Kalangadoo v Robe
The intense rivalry between Kalangadoo and Robe has ramped up in recent seasons due to many factors and both clubs are keen to secure the premiership points when round 16 of the Mid South Eastern Football League is played on Saturday.
The Magpies have already secured the double chance while the minor premiership is looking highly likely.
On the other hand, the Roosters are marooned in fifth place and need results to go their way in rounds 16-18 to avoid missing the finals for the first time since 2017.
The seasiders could defeat Kalangadoo (away), Mount Burr (home) and Nangwarry (away) and still not reach the major round.
The red-and-whites will welcome back ex-coach Jack Kelly to their starting 18 after his duties as an assistant coach with the SA Country team in Adelaide last weekend.
Kalangadoo is starting to settle on the 22 players it will use in the finals and a Magpie victory will probably spell the end of Robe’s major round aspirations.
Mount Burr v Nangwarry
An odd fact appears in the prelude to Mount Burr’s annual hosting of fellow one-time Woods and Forests Department timber town Nangwarry.
It might be fourth taking on ninth but the Saints are the in-form team.
Both have played competition pace-setter Kalangadoo in their immediate past matches with Nangwarry going down by 99 points while Mount Burr’s defeat amounted to 112 points.
If the weather is fine, it might give Nangwarry newcomer Andy Hyland the opportunity to narrow the 11-goal lead held by Magpie Michael Krieger in the race for the annual goal-kicking honours.
Hyland currently has 51 goals and has one fewer match to play than Krieger before the minor round winds up on August 20.
Few would begrudge Hyland the honour which came Krieger’s way in 2021.
Hyland makes the 800km round trip from his Adelaide home each weekend and also took his place in the MSEFL interleague team against the KNTFL at Kongorong in June.
The Mozzies have yet to secure a place in the major round and cannot afford to bring anything other than their “A Game” to this contest.
Port MacDonnell v Tantanoola
When Port MacDonnell and Tantanoola last met at Tigerland in round 7, the seasiders won by 65 points and this was the smallest winning margin on the day.
The Tigers have had a mixed season with a mid-range season finish on the cards for a while.
However, injuries have exposed the club’s lack of depth while many of the talented senior colts have been required to play two games each Saturday.
The red-and-whites are facing a tough challenge in the finishing minor round games against ladder leader Kalangadoo and likely finalist Mount Burr.
The Demons are still a rough chance of securing a double-chance finals berth if they keep on winning and Hatherleigh’s patchy form continues.
Kongorong v Hatherleigh
Kongorong’s trip to Hatherleigh on May 21 was arguably its worst effort in 2022 as it conceded 47 scoring shots and lost by a massive 138 points.
Going on recent form and the home ground advantage, this return encounter will be much closer.
The Hawks were impressive in round 15 in defeating Tantanoola at Tigerland by 85 points while Hatherleigh went down at home to Glencoe in one of the upsets of the season.
It was not great timing for the Eagles to succumb with the finals getting under way at the end of the month.
The visitors will welcome back ruckman Mark Marriott from duties with the SA Country team in Adelaide.
He is one of the Mail Medal favourites and will meet veteran foe Scott Fleming who was already a seasoned campaigner before he entered the world.
