Hatherleigh v Kalangadoo
Can reigning premiers Kalangadoo put the brakes on the Hatherleigh juggernaut in the Mid South Eastern Football League match of the day on Saturday?
The Magpies can claim the rare feat of going through an entire season undefeated, but Hatherleigh has not yet done likewise in its 77 seasons in the MSEFL.
It is remarkable the blue and golds are on the cusp of a flawless minor round season given their injury list is as long as any in the competition.
The home ground advantage will help Hatherleigh, while there will be extra supporters about given the celebrations nearby to mark the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Hatherleigh Community Hall.
The Magpies need plenty of rain in the coming days to assist their bigger-bodied players and negate the Eagles’ mosquito fleet.
Wet or dry, Hatherleigh will win this replay of the 2023 grand final.
Tantanoola v Glencoe
There is still the possibility of Glencoe reaching the finals by rising from sixth to fourth with only seven rounds to go.
If the Murphies can win at least five of their last six matches and other teams falter, they could see some September action.
On current form, Hatherleigh (top), Robe (second) and Kalangadoo (fourth) look secure.
Third-placed Mount Burr and fifth-placed Port MacDonnell have run hot and cold all through 2024 and if form totally deserts both of them, it will open the gate for Glencoe.
The likes of Tantanoola, Nangwarry and Kongorong could well shape the top four if they can pull off some unlikely victories over the Demons and the Mozzies.
Nevertheless, where they finish the minor round is very much in the hands of Glencoe players themselves.
The injury toll has been high with ex-coach Zacc Cocks and vice-captain Patrick Mitchell only managing a handful of games all season.
Cocks might also be missing on the annual trip to Tigerland as his hamstring injury appeared to flare up in the final quarter in the big loss to Robe at home on Saturday.
Realistically, every game is a mini-final for the maroon and golds from now on.
If they lose to Tantanoola in round 12, they will only have a remote mathematical possibility of staying in the finals race.
That is why the Murphies president Adam Price must take the Neil Von Duve Memorial Trophy back up the Mile Hill Road on Saturday night.
Robe v Kongorong
There is a buoyant mood among Robe supporters at the moment as they believe they have the team, the coach and the desire to lift the Wilf Sprengel Shield for the first time since 2018.
To use a footy cliché, they have to keep a lid on it.
The Roosters are right to enjoy their successes to date and have little to fear from hosting Kongorong in round 12.
However, they must remember the wheel will invariably turn in the world of football.
It was not that many seasons ago that Robe could not summon a B Grade team to play at Kongorong and had to forfeit.
The Hawks have quite a challenge ahead of them, but you can be assured all four grades will make the 250km round trip to Robe.
The club remains in good heart with 180 meals served after training every Thursday night.
Mount Burr v Nangwarry
Mount Burr came off second best at Kalangadoo in round 11 but were far from disgraced by the 15-point deficit at the final siren.
Indeed, the Mozzies led by this very amount at one stage in the third term before the home side levelled the scores by the final change.
Although no longer in the senior side, the Magpies in every grade were keen to make the day special for club stalwart Chris Mules on the occasion of his 350th senior game.
I do not think the Saints will be visiting Mick and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr with such an emotional spur.
The heavy and consistent winter rain has yet to be experienced in the region and so the clubrooms flank will be quite playable and not water-logged.
A fractured finger is expected to keep Mount Burr vice-captain and full forward Jack Gregory on the sidelines for several weeks.
The contests at the centre bounces will have a huge bearing on the outcome.
This holds especially at the smallest oval in the competition.
Mount Burr will be looking to Josh Murphy to get his hand on the ball first and thus bring runners such as coach Clint Gallio, Nathan Muhovics and Taylor Allan into play.
Nangwarry has ruckman George McMasters in terrific form and his name is seldom out of the best players’ list.
The twice-yearly clashes of the two former Woods and Forests Department timber towns always draw crowds and this Saturday will be no exception.
