The Kowree Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League season kicked off last Saturday with lots of expectations of finals for most of the clubs.
The game of the round was the clash between last season’s grand finalists Border Districts and Kingston and the result ended up being in favour of the Eagles again.
Both teams had plenty of chances to score during the game but it was the Eagles’ forward efficiency that proved the difference in their 34-point victory.
Dylan Schoenmakers and Harrison Pretlove kicked three goals each in the victory.
Joshua Richards, Grant Cother and Luke Nicholas were the Eagles’ best players.
Kingston had a hard time kicking straight during the game and could only find one multiple goal kicker in Ethan Murdock.
The Saints’ best players were James Siviour, Chris Draper and Sam Robertson.
Bordertown and Keith played out a thrilling encounter when they faced each other.
The game was tight at every change until the Crows found enough of the ball in the fourth quarter to pull away and record an 18-point win.
Recruit Alex Schiller kicked four goals for the Crows and another recruit Aaron Young added three goals in the victory.
Aaron Young, Daniel Bibby and Cameron Craig were the Crows’ best players.
Jacob Eats stood tall in the forward lines for the Roosters with four goals.
Jaiden Kappler added three goals and showed why he will be a great addition to Bordertown.
Jaidan Kappler, Carson Clark and Troy Blackwell were the Roosters’ best players.
Kybybolite started the season off with a thrilling victory against Lucindale when they came from eight points behind at three quarter time.
The Tigers worked hard in the fourth quarter and were able to turn the game around in their favour in the fourth quarter.
Charlie Hillier led the way with five goals for the Tigers.
Stephen Craig added two goals of his own in the victory.
Kybybolite had some great contributors as Matt Black, Charlie Hillier and Billy Laurie were named the best players.
Lucindale did not quite get the victory but had solid contributors in front of the goals with Jay Schultz, Henry Tregoweth and Josh Trembath kicking two goals each.
The Roos’s best players were Lachlan Earl, Matt Kelsh and Luke Kelsh.
Mundulla got their season off in a big way as they took care of Penola by 110 points.
The Tigers kicked eight goals in the first quarter and never looked back.
James Hinge kicked five goals in the victory.
Darcy King, William Nankivell and Nathan Studham also got on the goal kickers list for Mundulla with four goals each.
Nick Mosey, Tom Gaden and Reagan Tink were named the Tigers’ best.
Penola found it hard to put the ball through the big sticks as they only had one multiple goal kicker in Brodie Foster who kicked two goals for the game.
Jordan Galpin, Jak Ryan and Harrison Evans were named the Eagles’ best players.
Padthaway had a strong 89-point victory over Naracoorte in round one.
The Lions led from start to finish and built up a percentage-boosting victory to start the season.
Tobin Cox kicked five and Jordan Bell added four of his own as the Demons had no answer for them in attack.
Jordan Hooper, Jordan Bell and Danny Juckers had good games to be named the top three best players in the victory.
Naracoorte battled hard but could only find one multiple goal kicker with Sam Logan kicking two goals.
Nicholas Lacey, Matt Willson and Kai Schmid were named Naracoorte’s best players.
Round two preview All roads lead to Keith in round two as the Keith Crows will host the Border Districts Eagles in a round two blockbuster.
This will be an early test for both clubs who are fancied to be there when the finals start in four months.
Crows’ key recruits Aaron Young and Cameron Craig fitted right into the side in round one by being named in the best players list.
Another player whom Keith added in the off season Alex Schiller kicked four goals in round one and he looks like another player the Crows have added to make the team stronger.
Border Districts also added a key recruit in Joshua Richards.
Joshua is the brother of Borders’ coach Zac and he looks like a very handy addition to the premiership team.
This game looks even on paper and the season is still early but I think Keith at home might fancy themselves to just get across the line.
Lucindale is at home to Bordertown and the Roosters will be favourites I think in this game.
The Roos had a tough loss last week against Kybybolite and will look to bounce back against the Roosters.
Both teams seem to have made some good recruiting moves in the off season and either could get the victory on Saturday.
I feel as if the Roosters might have a bit more depth to their line up and forward line to kick a winning score.
Lucindale will be relying on Jay Schultz and Josh Trembath to kick a bag between them to get close to winning the game.
Jaiden Kappler, Billy Hayes and the rest of the Roosters’ midfield should be able to provide Jacob Eats with enough chances to kick a winning score.
If Thomas Whittlesea is back also, the game will be tilted in the Roosters’ favour even more.
The battle of the Tigers takes place this weekend between Mundulla and Kybybolite.
Both teams are heading into this clash undefeated and it would have been a long time since they met when both teams were undefeated.
Mundulla did what they had to last weekend in dispatching Penola while flexing their muscles.
The Moots have a very strong forward line if they are at full strength.
Darcy King and James Hinge are the keys to it and they are hard to stop if they are in full flight.
Nathan Studham joined last season and added more class to the Mundulla lineup as well.
Kybybolite on the other hand have been building their team back up for the past few years.
Last season Kyby improved their defence and might have been challenging for finals if they won a few more of the close games.
Billy Laurie leads the way with his class on the left foot.
Andrew Bradley is a great addition back into the line up as well.
Kyby pushed Mundulla in both meetings last season and will be keen to see how they stack up against their fellow Tigers in the league.
Mundulla will start warm favourites but I expect Kybybolite to throw everything at them.
Naracoorte hosts Penola and this could be a chance for a big confidence booster for both teams.
Naracoorte lost a lot of players in the off season and it showed the effect in round one with a heavy defeat to Padthaway.
Penola came up against a strong Mundulla outfit and could not go with them.
Naracoorte will rely heavily on Matt Willson to win a lot of the ball and get it forward to Sam Logan so he can have a chance of kicking a few goals to give the Demons a chance.
The Demons still have some good players in Nicholas Lacey and Aaron Slorach who add much-needed experience to the team.
Penola can also point out they have experienced players with new coach Jayden Eldridge, Bradley Bryant and Jordan Galpin leading the way.
Penola looks like they are the favourites in this contest, but at home, Naracoorte cannot be discounted.
Kingston will get a chance to play in front of their home crowd for the first time this weekend when they face Padthaway.
The Lions head to Gall Park with their tails up and full of confidence after securing a big percentage-boosting victory in round one.
Tobin Cox and Jordan Bell strongly started the season and Kingston will need to plan to stop them on Saturday.
New coach Mitchell Minns would have been pleased with how the team played.
Jordan Hooper, Danny Juckers and Blake Harris were other new players who had good first rounds in their new colours.
Kingston faced Border Districts and apart from not putting the score on the board, the team played some good football.
The Watts boys in Campbell and William had a lot of the ball to start the season strongly.
James Siviour was outstanding in the ruck and the Lions will need an athletic tall to run with him.
Kingston looks stronger on paper and at home, they will be favourites especially if they can sort out their forward entries.
