Some are saying the half-way point of the Mid South East Football League has only two realistic premiership chances in Robe and Hatherleigh.
However, you only have to look at the 2023 season to see that Port MacDonnell dominated the minor round with just one loss but subsequently were beaten in the two finals it contested.
Another key factor overshadowing Hatherleigh is that it has a miserable record in season deciders.
Overall, it has lost more grand finals than it has won including its past three September showdowns.
The curse began in its third season in 1949 when the Hatherleigh Football Club was known as the Blues.
It had won the pre-season Legacy Cup lightning carnival at Kalangadoo but ultimately lost the grand final to Glencoe by 15 points.
The Eagles have taken giant steps this season towards winning their first flag in more than a decade 2013.
There has also been constant speculation in footy circles that Hatherleigh is weighing up the merits of either staying in the MSEFL or transferring to the new Limestone Coast Football Netball League.
True or not, the speculation must surely be a distraction for the playing group.
Meanwhile, Robe has a better win/loss ratio in grand finals than Hatherleigh but it may still be spooked by what happened a year ago.
The Roosters were undefeated until well into the minor round.
Lady Luck deserted them with injuries to coach Nathan Brown and others.
The seasiders scraped into the first semi final but got no further.
The patchy form of Robe and Hatherleigh in the key matches gives hope to the four other clubs still in contention for the 2024 premiership namely reigning premiers Kalangadoo along with grand final specialists Mount Burr and Port MacDonnell and Glencoe.
Hatherleigh versus Glencoe
Hatherleigh has probably never prepared for such a weekend of intense social and sporting activity since the football club was formed 77 years ago.
Glencoe are the oldest foe of Hatherleigh as the new post-war club played for the first time for premiership points on the home ground of the Murphies on May 3, 1947.
The home team won by 75 points but the visitors were far from disgraced.
Saturday’s match may be the last time these teams ever meet with the Eagles the warmest of favourites.
Glencoe had few bright moments in its 72-point loss to Mount Burr in round nine whereas Hatherleigh thrashed Tantanoola.
Due to the intensity of their opening round match, there will be an extraordinary amount of interest in the A Grade netball contest.
The other drawcard on Saturday is the Fight MND charity event where a dunking machine has again been secured by organiser Kate Nowak as a novel way of raising funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease.
Around a dozen local identities will take the plunge including Hatherleigh Mail Medallist Mat Faulkner, MSEFL president Peter Mitchell and former Glencoe president Ted Peacock.
The gala weekend wraps up on Sunday with the last-ever tournament at the Hatherleigh Golf Course.
Golfers will compete for the Phil Keatley Ambrose Trophy and then the 48-year-old course will close on June 30.
Kalangadoo versus Port MacDonnell
The annual Indigenous Round clash between the Magpies and the Demons will be preceded by the Welcome to Country given by Tim Brennan.
After this moving tribute to First Nations people, the two teams will immediately get down to the business of securing the premiership points.
Port MacDonnell has one more win than Kalangadoo but its percentage is slightly inferior.
Only 27 points separated the sides when they met at the seaside in the opening round and the honours went to the home team.
Port MacDonnell should win again but by a much smaller margin.
Robe versus Tantanoola
The results sheet showed that Robe defeated Tantanoola by 55 points at Tigerland in round one but it did not show the home team was only a couple of goals in arrears in the closing minutes of the third term.
The Roosters snagged two more goals just before three-quarter time and this momentum and the breeze carried them through the final term.
One can only wonder how the season would have turned out for the two clubs if it had been the Tigers who had scored those two late third-term goals.
As it is, Tantanoola is battling to avoid the wooden spoon while Robe is in second place.
Mount Burr versus Kongorong
The Mozzies are expected to honour the memory of Ken Bellinger against Kongorong at home by wearing black arm bands.
The former Mount Burr president and premiership player died on Sunday.
He was also a premiership player, 200-gamer, best and fairest and interleague player at West Gambier.
The home side is set to rest injured vice-captain Jack Gregory and his presence in attack will be missed.
Nevertheless, Mount Burr will still have too much firepower for the Hawks.
