KALANGADOO V TANTANOOLA
You will not hear it mentioned too loudly at Kalangadoo but plenty of Magpie supporters are quietly confident their side will not drop a game this season.
It a rare feat in the MSEFL and achieving “invincible status” came the way of Kalangadoo almost 70 years ago.
Kevin Joyce’s team is aiming to win six more home-and-way games and then the two finals.
Its undefeated run has been achieved without the services of such injured players as reigning premiership coach Chris Mules and ruckman/forward Braeden Ousey.
The Magpies have got stronger since the opening bounce in April with the return of past premiership players Dylan Barlow and Tyler Jones and the addition of talented KNTFL recruit Justin La Rocca.
It will be a tall order for Tantanoola to win at Kalangadoo as the difference was a massive 88 points when they met in round four.
PORT MACDONNELL V MOUNT BURR
The Mount Burr Mozzies almost had the measure of the Port MacDonnell Demons at their first meeting at the Bay in 2021 with their losing margin being the equivalent of one straight kick.
Mount Burr has done well at home against two of the other teams in the top four with losses to second-placed Robe by four points and undefeated ladder leader Kalangadoo by 17 points.
If the green-and-golds had won at least two of these encounters, they would be in the top four.
Port MacDonnell players will be champing at the bit after not playing a match for three weeks due to their scheduled bye and the break for the SA Country Championships.
When the teams last met on May 1, the Mozzies had the added bonus of playing past premiership skipper Chris Puiatti who is nowadays based in Adelaide.
Puiatti relished the opportunity and was ranked second in the list of best players.
After coaching all four grades of the Mozzies, his father Chris Puiatti is in his first season as president of the Mount Burr United Football Club.
Even without suspended skipper Daron Mcelroy, Port MacDonnell should win easily at the seaside.
GLENCOE V NANGWARRY
Glencoe is odds-on to retain the prestigious Phil Muhovics Memorial Trophy and maintain its unblemished record against Nangwarry since the annual contest began in 2011.
The former Glencoe, Nangwarry, Robe and East Gambier coach had died of cancer the previous year.
When the teams last met at the beginning of May, it was the high point of 2021 for the Murphies.
They booted a mammoth 33.17, had 10 individual goalkickers headed by Michael McRae, conceded a measly five goals and won by almost 200 points.
The victory came at a heavy cost with skipper Zacc Cocks sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
Since then, the form of the Murphies has dipped while the Saints have improved.
One wonders if Glencoe utility player DylanChilds will have another best-on-ground effort and add a Phil Muhovics Memorial Medal to the Neil Von Duve Memorial Medal he claimed at Tantanoola in round 12.
KONGORONG V HATHERLEIGH
Hatherleigh should regain its captain Joe Ferguson-Lane and its star ruckman Sam Waring for its must-win game at Kongorong.
The pair had to stay in a COVID-related quarantine situation and missed the home ground loss to Robe in round 12.
It remains to be seen if the additional two weeks of rest will be sufficient to get some of Hatherleigh’s nine injured players back on the playing arena.
When the Eagles hosted the Hawks in round four, the scores were level in the third term.
The visitors then lost four players to yellow cards and their hosts powered away to a 76-point win.
Jake Wight booted a bag of 10 for Hatherleigh while Cameron Sandercock bagged seven for Kongorong.
Both are on the long-term injured list.
This match appears to be the closest of round 13
