Amid the threat of Kalangadoo leaving the competition, the club will host the 2022 Mid South Eastern football and netball Grand Finals after the new fixture was announced on Tuesday morning.
Following the release of the Limestone Coast Regional Football Council’s final report which asked the Magpies to consider flying into a new nest with the current Western Border sides, the is uncertainty over what the big picture looks like beyond next year.
If Kalangadoo and Penola decide to join the Western Border teams in a new venture, the black and white will receive the ultimate send off from the Mid South East with crowds flocking to their home ground on the biggest day of the year.
Although the Grand Final venue has not been officially included on the fixture, the Mid South Eastern Football League president Peter Mitchell confirmed the premiership will be decided at the Kalangadoo War Memorial Park and Community Sports Club.
“Kalangadoo will host the Grand Final and possibly the preliminary final,” he said.
“There is no clause where if the A Grade football played, you would not host the Grand Final and would have a chance the following year.
“But clubs have decided that if the host happens to be playing in the A Grade Grand Final it will be played there because it just makes planning everything easier.”
The Grand Final will be played on Saturday, September 17, a date which could be fought over once again.
This year created the unusual occurrence of all three Limestone Coast football and netball Grand Final days taking place on the same day.
Mitchell revealed history may repeat next year despite the Mid South East being the first to reveal its 2022 fixture.
“I have already spoken to the Western Border and their Grand Final will probably be on the same date,” he said.
“That is the way it is I guess because we first planned things a couple of months ago and the AFL appears to be either the 24th of September or first of October.
“We will just have to be mindful of any last-minute alterations.”
The 2022 season begins on Saturday, April 2 with season-opening games at Nangwarry, Mount Burr, Kalangadoo and Port MacDonnell.
Two rounds will be played before a one-week break for Easter, while byes are also in place for the South East Zone Carnival and SA Country Championships.
The traditional full suite of 18 rounds has returned with the final series kicking off on Saturday, August 27.
One of the big attractions of the home and away season will be the Robe and Hatherleigh contest celebrating the Anzac Day spirit in round 2.
