Mount Burr skipper Jack Gregory has the perfect opportunity to stake his claim to the vacant captaincy of the Mid South Eastern Football League interleague side when round eight is played on Saturday.


Not only has the Mozzies’ leader been in stellar personal form, he has had to shoulder a heavy leadership role given the absence of other senior players due to injury or suspension.


The green and golds have been without coach Clint Gallio as he was suspended for one match following rough play with a Port MacDonnell opponent in round three.


The Mozzies have also lost the two Wallis brothers to injury along with former captains Josh Fiebig and Nathan Muhovics.


Gregory has been moved from the goal front and frequently stood-out as a follower.


He has had a few mentions among the best player lists and still managed to kick 21 goals as a part-time full forward.


Along the way, he has passed the 800-goal career milestone.


First-year MSEFL interleague coach Jase Faulkner, his deputy Matt Roscow and the MSEFL executive have to find a new captain who will lead the red and blacks on to the Kongorong oval on June 7.


As in 2022, the MSEFL will do battle with the formidable line up from the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League on the Saturday of the King’s Birthday holiday long weekend.


The MSEFL captaincy has fallen vacant as incumbent Kalangadoo veteran James Pratt is not a member of the MSEFL training squad.


The obvious successor would have been Robe skipper Henry Lawrie but the Roosters have announced that his season has ended following successful surgery on an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on one of his knees.


The seasiders subsequently used social media to ask Robe players, officials and supporters to tell of their high regard for their injured leader.


Not only is Lawrie a gifted player and captain, he has knowledge of the KNTFL through playing at his home club of Kingston.


The only MSEFL interleague training squad member to have such experience is Robe vice captain Zach Deane who had one season with Penola a few years ago.


Deane cannot be ruled out of the captaincy stakes and others in contention are first year Kalangadoo coach Mitch Lowe, Kongorong vice captain Tom Hunter, Nangwarry captain Joel Virtanen and Glencoe skipper Dylan Childs.


Lowe has previously been accorded this honour, Hunter would be the home ground favourite and Childs and Virtanen are in good form and experienced interleague representatives.


The interleague squad trained last night (Wednesday) at Hatherleigh and will hit the training track at Glencoe on Tuesday and Kongorong on Thursday.


Glencoe v Mount Burr


The Mozzies and the Murphies are the two most successful teams in the MSEFL in terms of A Grade premierships but there is little talk at this stage of either team winning the Wilf Sprengel Memorial Shield in 2025.


Both have recorded an equal number of three wins and three losses this season but it is Mount Burr’s superior percentage of 54.79 which is keeping them in fourth place.


Glencoe’s is 48.7% and so it is marooned well out of the top bracket in sixth place.


With the grounds becoming heavier, there may be few opportunities for the Murphies to record large wins and make up those six%age points.


With the half-way mark of the minor round approaching, both teams could still reach the finals but a double chance second semi final berth looks unlikely.


Kalangadoo v Kongorong


The Magpies are at home again while it was wise programming by the MSEFL hierarchy to give the Hawks consecutive games away from home.


This will allow the Kongorong Oval to be in tip-top condition for the South East Carnival on June 7.


It will need to be given there will be six underage curtain raisers ahead of the main contest between the MSEFL and the KNTFL at 2.45pm.


The only later starting time was not planned and happened almost 40 years ago.


Fog delayed the chartered flight of the Broken Hill Football League into Mount Gambier and they hurried out to Kongorong.


This preparation was hardly ideal and the MSEFL won easily.


Back to Saturday, the combatants are the only winless sides in the competition and I expect Kalangadoo to lose this status.


Hatherleigh versus Nangwarry


Ladder leader Hatherleigh only played one outstanding quarter in round seven while Nangwarry was unlucky to concede the final three behinds to Glencoe and lose by this margin.


The Eagles could almost field half of the MSEFL interleague team as it has eight representatives in the training squad.


The Saints have no such depth but their supporter base will nonetheless still hit the road and back them.


Port MacDonnell v Tantanoola


The Demons were not disgraced in losing to Hatherleigh in round seven and the unbeaten status of the Tigers is under threat.


Tantanoola has the coveted unbeaten status as all of its wins have come on firm grounds.


With the heavy rain this week and parts of the Bay Oval lacking in grass, this will be a real test for the visitors.