Port MacDonnell v Hatherleigh
Ladder leader Port MacDonnell shortened its odds for the 2023 flag by defeating second-placed Hatherleigh by 26 points at its seaside “fortress” on Saturday when the home-and-away season of the Mid South East Football League concluded.
Come what may, the Demons could not be displaced from the minor premiership but the defeat and Robe’s modest victory at Nangwarry and Kalangadoo’s huge home ground win over Glencoe meant the Eagles lost their preferred place in the league pecking order.
Instead of a double chance final, Hatherleigh will now host Robe in the cut-throat first semi-final on Saturday.
Back on June 23, Hatherleigh had restricted Port MacDonnell to just four scoring shots on a very heavy ground and won by 42 points.
It was arguably the low point of the season to date for the Demons as their only other loss was narrowly to Robe.
The Eagles were missing a number of first-choice players including Jake Wight and Joe Rayson (injured) and Darcy Bateman (unavailable).
The Demons began well and took a narrow five-point lead into the first break.
Port MacDonnell outscored Hatherleigh five goals to one in the second term and were never headed thereafter.
The Eagles were still in contention just 10 minutes from the final bell and the loss pushed them down to fourth.
Seaside recruit Colby Munro enhanced his chances of a Mail medal with a best-on-ground ranking.
Munro has played every game this season, received 10 mentions in the best player lists and his 51 goals put him in third place on the MSEFL rankings.
Robe v Nangwarry
Robe has rebounded well from its mid-season woes and achieved a 26-point victory at Nangwarry.
The Roosters needed results to go their way as well in two other games to elevate them to a second semi-final showdown with the other seaside club at Tantanoola on September 9.
It was not to be with Robe now slotted in to meet Hatherleigh at Hatherleigh in the cut-throat first- semi-final on Saturday.
After a wretched run with injuries for much of 2023, Robe was still well below full strength.
The Saints had the motivation of a win guaranteeing them eighth place and an avoidance of the wooden spoon for the first time in a decade.
The home team had more scoring shots than the visitors at the final and was still in the hunt.
In any case, Nangwarry achieved the desired outcome as Kongorong lost at Tantanoola and stayed at the foot of the premiership table.
Saturday’s result was unexpected given Robe had defeated Nangwarry by 113 points at the seaside in round nine.
Home team co-captain Andrew Hyland booted three goals in round 18 to take his season’s tally to 57 – eight behind Mount Burr and league leader Jack Gregory who has recorded 65 majors.
Hyland missed the match against Robe earlier this season, so his average was almost four goals a match.
Kalangadoo v Glencoe
Glencoe’s quality late-season efforts disappeared in round18 as it was thrashed by 158 points by the club’s oldest foes at Kalangadoo.
With the opportunity to secure the double chance second semi-final berth, the Magpies were in no mood to be anything but 100% committed to victory.
In their first meeting for 2023 in round nine, Kalangadoo had retained the Max Matthews Memorial Cup with a winning margin of 35 points.
The home team needed a victory of a far greater magnitude to reach second place on the premiership table and this was easily achieved.
The Magpies led by 18 points at the last change and then piled on 11.4 to no score.
There was no repeat of the quiet last term at Hatherleigh in round 17.
The heroes for the black-and-whites on Saturday were key forwards: Dylan Bromley (10 goals) and Scott Agnew (eight).
In the end, the Magpies finished almost 1.3 pc ahead of Robe who are playing again after missing the major round in 2022.
Reigning premiers Kalangadoo will now play minor premiers Port MacDonnell in the second semi-final at Tantanoola on September 9.
They had last played each other at this venue in the 2021 grand final.
Tantanoola v Kongorong
Tantanoola’s sixth win of the season came at home at the expense of Kongorong and gave the Tigers its highest number of victories for several years.
Among the Tigers to sing the victory song was Roy Osborne who played his only match for the 2023 season owing to interstate work commitments.
While the result was warmly greeted at Tigerland, it was a very different response for the Hawks who collected the wooden spoon after managing just one win in 2023.
The club remains in good heart as it sets about re-building its senior list.
In their other match of 2023, Tantanoola had defeated Kongorong by 31 points.
Another good game by Tantanoola first-year coach Jack Dawe has enhanced his chances of a Mail Medal which will be announced on September 10 at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
There is talk that Dawe will again take charge of the Tigers next season.
The 2023 sporting fraternity at Tantanoola has a number of other football as well as netball teams in the major round and is also hosting the second semi-final on September 9.
