Port MacDonnell claimed the 2021 A Grade premiership following a stirring come-from-behind 23-point victory against Kalangadoo in the Mid South East Football League (MSEFL) grand final at Tantanoola on Saturday.

After kicking into the breeze and being 23-points in arrears at quarter time to the minor and reigning premiers, the seasiders booted six unanswered goals in the second.

With best-on-ground and Stan Jones Memorial Medallist Tim Sullivan in great touch, the Demons took the lead at the 22-minute mark of the second term and were never headed thereafter.

It was a thrilling conclusion to a high standard game and the Demons just had that little bit of leg power and determination that took them to the ultimate prize.

The Demons held a three-point lead at the last change and looked to have ‘one hand on the trophy’ with only 25 minutes of playing time remaining but the never-say-die spirit of the Magpies then came to the fore.

They just could not penetrate the Port MacDonnell stout defence led by 200 gamers Ben McGregor and Zack Williams and neither cope with a five-goal breeze coming into their faces.

For the first time, victorious skipper Daron Mcelroy got to hold aloft the Wilf Sprengel Premiership Shield.

It was the seasiders fifth flag in the MSEFL and their first since 2012.

Field umpires Neil Webber, Brett Watson and Travis Lockwood gave the best afield trophy to Sullivan for his strong marking and two goals.

It was a fitting conclusion to the team which had lost only a handful of games in 2021.

Port MacDonnell came into the game with an unchanged line-up of 22 while Kalangadoo did likewise.

As expected, Demon coach Simon Merrett did not play as he withdrew selflessly from the playing group several weeks ago to concentrate solely on the mentoring role.

Kalangadoo skipper Mitch Lowe won the all-important toss and his team kicked to the eastern end which was favoured by a four-goal breeze.

The western (clubrooms) end was a nightmare for forwards all day with a mere two goals booted over the course of the two underage and two senior games.

The Magpies opened at a blistering pace and held a 12-point lead by the four-minute mark.

Ben Gregory converted from a “soft free” and then Billy Galpin snapped truly.

Port MacDonnell then did the bulk of the attacking but five gettable shots from a 30m range resulted only in behinds.

Magpie majors from Lachy Jones and Josh La Rocca meant their quarter time lead was just under four goals.

The seasiders set up their win in the second term when they slammed on 6.6 while conceding just two behinds.

Sullivan and Mark Smith both goaled twice while singles were recorded by Kevin Thomson and Will Macdonald.

Facing a 15-point deficit at the long break, Kalangadoo needed to mount a strong response with the breeze for the last time.

The Magpies only managed two goals and were still three points in arrears at three-quarter time.

The crowd was in full voice at three quarter time as the momentum looking to be swinging the way of Port MacDonnell.

Not even the yellow-carding for rough play of Jake Turner early in the last quarter could lessen the Demon surge.

They added three goals to nil and then the final siren sounded.

Merrett and the club’s players and supporters then embraced each other as the prize had been secured after two absorbing hours.

The 2021 grand final was the first time in 23 years the Demons and the Magpies had met in a season decider.

The blue-and-reds had narrowly won their 1998 grand final meeting in the mud at Tarpeena.

Played beneath grey skies, Saturday’s crowd paid $35,610 at the gate and this was slightly below the league record.

There was an obvious decrease in gate takings on account of the mid-season COVID-related decision of the Western Border Football League to stage its grand final between Millicent and South Gambier just 30km away in Mt Gambier on the very same day.

Tantanoola had all catering, staging and COVID compliance requirements well in hand but some of the intended marquees were damaged in the strong winds late in the week.

Groundsman Scott Bowering prepared a tip-top playing surface with the 50m lines marked in the red-and-white colours of the host club.


Hatherleigh 4.6 defeated Port MacDonnell 1.9


A gallant Port MacDonnell Reserves team was unable to complete a successful end to the 2021 season when the Mid South East Football League grand finals were staged at Tantanoola on Saturday.

A strong Hatherleigh line-up which was packed with experienced A Grade players held the upper hand throughout most of the contest and was 15 points ahead at the final siren.

It was the third consecutive grand final win for the Eagles and their sole blemish had come during the minor round.

The driving force for the win came from Todd Watson and he received The SE Voice trophy as best-on-ground from owner/editor Lechelle Earl.

Watson had won the Stan Jones Memorial Medal as best-afield in Hatherleigh’s A Grade premiership win in 2013.

The seaside players had come into the contest with a measure of confidence as they had won both minor finals.

The inability of the Demons to find a dominant forward cost them dearly and they posted the lowest score on the day.

The umpiring of Barry Nilsson, Matt Cockrum and Chris Scott was praised.


Robe 14.12 d Hatherleigh 1.1

It was a great day for the Robe senior colts as they defeated Hatherleigh by 89 points in the second game of grand final day.

The young and undefeated Roosters were carrying the hopes of the whole footy club on their shoulders and they had been looking to end a nine-year absence from the victor’s podium.

They took home the Stevens Memorial Shield for the fifth time

Robe had all four grades reach the major round but only one was in the “big dance”.

It was an important toss to win and Hatherleigh had the first use of the breeze.

As is often said with grand finals, goals in the opening term are like diamonds but the Eagles could not convert.

Robe then took a 17-point lead into the long break and then powered away in the second half.

The premiership medallions were given out by Mid SE junior committee president Shane Kelly and then the grand final winners did a lap of honour.

Robe’s Ethan Cornish won the Allan Jenkin Memorial Trophy as best-on-ground and it was wisely chosen by field umpires Michael Pink, Scott Chuck and Adam Gilbert.


Kongorong 5.8 d 
Hatherleigh 3.9

Kongorong Junior Colts completed a fine season when they triumphed over Hatherleigh by nine points in the opening game of grand final day.

The result was not unexpected as the victors were the minor premiers and had the measure of their opponent in their previous meeting in the second semi.

The Eagles had given themselves every chance of victory as they had won the preliminary final at Kongorong with a 29-point victory over Robe.

No matter how hard they tried, the youngest of the Eagles could not quite match the greater size and skill of the Hawks.

After receiving the A.G. Medhurst Memorial Shield and premiership medallions from Mid SE junior committee president Shane Kelly, the grand final winners did a lap of honour.

Kongorong’s Tyler Richardson had an extra item to carry as he won the John Seebohm Medal as best-on-ground.

This decision was correct as were many others made by field umpires Darrin Brown and Andrew Rohrlach.

It was the fourth flag won in the junior colts’ competition by Kongorong and its first since 2018.