Hatherleigh 18.7 def Port MacDonnell 11.3
Hatherleigh players appreciated the blue skies and firm surface at the Bay on Saturday in the match of the day in round 5 of the Mid South Eastern Football League season.
After an even opening two quarters, Port MacDonnell players spent much of the second half of the match chasing the guernseys of the much faster and slicker Eagles and were a hefty 46 points in arrears at the final bell.
It was the third home ground match for the Demons but their seaside fortress was breached on 25 occasions as the visitors posted 18 goals and seven behinds.
The win by the Eagles eased some of the pain of losing the 2023 grand final to Kalangadoo at this venue.
However, the edge was taken off the victory with a knee injury suffered by ruckman/forward Darcy Bateman.
It occurred just before half time and he took no further part in the game.
Bateman had starred the previous week with eight goals at home against Nangwarry.
Hatherleigh’s Paddy Chay booted a goal from a set shot within the first minute of play and added a further six by game’s end.
He leads the MSEFL’s goalkickers in 2024 with 20 while his coach Tom Hutchesson has an aggregate of 14.
The visitors recalled ex-coach Jase Faulkner for his first A Grade game since the losing grand final at Kalangadoo in 2022.
Faulkner filled the place vacated by injured vice captain Jed Telfer.
Hatherleigh remains at the top of the table and is home on Saturday to traditional rival Mount Burr.
Port MacDonnell makes the 310km round trip to Robe, which is technically unbeaten on the scoreboard in 2024.
The Demons are facing the prospect of a third consecutive defeat.
Robe 17.9 def. Nangwarry 6.3
Robe players are pushing the round two fiasco and dual penalties to the recesses of their minds as they came away from Nangwarry with the premiership points and a percentage-boosting victory.
If not for those penalties, the Roosters would be leading the ladder and not the Hatherleigh Eagles.
While the weather is fine and the playing surfaces are firm, the fast-running game of teams like Robe will come to the fore.
It was obvious from the get-go as the visitors cruised to a half-time lead of 62 points.
The seasiders were not satisfied with this advantage and went on to record a 132-point victory which is the largest margin of any game so far in 2024.
Hamish Smith booted a probable career-high bag of eight goals which was more than the entire score of the Saints.
The seasiders used handballs well and covered the absence of their coach Nathan Brown, vice captain Jack Sneath and playmaker George Dutton.
Robe hosts fellow seaside club Port MacDonnell in round six while Nangwarry is aiming for a victory over fellow winless Tantanoola at Tigerland.
Kalangadoo 20.13 def. Tantanoola 11.5
Reigning premiers Kalangadoo finally opened their account at home and denied Tantanoola their first win of 2024.
After an even first half, the visitors faded and the home side took control.
Connor Gentile again impressed in attack for the Magpies and booted a bag of seven goals to take his season’s aggregate to 17.
The Magpies were keen to do well for the sake of the larger than usual crowd.
Crowd numbers were boosted by the annual Kalangadoo sponsors lunch as well as the reunion of the 2014 premiership team under coach Ben Mules.
Some of the old-timers even pulled on the boots and donned the black and white guernseys in the curtain-raiser including ex-coach Anthony Kilsby, former captain Michael Durbidge and triple Mail Medallist Brian Casey.
Tantanoola hosts Nangwarry on Saturday while Kalangadoo makes its annual trip to Glencoe.
The teams compete for the Max Matthews Memorial Cup and this has been in the possession of the Magpies for around a decade.
The trophy honours the memory of a premiership player at both clubs and is presented by the Matthews family.
Glencoe 18.12 def. Kongorong 6.7
A big crowd was on hand to support the home team but Kongorong proved no match for Glencoe.
The Hawks were still in the hunt at the long break and then the Murphies broke the shackles.
Alex Hentschke (seven goals) and Tory Weaver (five) drew on their skill and experience to inflict maximum damage on the scoreboard.
It was the first time Glencoe recruit Matt Cordy had lined up against the club which he had called home since 2017.
Glencoe will be looking to win the Max Matthews Memorial Cup at home against Kalangadoo while Kongorong has the bye.
The Murphies occupy fourth place and their percentage has been assisted by Robe having its round two score against them annulled owing to a team sheet error.
Glencoe also wants to claim the premiership points from that match and raised the matter at the MSEFL delegates meeting at Millicent earlier in the week.
The request is subject to further scrutiny by MSEFL officials and tribunal.
