Port MacDonnell has stormed into premiership calculations by putting another top-two side to the sword on Saturday in round 15 of the Mid South Eastern Football League season.
It was the turn of Robe to feel the force of the Demons’ firepower and the visiting Roosters succumbed by 14 points.
The victory by the seasiders followed a week after they inflicted the first loss in 2024 on ladder leader Hatherleigh again by the comparatively modest margin of 12 points.
With three matches of the minor round to go, it is still possible for the red and blues to secure another double chance final.
Meanwhile, so-called “September Specialists” Mount Burr have dropped from third to fifth following a heavy home-ground loss to Hatherleigh.
Reigning premiers Kalangadoo have re-entered the top four thanks to a big win over arch rivals Glencoe.
The Magpies’ tally of consecutive wins over the Magpies is now well past 20.
Nangwarry 13.10 def. Tantanoola 8.9
Nangwarry players had multiple incentives to defeat Tantanoola at home and all contributed to an impressive 31-point victory.
The Saints were keen for another win and percentage boost to ensure the wooden spoon would stay with Kongorong for a second consecutive season.
The home team wanted to honour the support of major sponsor L.V.
Dohnt & Co which has backed the club for an unrivalled 60 consecutive seasons.
Company leaders were honoured guests of Nangwarry on the day.
Another motivating factor was the presence of the 1994 and 1999 premiership sides who were having reunions to mark the passing of 30 years and 25 years respectively.
Lastly, Nangwarry was celebrating the appointment of ruckman George McWaters as its new playing coach for 2025.
McWaters has only spent a few seasons with the Saints but his record is outstanding.
It includes two best and fairest trophies, interleague selection and a place in the MSEFL Team of the Year.
With such an array of factors, Nangwarry was always going to be tough to beat.
Its defenders starved Tantanoola of scoring opportunities, its on-ball division of McWaters & Co was on top and the forwards capped it off with 23 scoring shots.
On that form, the Saints have a chance of toppling Glencoe and reversing that 74-point defeat on May 25.
Tantanoola is back at Tigerland for round 16 but faces the in-form Port MacDonnell outfit.
Hatherleigh 16.15 def. Mount Burr 4.7
Ladder leader Hatherleigh on Saturday reacted in the best way possible to its only loss of 2024 to date in round 14 at home to Port MacDonnell.
The Eagles took the earliest opportunity to showcase its premiership credentials and Mount Burr bore the full brunt at home.
It was hard to find fault with the display by the Eagles as the Mozzies managed a meagre 4.7 and lost by 80 points.
The visitors had the greater levels of experience and strength compared to the home team.
One of the few drawbacks to come out of the victory was an apparent collarbone break to Cameron Slape.
Club insiders expect Slape to be sidelined for a number of weeks.
He has led Hatherleigh’s rucking division for several months following injuries to Darcy Bateman and Sam Waring.
With three ruckmen sidelined, it opened the door for ex-coach Gerard McGrath to be used as a stop-gap ruckman.
He had already been given a run in the forward lines given his versatility.
The undoubted star of the game was Hatherleigh vice-captain Jed Telfer.
In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Telfer kicked seven goals which was more than the entire of outfit of Mount Burr.
The Eagles and the Mozzies have played some ding-dong contests over the years but this round 15 match was not one of them.
Hatherleigh players can now enjoy a fortnight’s break while Mount Burr needs to beat Robe at the seaside in order to claim a finals’ berth.
Port MacDonnell 11.8 def. Robe 8.12
The margin may only have been 14 points but Port MacDonnell’s defeat of Robe at their seaside fortress has sent bookmakers scurrying to re-cast the odds for the 2024 MSEFL premiership.
Hatherleigh remains the outright favourites among the bookies but the Demons and the Roosters are probably now on level pegging as second favourites.
The Bay Boys were not going to give less than 100% on Saturday as their champion ruckman Will Macdonald was playing his 200th game.
Kalangadoo 22.8 def. Glencoe 12.11
Kalangadoo always looked a winner after they took a 30-point lead into the first break.
Try as they might, the Murphies could not get themselves back in the contest which was viewed by the 1982, 83 and 84 Magpie premiership sides.
Major roles in attack were played by the likes of Tory Weaver (six goals) and Alex Hentschke (four).
This performance meant Hentschke could now overtake Hatherleigh’s Paddy Chay as the leading goalkicker in the Mid South Eastern Football League competition.
