Can Port MacDonnell take full advantage of the bruised egos and bruised bodies of Kalangadoo in the Mid South Eastern Football League preliminary final on their home deck on Saturday and advance to the grand final?
Such a question is posed ahead of the penultimate game each season and this fixture has the minor premiers hosting the reigning premiers in a replay of the 2021 grand final.
The reward for victory on the Kalangadoo Oval is a ticket to this very venue a week later for the ‘big dance’ against the hungry and in-form Hatherleigh.
With the benefit of a fortnight’s break, the fresh legs of the seasiders could well prove decisive against the shell-shocked Magpies.
The spell of near-invincibility that had been cast by Kalangadoo throughout the minor rounds was comprehensively broken by the Eagles to the tune of 42 points at Mick and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr on Saturday.
The minor premiers had looked set to take the direct route to the 2022 season decider as they led early in the last quarter after goals to James Pratt and dual league goal kicking trophy winner Michael Krieger.
However, the Eagles were far from spent and stormed home with a blitz which yielded seven unanswered goals.
There is such a thing as a sentimental favourite in football and that tag can be applied to Port MacDonnell on Saturday for a number of reasons.
The Demons have won six flags but have never gone back-to-back.
The team had lost 12 of its 2021 winning grand final team to retirement or other clubs including skipper Daron McElroy.
Last month the West Gambier coach was named as the runner-up in the Brian Hennessey Memorial Medal as best and fairest in the Western Border Football League.
Another factor which made life hard for coach Simon Merrett and his team was beyond their control and literally in the lap of the gods.
The club had trouble for much of winter with the grass coverage on its oval and this forced the transfer of games and new venues for training sessions.
Kalangadoo defeated Port MacDonnell by the identical and big margins of 91 points during their two head-to-head clashes in 2022.
Nevertheless, the Demons know in their hearts the Magpies can be beaten as occurred in the 2021 grand final at Tantanoola Tigerland.
Every finals series turns up a surprise packet and it is sometimes a player who gets allocated a new position.
In the case of Kalangadoo, the X-factor player might be its former captain James Pratt.
He has played back for much of 2022 but was used in attack in the second semi.
I predict Pratt will be told to mind one of the medal-winning “twin towers”.
Between them, Tim Sullivan and Will Macdonald have won five Mail Medals and they were match winners in the first semi-final win over Mount Burr at Robe.
On the other hand, I rate Demon veteran Zack Williams as one of the best taggers in the Mid South Eastern league.
He would be willing to take on such an unglamorous role if it means he gets to play in another grand final.
I reckon Merrett will assign him the job of minding either Patrick Davies or Krieger.
While on predictions, I expect a record gate will be achieved if there are blue skies on Saturday morning.
There should be a big crowd in attendance as the Western Border season has finished and the Millicent Saints footballers are bound to be wearing their premiership sweaters, hoodies and T-shirts.
Expect to see plenty of faces from Casterton Sandford as they voted 97% to join the Mid SE in 2023.
The last word: Port MacDonnell might have the fresh legs and the “twin towers” but they lack a key advantage which will win Kalangadoo a tight contest. In a programming fluke, the Magpies are playing at home.
