Kalangadoo became further entrenched at the top of the Mid South East Football League premiership table when it thrashed fourth-placed Mount Burr by 123 points at home on Saturday in round 14.
After visitor James Wallis posted the first goal of the game, the home team piled on eight goals in the opening term to cruise to a 33-point lead by quarter time.
The Mozzies were goalless in the second term as the Magpies went further head.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first as Kevin Stark’s team enhanced their premiership favourite status.
The accuracy in front of goal was remarkable by the Magpies with only two behinds registered after quarter time along with 19 major scores.
The main sour note for the victors was a shoulder injury suffered in the second term by ruckman Braiden Ousey.
He was stretchered from the oval and an ambulance was summoned.
In a change to past practice, the MSEFL has already announced its finals venues with the Kalangadoo Soldiers Memorial Park hosting the season decider on Saturday, September 17.
One of the few positives to come out of the game for the Mozzies was the temporary elevation to the captaincy of teenager Taylor Allan.
He was appointed Mount Burr vice-captain at the start of the season and stepped up to the key leadership role when skipper Josh Fiebig could not be considered for selection due to injury.
Another fillip for the Mozzies has been Reece Duncan’s acceptance for a fourth season as coach in 2023.
Over in the Kalangadoo camp, the result was a fitting conclusion to the launch of the new “Club 1927”.
This is the name of the Kalangadoo Past Players Association and MSEFL president Peter Mitchell and 1982-84 premiership playing coach Roger Doody were on hand to wish it well.
The club takes its name from the foundation year of the Kalangadoo Football Club.
Another onlooker in the crowd was Hatherleigh coach Jake Dowdy as his Eagles had the bye.
Kalangadoo heads east on Saturday to play the out-of-sorts Nangwarry while Mount Burr has the bye.
Glencoe v Tantanoola Glencoe achieved its third consecutive win for the first time in 2022 by easily accounting for Tantanoola at home by 59 points.
There was a glut of goals in the opening term with Glencoe booting eight of the 10 majors.
The game tightened up thereafter, but it was a lost cause for the young Tiger team.
The Murphies chose the right time to hit peak form as it was their premiership reunion day.
Among the large crowd were players and officials associated with seven of its winning grand final teams dating back to 1957.
In round 15, Glencoe travels to Hatherleigh with the second-place team having had the luxury of a three-week break from competition.
Tantanoola will welcome Kongorong to Tigerland.
Port MacDonnell V Nangwarry The Port MacDonnell Demons easily eclipsed the Nangwarry Saints at the Bay by 140 points.
It was a very different game to when Nangwarry hosted Port MacDonnell in round five on Saturday, May 7.
On that occasion, the seasiders conceded 14 goals and the winning margin was a modest 17 points.
However, the return match was a one-sided affair with four-time Mail Medallist Will Macdonald leading the way with seven goals.
The reigning premiers secured a significant premiership boost and this could be vital in the battle for a top four berth.
Nangwarry hosts ladder leaders Kalangadoo in round 15 while third-placed Port MacDonnell makes the 310km round trip to play fifth-placed Robe.
Kongorong v Robe It was going to be a battle of the bravest and Kongorong and Robe lived up to expectations.
The Roosters got the game under way kicking the first goal in some very physical action and away they went, piling on three unanswered goals.
But Hawks missing TJ Hunter, Marty von Stanke, Brayden Leicester and Jett Attard got their day under way kicking one in reply.
Robe’s strength through the midfield was hard and gave the forwards first use of the ball and this allowed the side put on three more majors to go to the first break 24 points ahead.
The Hawks were baffled after the first quarter and came out with some grunt and dished it up to Robe with good football and made the visitors look like they were flat footed in the second term.
Kongorong closed the deficit to just 10 points to go into the major break only 10 points adrift of the Roosters.
In what they call the premiership quarter the Hawks showed some pride in the jumper and held Robe accountable.
Their efforts allowed them to close to within three points heading into the last change of what was shaping up to be a thrilling game.
The last quarter was a ding dong affair with both sides trading blows in front of the big sticks and multiple lead changes occurred.
But tired legs from the Hawks allowed the Roosters take the win and keep their finals chances alive.
It was the Think Road Safety round where the players wore bright blue socks raising awareness for Beyond Blue, while best player medals were awarded to Robe’s Jack Sneath and Kongorong’s Matt Cordy.
