KALANGADOO V NANGWARRY

There will be visitors from Cairns, Perth and Geelong on the Benny’s Hill viewing mound when Kalangadoo hosts Nangwarry.

A meeting of the reigning premiers and the reigning wooden spooners would not usually draw a large crowd but this Pie Park fixture is different. The Magpies have chosen this round five clash to mark 20 years since they defeated the Saints in the replay of the 2001 grand final to claim the Wilf Sprengel Shield.

All premiership players who wore the black-and-white vertical stripes on that day at Mount Burr will probably be present including brothers Chris and Ben Mules who are still playing A Grade. The presence of the past victors may serve to inspire the modern Kalangadoo players who are aiming for a fourth consecutive win.

Despite improving by around five goals in 2021, Nangwarry is currently sitting at the foot of the premiership table and odds on to clock up a fifth consecutive loss. There is bound to be a bit of extra niggle in the contest given Kalangadoo fields up to three ex-Nangwarry players each week.

KONGORONG V ROBE

Kongorong is stretching the patience of its large and loyal supporter base with inconsistent form to begin the 2021 season. It also had four players yellow-carded in its latest match.

The Hawks have an even win/loss ratio in its four outings to date and posted a creditable 13 goals at Hatherleigh in round four. However, the Eagles booted a massive 25 majors and so legitimate question marks must be raised over the tightness of the Hawk defence.

At the other end of the oval, newcomer Cameron Sandercock is providing a great target for his new team. Robe is another MSEFL club which is benefitting from having fresh faces in its lineup. The Roosters have had a “kind draw” to start 2021 with victories over the undermanned Tantanoola and Nangwarry outfits.

However, the 30-point win over Hatherleigh was hard-earned and has placed the seasiders at the top of the ladder where they should remain for at least another week.

GLENCOE V HATHERLEIGH

Glencoe has rebounded from a 0-2 start to the season to square the ledger as the MSEFL comes into the fifth round. At their best, the Murphies look to be worthy finalists and the challenge is there for new coach Frazer Scanlon and his team to maintain that momentum.

Hatherleigh will provide a formidable opponent at home with the Eagles soaring after winning the battle of the birds at home against Kongorong. The obvious dangerman for the visitors is Jake Wight who has bags of 12 and 10 goals on his home deck in 2021 and many other score involvements this season.

On paper, Hatherleigh appears to have greater depth, but Glencoe could exploit its home ground advantage to the full.

PORT MACDONNELL V TANTANOOLA

The region had a taste of winter this week and Tantanoola will have a chance to defeat Port MacDonnell at the Bay before the conditions truly turn arctic.

It was not that long ago the Demons were undermanned in the opening month of the footy season as so many players were skippers or deckhands on professional lobster boats.

The fishing dynamics have changed over the past decade and new coach Simon Merrett has not faced such selection dilemmas as had many of his predecessors. The seasiders are coming together well with new spearhead Kevin Thomson proving to be a quality target with 12 goals already to his name from three outings.

He is the man most likely to stand in the way of the Tigers snaring a breakthrough victory. New Tantanoola coach Jak Ryan will probably give either evergreen veteran Braydn Reilly or newly-elevated skipper Brandon Pitts the job of minding Thomson.