First semi-final – Mundulla v Naracoorte
Mundulla kept its quest for a fourth straight Kowree Naracoorte-Tatiara premiership alive after they defeated Naracoorte by 76 points on Sunday.
The Tigers took control of the game in the first quarter and never really looked back with the likes of Jake McGrice, Daniel Noll, Darcy King and Nick Mosey in control.
With William Nankivell and McGrice damaging in front of goal, Mundulla powered to a 30-point lead at quarter time.
As William Nankivell was burning the grass constantly with his speed the Tigers did not slow down, while Darcy King’s inclusion back into the team transformed the way the side moved the ball and was extremely hard to stop.
The Demons’ prime movers in Matt Willson, Josh Cother, Rory Taggert and Keenan Jacobs could not get any great run going or link up play to do any damage on the scoreboard.
Naracoorte did fight harder in the second half and got some reward when Sam Willson and Rory Taggert put through goals and won the third quarter.
But Mundulla put the foot down again in the fourth term as Nankivell was having the game of his life.
He kicked his fifth and sixth goals of the game early in the final term, while the side then had a rare celebration as gun defender Lachlan Duell was able to go forward and kick a goal.
King was best on ground and fittingly kicked the last goal of the game and his fourth as the Tigers booked a preliminary final date with a robust performance and big win.
Second semi-final – Lucindale v Keith
Lucindale is through to the 2022 Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League Grand Final after defeating Keith in a classic contest at Francis on Saturday.
The game was close for the first half until the Roos broke away in the third quarter and opened a four-goal margin by three quarter time.
The Crows looked down and out, but they had other ideas started the fourth like a house on fire and kicking the first four goals of the quarter to get the lead back in an amazing push.
The Roos though settled and were able to get the last two goals of the game and win with Tom Logan, Sam Williams and Hamish Gordon continuing their great form.
Andrew Cousins battled hard for the Crows as their only multiple goal kicker with two, while Lucindale did an excellent job on Lewis Hender to hold him to just one goal for the game.
Preliminary final preview
Mundulla is back in form and ready for the rematch against Keith this week at Naracoorte in the preliminary final.
In a great qualifying final, the Crows were able to pull away in the fourth quarter and record a strong win.
Keith also nearly pinched a grand final berth after coming from the clouds but could not hang with the Roos.
The Tigers put their stamp on the game and dismantled the Demons across the four quarters being a different team when they have Darcy King and Lachlan Duell in it.
These two great bookends control the teams line up in the key positions forward and back, while Jake McGrice looks to be over his injury problems and the Mosey boys in Nicholas and Dylan need to be shut down if the Crows have any chance.
For Keith, Billy Wade not being in the team has been a massive loss as he has 48-goals for the season.
George Johnson and Lewis Hender were huge in their qualifying final win and will be looking forward to the extra help of Wade to help kick a winning score.
Seb Schreiber will again look to hold up the defence while George Thring must have a big game and use his SANFL experience to be the start of the clearance work.
The Crows know it will be hard and tough around the ball, so Thring can use his quick thinking and quick hands to open up a clearance for the Crows runners to take advantage of.
Mundulla ended Keith’s season last year by a goal in the preliminary final and its long arms and leading patterns could really show out on the Naracoorte ground.
The signs are there for a Tigers’ win to defend their title in Kingston in a weeks’ time.
