There was no fairy-tale return to major round action after an absence of four years for Mount Burr as its 2022 season ended at Robe on Saturday when it succumbed to reigning premiers Port MacDonnell by 20 points.
Before a large crowd which paid $10,300 at the gate, the Demons advanced via a hard-fought contest to the Mid South East Football League (MSEFL) preliminary final at Kalangadoo.
They will meet the loser of this Saturday’s second semi-final at Mick and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr between minor premiers Kalangadoo and Hatherleigh.
Going on the form and grit displayed by the seasiders on Saturday, they are in the mix for premiership honours for the sixth time to go with their flags in 1964, 1979,1987, 2012 and last season.
It has never had its hands on the Wilf Sprengel Premiership Shield in consecutive seasons but its odds have shortened considerably.
The “twin towers” of Tim Sullivan and Will Macdonald were to the fore at Guichen Bay and must concern the hierarchy of the Eagles and the Magpies in the coming weeks.
The seasiders were given another boost on Sunday when Sullivan was named as the runaway winner by 10 votes of his first Mail Medal.
The announcement was made at a gala function at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
It is now mothballs time for the Burr Boys while the Bay Boys certainly know their dream of a 2022 flag is much, much closer.
Meanwhile, MSEFL officials were pleased with gate takings given the grey skies and the seaside location far from major population centres.
Seaside skipper Mark Smith won the toss and elected to kick to the southern (golf course) end which was favoured by a slight breeze which was worth about two goals throughout the day’s competition.
However, it was the Mozzies who struck first with a goal at the two-minute mark to key forward Hamish Smith.
After an arm wrestle between the two sides which lasted 10 minutes, Smith goaled again and was followed likewise a few minutes later by teenage vice-captain Taylor Allen.
As the first quarter approached the time-on period, Mount Burr held a 15-point advantage and Port MacDonnell had not booted a major score.
This was soon rectified with goals to Jake Turner and assistant coach Kevin Thomson and a handful of behinds.
The scores were equal at the first change and then each team posted 1.1 in the second term as a battle of defences waged.
The Mozzies were reduced to just 17 players for a 15-minute period after a senior player was yellow-carded for rough play.
The Demons knew a big effort was needed by them in the third term as they were kicking into the breeze in the last and they may have had heavy legs on account of playing in the mud against Glencoe at the Bay in round 18.
The reigning premiers slammed on 5.6 while conceding just 1.2 to take a 28-point buffer into three-quarter time.
One of the decisive moments of this term occurred when Sullivan out marked his off-balanced opponent Sam Wallis in a spectacular aerial duel.
Sullivan then booted a six-pointer from a range of 45m.
Mount Burr made some inroads into the deficit and drew within 12 points at one stage of the final term.
Port MacDonnell won a crucial free, goaled, steadied and ran down the clock.
The match was mostly played in good spirit and was well umpired by Brett Watson, Neil Webber and Travis Lockwood.
Reserves – Glencoe v Robe
In the first Reserves semi-final Glencoe took on Robe.
It was the Murphies who got the chocolates in a one-sided affair by 57 points and advanced to the preliminary final.
Glencoe’s Ben Curran kicked seven majors for the winners while the support came from Dane Paproth, Jayson Finnis and Trent Hawke.
While the Roosters battled hard all day on home soil with Dougal Day, Simon Ferguson and Glynn Brooks fighting hard, while Thomas Kurray kicked three majors in the loss.
Senior Colts – Kongorong v Mount Burr
The Hawks proved to be far too strong for the Mozzies in this contest.
Kongorong’s ball movement was all class and Mount Burr was left stunned.
Brodie Von Stanke-Dowie, Mackye Baron, William Von Stanke and Maverick Cooper were the main stays for the winners while in the ruck Cohen Janeway was superb.
Mount Burr’s best were Brock Sandow, Kallan Bevan, Brady Sharp and Cohen Montuori.
Junior Colts – Port MacDonnell v Hatherleigh
A67-point win was recorded by the Eagles with a good display of junior football against the Demons.
The Port MacDonnell boys battled hard and tried to stop Hatherleigh from scoring the win, but it was not the case.
But the Eagles dominated, scoring every time the ball went forward.
Harry Gilbertson kicked three goals for the winners and was named in the best alongside Eli Sims, Tom Bowering, and Oskar Howell while Port MacDonnell’s top performers were Zaylen smith Kai Gilmore, Harry Carroll and Tye Dennert.
