If Robe can conjure up a victory over Hatherleigh at home on Saturday, it will be one of the greatest upsets in the history of grand finals in the Mid South Eastern Football League.
This scribe has written about 40 MSEFL grand finals and cannot recall one where there has been a warmer favourite than Hatherleigh are in 2025.
The Eagles are the reigning premiers and minor premiers and have beaten their upcoming opponents in their three meetings this year.
The blue and golds have had two weekends off during the major round, most of their first-choice players are available for selection and they have the league leading goalkicker and in good form.
They came away from the annual Mail Medal function at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre on Sunday with a swag of trophies and almost mass membership of the 2025 MSEFL Team of the Year.
At a time of the year when injuries are vital, the ladder leaders have welcomed back players who have recovered.
With an ex-AFL player at the helm and with all four football teams in the finals, life is sweet for the Hatherleigh Football Club.
With such advantages, the Roosters might feel like conceding to the Eagles in this ultimate battle of the birds.
However, there are some chinks in the armour of Hatherleigh which give Robe supporters a glimmer of hope.
Most of the vulnerable matters are of an historical nature.
That being said, plenty of football games are won (or lost) above the shoulders.
The few weak spots for Hatherleigh are:
They have lost every grand final they have played at Robe (the defeats both came at the hands of Tantanoola in 1986 and 2006).
Until last year, Hatherleigh has had a poor record in grand finals in the past decade.
Hatherleigh has never won consecutive premierships
To be fair, Robe can be exploited in some areas.
Sporting insiders claim two Roosters were injured in that five-point win over Tantanoola in the preliminary final at the Bay on Saturday.
The word around the traps is the nature of the injuries is set to rule them out of any play this weekend.
In terms of luck, the Roosters have had doses of both good fortune and misfortune.
The worst in personal terms were the season-ending knee injuries to arguably Robe’s two best players: lion-hearted rover George Dutton and skipper and 2024 Mail medallist Henry Lawrie
On the other hand, it was luck which played a significant part in the preliminary final and Robe’s advance to the grand final.
That is Tantanoola’s best forward scored 2.6 while Robe’s defence was not punished with a crucial 50m penalty in the dying minutes of the game.
Some one-on-one matchups in the grand final have to be won by Robe if they are to be ahead at the final siren.
The most crucial will be vice-captain Jack Sneath on goalkicking dynamo Frazer Bradley while the tagging job of Kaden Woodward on Hatherleigh coach Tom Hutchesson is not far behind.
Rooster ruckman Tom Wachtel has had an outstanding season and it came as no surprise to me that he won his second Mail Medal this year.
His formidable opponent at the centre circle will be Sam Waring who can proudly point to premiership medals well-earned at Millicent and his home club Hatherleigh.
The home ground advantage will assist Robe but not a great extent.
More than anything else, the main threat to Hatherleigh skipper Will Chay lifting the Wilf Sprengel Memorial Shield for the second consecutive year is nothing to do with any actions of the Robe Football Club.
It could be cockiness and over-confidence which could be the downfall of the Eagles.
This has not been evident at all in 2025.
PREDICTION – Hatherleigh Eagles to be victorious over the Robe Roosters by 25 points.
Reserves
Robe v Hatherleigh
The Robe Reserves have only thrice sung their victory song on grand final day.
The first occasion was in 1981, the second was in 2005 and the third was last year.
Indeed, the Roosters have not lost a game since the beginning of the 2024 season.
They will be gunning for their 37th consecutive victory and on their home ground.
Their opponents are Hatherleigh who have played in every season decider since 2018.
Overall, the Eagles have claimed seven B Grade premiership flags since their first in 1964.
Mid SE junior executive member Dylan Clough expects one of the trump cards for the home side to be their ruckman, Tom Miller.
He has just been named as the joint B Grade Carthew Medallist as the league’s best and fairest.
Although Robe have won all three clashes in 2025, Clough said one of the victories was by a few points.
“The Roosters have good skills but the forecast is for poor weather and this will bring them back to Hatherleigh’s level,” he said.
“The Robe A Grade copped injuries to two players in the preliminary final and so two of their B Grade will have to go up.
“On the other hand, Hatherleigh will benefit from having two players back from A Grade as a pair have recovered from their injuries.”
Senior Colts
Glencoe v Hatherleigh
Reigning premiers Glencoe had to take the long way to the big dance via the first and preliminary finals.
Their opponents Hatherleigh disposed of minor premiers Nangwarry in the second semi to secure their grand final berth.
Indeed, the injury-plagued Saints became the only minor premier not to reach the season decider.
The first of Glencoe’s three Senior Colts flags came in 1967 and current MSEFL vice president Dennis Muhovics was a member of that team.
Hatherleigh has dominated the Senior Colts competition with 14 grand final wins between 1961 and 2022.
Mid SE junior committee president Kevin Dinnson said the Senior Colts match featured two very talented sides.
“Glencoe has such standout players as their skipper and co-captain Kaleb Price, vice-captain Lachy Brieley, Hamish Gordon and co-captain and league leading goalkicker Daniel Ferguson,” Dinnison said.
“Hatherleigh are a more even side and have the height advantage.
“Their best player is captain Jordan Atkinson and he has all the skills.
“He tied with Nangwarry captain Archer Virtanen for the Malseed Medal.”
Junior Colts
Robe v Port MacDonnell
The Junior Colts contest is the only fixture where the reigning premier is not featuring.
Port MacDonnell knocked out Hatherleigh with the last kick of the preliminary final and get another chance to claim the silverware.
This is the third consecutive season the youngest of the Demons have played on that most special of September days.
They have won four flags with the most recent in 2013.
The Roosters have five premierships from 1981 until 2019.
Mid SE junior committee executive member Gary “Tug” Wilson said Robe may have dominated the minor round but finals are a different matter.
“The winner will be the outfit which plays to the best of their ability and as a team,” Wilson said.
“This will be the best game to watch and the margin will be a goal or less.
“Robe only got through the second semi at Nangwarry by the skin of their teeth.
“Two of their players ended up in hospital: one with a broken arm and the other with a broken nose.
“The Roosters have the home ground advantage and their talented onballer Dylan Thomas won the Mansell Medal.”
