigning premiers Kalangadoo.
Kongorong are back home on July 20 and must fancy their chances of their second win of 2024 at the expense of Tantanoola.
Tantanoola 10.15 d. Glencoe 6.16
Tantanoola claimed the Neil Von Duve Memorial Trophy at Tigerland with a stirring 23-point win over Glencoe.
The Neil Von Duve Memorial Medal was awarded to Tiger skipper Troy Hatt as best on ground and he is a past winner of this coveted prize first awarded in 2008.
The Tigers led by between two or three goals for much of the match and then saved their best for the last term.
Tantanoola faces Kongorong on July 20 while Glencoe players have the luxury of three clear weeks off.
The Murphies do not play again until July 27 when they take on Kongorong at home.
Mount Burr 23.19 d. Nangwarry 6.8
Honours went the way of Mount Burr as they had winners on every line against Nangwarry and completed a 113-point win at home at Mick and Jean Walker Oval.
The Mozzies hit full stride after quarter time and the premiership points and percentage have made their occupancy in the top four that much more secure.
The green and golds have had to find other forwards to fill the void created by the absence of vice-captain Jack Gregory.
His broken finger has very likely put paid to any chance of winning the MSEFL goalkicking trophy yet again.
Stepping up were teen Jackson Dean (six goals) and ruckman Josh Murphy and ex-skipper Nathan Muhovics with four apiece.
Murphy is playing some of the best footy of his career while Muhovics is an invaluable mid-season acquisition after recovering from injury.
The Nangwarry team sheet did not list master ruckman George McMasters and this allowed Murphy to dominate.
The twice-yearly meetings of the two timber towns are always absorbing with the Mozzies boasting they have the so-called Mother Mill of the region.
After the bye for the annual State Championships, Mount Burr heads to the Bay and will see how Port MacDonnell reacts to a three-week lay-off.
Nangwarry is at home to the undefeated ladder leader Hatherleigh.
