Robe v Kalangadoo

Third-placed Robe hosts ladder-leader Kalangadoo in the match-of-the-day when round seven of the Mid South East Football League occurs on Saturday.

The Roosters have impressed in all bar one match while the Magpies have an unblemished record from their five outings this season.

The seasiders are still anxious to avenge the 2019 first semi final defeat at the hands of the black-and-whites which ended their premiership defence.

Robe has some quality newcomers and promising colts and has well covered the loss of key forwards Zac Deane, Billy Laurie and Riley Dickenson from the 2021 list.

If it is to be regarded as a true premiership threat, it must win matches at home against quality opposition.

Kalangadoo will start the game as favourites given its forward line is currently averaging 160 points per match.

This figure will gradually drop as the winter rains arrive and the grounds become heavier.

Nevertheless, the likes of Michael Krieger, Ben Mules and Al Lyon will still post a winning score for the Magpies.

Nangwarry v Mount Burr

Nangwarry hosting of Mount Burr provides the opportunity for the Saints to achieve their desperate and deserved breakthrough win.

Going purely on statistics, this is the best chance for the home side as the combatants occupy the bottom two rungs on the premiership table.

The sole success for the Mozzies in 2022 to date was over Kongorong at home in round three.

Over than heavy losses at the home grounds of competition heavyweights Kalangadoo and Hatherleigh, Nangwarry has been in winning positions in the final terms in the three other games it has played.

The Mozzies and the Saints have enjoyed a great rivalry over many decades and this was due in no small measure to the former Woods and Forests Department.

This State Government agency established and ran the now-closed Nangwarry and Mount Burr mills and there was a bond between the towns.

Such comradeship was suspended for a few hours whenever the Saints and the Mozzies met on the footy field and this combativeness has continued to this day.

Tantanoola v Port MacDonnell

The outcome of Tantanoola’s hosting of Port MacDonnell will decide which of these teams secures fourth spot.

With both teams boasting three wins, fourth spot is currently occupied by the Demons but it is only a few percentage points clear.

To be fair, the seasiders have had a less-than-ideal start to the season as their oval has had an unplayable surface and have been forced to train elsewhere.

Tantanoola has played with a great deal of heart this season and given plenty of opportunities to its talented teenage brigade.

It has welcomed skipper Brandon Pitts back into the starting 18 after it was feared he would be sidelined for quite a while with injury.

The ace-in-the-pack for the visitors could well be assistant coach Kevin Thomson who is currently averaging over four goals per game.

The reigning premiers would dearly love to have injured players of the calibre of ex-skipper Zack Williams and Ned Wilke back in the team.

Hatherleigh versus Kongorong

Hatherleigh should achieve the largest win of round seven at home at the expense of Kongorong if the 2022 scores are a reliable guide.

The Eagles have just come off a big win at Glencoe whereas the Hawks had their colours lowered at home in round six by Tantanoola.

The blue-and-golds have well covered the loss of key forward Jake Wight to a broken arm with coach Jake Dowdy assuming the role as main spearhead.

The obvious choice of defender to stand Dowdy is the evergreen Aaron Lightbody who has maintained his reliable form in 2022.

Hatherleigh will be going full throttle in this match in order to maximise its percentage and reclaim the top ranking on the premiership table.