Upsets were the order of the day in round nine of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League.
The 2024 season is proving to be one of the most unpredictable ones in the past 10 years.
The upsets make the competition healthy and they build the interest to see which teams can make the finals when mid-August rolls around.
Reigning premier Border Districts defeated Bordertown in a strong showing they have the defence of their title back on track.
The Eagles came out blazing in the first quarter as they kicked 10 first quarter goals to open up a big quarter time lead.
The Roosters were on the back foot after that opening onslaught and could not rebound and get back into the game.
Mackenzie Bower led the scoring with four goals for the Eagles and Mark Quinn added three goals as the Eagles produced six players who kicked multiple goals.
Joshua Richards, Isaac Hewson and Bower were the leading best players for the Eagles in the victory.
Bordertown got two goals each from Jacob Eats, Kyle Emery and Joshua Searle to lead their scoring during the game.
The Roosters’ best players were Harrison Fromm, Carson Clark and Joshua Searle.
Kybybolite put another top challenger to the sword in their contest against Keith.
The Tigers and Crows were billed as a blockbuster of two top five contending teams and it was not a close game.
The Tigers blew the Crows off the oval in the first half by kicking 12 goals to one and opening up a big 64-point lead by halftime.
Keith was more competitive in the second half but the Tigers ran away to record an 85-point demolition of the third placed Crows.
Stephen Craig and William Shepherd were outstanding in front of the goals with five goals each for the Tigers.
Andrew Bradley added three goals also in the victory for Kybybolite.
William Shepherd, Andrew Bradley and Billy Laurie were the Tigers’ best players.
Keith had only one multiple goal kicker in Lewis Hender with two goals.
The Crows’ best players were George Johnson, Will Schreiber and Jack McAuley.
Penola produced a big second half comeback against Lucindale to breathe life into their season and keep their finals hopes alive.
The Eagles were trailing Lucindale by 29 points at halftime but turned the game around in the third quarter to have the scores level at the final change of ends.
The Eagles used the momentum of the third quarter to push on in the fourth quarter and grind out an eight-point victory over the Roos.
Bradley Merrett was huge for the Eagles in the victory as he put through five goals.
Brodie Foster got in on the act as he also put through four goals against the Roos.
The leading best players in the victory for Penola were Jak Ryan, Beau Shinnick and Jayden Eldridge.
Henry Tregoweth led Lucindale’s scoring with three goals and Josh Trembath added two.
Bradley Agnew, Lachie Jones and Tom Fisher were the Roos’ best players.
Mundulla put in a powerful performance against Padthaway as they had a percentage-boosting 119-point victory.
The Tigers were strong across the four quarters and got the victory to keep them in first place on the ladder.
Jack Guy and Billy Wiese kicked five goals apiece in the win.
Darcy King added four goals as he continued his great form.
Dylan Mosey, Elliot Jaeschke and Darcy King were the Tigers’ best in the victory.
Padthaway found it hard to find a clear winner in the forward line as they had five single goal kickers.
Brad Ficken, Blake Harris, Jordan Hooper, Danny Juckers and Kiefer Sharkie added their names to the Lions’ scorers list throughout the game.
Blake Harris, Jarryd Dolling and Cody Marshall were Padthaway’s best players.
Kingston won their second game of the season when they defeated Naracoorte by 45 points.
The Saints and Demons were in a strong battle until midway through the third quarter.
The Demons hit the front after a Sam Logan goal.
The Saints hit back as they held Naracoorte goalless for the rest of the game and were able to kick away to record a strong victory.
Jack Armfield led the goal kicking with four goals for Kingston.
Ben Warner returned successfully from injury as he added two goals for the Saints as well.
Thomas Rogers, Armfield and William Watts were the Saints best players.
George White had a great game for Naracoorte as he kicked four goals.
Sam Logan put through two goals as well for the Demons.
The Demons’ best players were Kai Schmid, George White and Jack DuRand. ROUND 10 Round 10 this week provides some great contests that are important as teams chase a finals spot.
Kingston hosts Border Districts at Gall Park on Saturday.
Both teams come into this game with winning form and this should be a good contest.
The Eagles are starting to get their premiership defence back on track as they have put together four wins in their past five games to climb into the top five.
The Saints finally ended their losing streak on Saturday but face a tough task against the Eagles at home.
Kingston have a very slim shot of repeating last year’s run to the finals as they need to win all their remaining games to make it.
The Eagles look to be too strong in this contest and will be favourites.
Keith hosts Bordertown in a big clash.
Both teams are in the finals race but both need a bounce back performance after they were both beaten by big margins in round nine.
The Crows won a close game the last time these two teams met.
Bordertown will likely be missing Jaidan Kappler and Tom Whittlesea for this contest and both are hard to replace.
The loser of this game will fall back into a pack of teams fighting for a finals spot.
The Schreiber boys Will and Seb will give the Crows a big boost of run around the ground and the Roosters will need to match that.
Lewis Hender, George Johnson and Blake Read present firepower that not many teams have.
The Roosters will be hoping Jacob Eats can get on top in the forward line and lead the way for the visitors.
Kyle Emery, Harrison Fromm and Troy Blackwell will need to have big games that go towards the Roosters getting across the line.
This is a hard game to pick if you go by the form of last weekend.
The Crows at home might be the safer pick.
Lucindale’s season is stumbling and they have suffered three losses in the past four games.
The fixture does not get any easier this week as they face a rampant Kybybolite.
The Tigers have gone from strength to strength this season and are looking more genuine after every contest.
Andrew Bradley and Jack Trengove returning to their home club this season has been great for the club.
The Tigers have recruited wisely to the young core they have built up over the past few years.
Jared Deep has been another player they have added who has had an impact.
The Roos face a far different Tigers outfit than in round 1.
This Tigers line up now has continuity together and is in some great form.
Stephen Craig, Billy Laurie and Charlie Hillier form a three-pronged attack that has had a lot of success this season.
Brad Agnew, Daniel McCarthy and Matt Kelsh will need to be on top of their game defensively to stop the Tigers.
Henry Tregoweth and Josh Trembath will likely have to kick 6-7 between them to give the Roos any chance of victory.
The Tigers look the more settled team and will be confident they can get the job done.
Mundulla will be red-hot favourites when they face Penola.
The Tigers are back near full strength and seem destined for another shot at the premiership this year.
Mundulla has won six games in a row to put them in a great position for a double chance in the finals.
Jack Guy, Billy Wiese, Darcy King and Jake McGrice have been in goal kicking form in the past few games and their depth around the ground is starting to show.
Penola will find it hard to plug every hole but they will try as the impressive Bradley Bryant, Beau Shinnick, Jordan Galpin and Bradley Merrett lead the way.
The Tigers look to be too strong on paper but the Eagles will fight hard all game.
Mundulla to record a strong victory.
Naracoorte is at home to Padthaway and the Demons are coming off an impressive performance for the most part.
The Demons were right in the game against Kingston up until the 10 minute mark of the third quarter when they hit the front.
The Demons youngsters are getting more games into them and some are very impressive.
George White kicked four goals in a great performance last weekend against the Saints.
Jack Durand and Tommy Anderson are two youngsters who seem to like playing in the A Grade for the Demons.
Both will need big games to help push the side towards trying to get over the Lions.
Padthaway is going alright at the moment.
The Lions had a good win over Lucindale a couple of weeks ago and they are pushing hard to see if they can make a run towards the finals.
Padthaway coach Mitch Minns has the team playing good football most weeks and will have his team primed for this contest.
If Tobin Cox does not play then Naracoorte will be in this contest up to their eyeballs.
Tobin Cox, Jacob Fiebiger and Nathan McCarthy missed last week’s game.
If they miss again this week then Naracoorte could record their first victory of the season.
