A Grade – Kalangadoo v Hatherleigh
Kalangadoo’s stocks have risen on the eve of their meeting with second-ranked Hatherleigh as the Mid South Eastern Football League prepares to stage its semi final on Saturday at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr.
The cause of the Magpies was boosted on Sunday when four of the top prizes came its way at the annual MSEFL presentation functions held at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
Tom Williams was named as junior coach of the year, Chris Mules won his first Carthew Medal, forward Michael Krieger claimed his second consecutive goal-kicking prize and Tye McManus won the Bill Hanel Memorial Under 21 Award.
Mind you, the Eagles did not come away empty-handed, with Mikey Telford named as joint Walker Medallist and the club winning the coveted Glenelg trophy for performances across all four grades.
Going solely on form, Kalangadoo deserves to start favourites as it has only lost one game during the minor round.
That solitary blemish was by a sizeable 45 points at Hatherleigh on June 4 when the Eagles unleashed a devastating first-quarter blitzkrieg.
It netted eight goals while conceding a mere behind and the visitors never breached this gap.
Hatherleigh also started the return game well on August 20, but faltered and was then overrun to lose by two goals.
It must be noted the black-and-whites were in an even better position a year ago.
They had entered the semi-final as the undefeated reigning and minor premiers but succumbed to Port MacDonnell who went on to repeat that result in the grand final.
The Magpies are well drilled to move the ball into attack and give Krieger, Ben Gregory, Ben Mules and co. every opportunity to boot a winning score.
It is no coincidence that Kalangadoo lost two of its 2021 finals when Krieger was missing due to injury.
For Hatherleigh to win, Mark Marriott and Darcy Bateman must win the rucks and bring the likes of Telford and Jordan Galpin into the play.
When the ball reaches the forward line of the Eagles, Sam Telfer, Bradley Mitchell and Jake Wight must capitalise.
A welcome dose of pre-Spring weather was evident last weekend but it is unlikely the mercury might climb again on Saturday.
It should be standing room only on Can Hill which is the premier viewing point in country South Australia.
Hatherleigh would prefer a large and firm oval and that will not exactly be provided at Mt Burr as it is the smallest in the MSEFL and we have had some rainy days this week.
Honorary groundsman and 1980 Carthew Medallist Peter Henderson will have the grass in tip-top condition.
It remains to be seen how many players and supporters of the Casterton Sandford Football Netball Club will be on hand to witness a Mid South Eastern final.
The Western Border Cats voted last month 97% in favour of joining the MSEFL in 2023 but because they were busy hosting a preliminary final at Island Park, they could not travel to Robe
Hatherleigh and Kalangadoo would be desperate to win to gain the direct path to the grand final at Kalangadoo on September 17.
The other incentive would be to avoid a cut-throat confrontation with reigning premiers Port MacDonnell in the preliminary final at Kalangadoo on September 10.
THE VERDICT: Kalangadoo is a hungry outfit having lost the 2021 grand final and the side has a greater depth of talent but the Hatherleigh Eagles cannot be discounted if they play at full capacity.
