The premiership hangover is long-finished for Kalangadoo and it is well-placed to take the points from Robe at home on Saturday in round 13 of the Mid South East Football League.
Despite a sluggish start to 2024 and injuries to such key players as Jack Casey and Michael Krieger, the Magpies are showing enough to suggest they could go all the way to the premiership dais at Kongorong on September 21.
Other than losses to Hatherleigh and a team sheet hiccup, Robe also looks sharp.
The Roosters have just unveiled an ambitious $10m redevelopment plan for the Robe Oval.
If all goes to plan, the oval will be enlarged, new netball courts erected and the social facilities will be enhanced.
Robe will win.
Kongorong v Tantanoola
Both the Kongorong Hawks and the Tantanoola Tigers have their eyes firmly set on 2025.
Tantanoola could realistically finish as high as sixth and that would make the unenviable tasks of its recruiting committee over summer that little bit easier.
The red and whites are rumoured to have at least one star recruit bound for Tigerland next season while there is also plenty of hype about the possible return of a past player.
Jordan Gould has been living interstate but the 200cm ruckman is tipped to be back at the club where he played all his junior football and some A Grade matches.
Gould has impeccable family ties to the Tigers through his mother.
His great uncle is Ron Hateley who coached Tantanoola to the 1986 flag after a 200-game career with South Adelaide.
Gould’s maternal grandfather Tony Egan is a Tantanoola life member and past secretary while his late great grandfather Reg (“Dutchy”) Egan was a premiership player with the Tigers and later a notable MSEFL umpire.
Meanwhile, Kongorong is also making plans and has advertised for a new coach for next season.
The Hawks have a few chances to get off the bottom of the ladder and hosting Tantanoola is one of them.
However, the Tigers have just beaten the Glencoe Murphies at home to retain the Neil Von Duve Memorial Cup.
Port MacDonnell v Mount Burr
It is a simple equation as clubs jostle for a berth in the major round.
If Port MacDonnell cannot defeat clubs like Mount Burr at their seaside fortress, they will not qualify for the finals.
In any case, the Demons would not be a deserving finalist.
The venue is in their favour, the Mozzies have former skippers Josh Fiebig and Jack Gregory on the long-term injured list and they have had three weeks off due to the timing of their scheduled bye and the SA Country Championships.
On the other hand, if Mount Burr can win at the Bay, it will open up some possibilities.
Such a victory would keep the Mozzies in the top four and give them a chance of adding to their record haul of A Grade flags.
Even allowing for the COVID-cancelled season of 2020, it has been seven calendar years since the last Mount Burr premiership.
This burst of wintry weather should not lessen the intensity of a contest where both teams are world-beaters on their day.
Nangwarry v Hatherleigh
The sandy base of the Nangwarry Oval provides one of the best wet-weather surfaces in the MSEFL and this will be appreciated by Hatherleigh footballers when they pay their annual visit.
There is little to suggest the eighth-placed Saints will be able to lower the colours of the undefeated ladder leaders.
The Eagles currently have a sky-high percentage and talk of an unbeaten season is about.
No Hatherleigh side since it entered the MSEFL competition in 1947 has ever achieved such “invincible” status.
It only has to win its next five minor round and two major round games to join a small number of MSEFL clubs to receive the ultimate accolade.
Nangwarry had ruckman George McWaters and five other first-choice players missing due to injury when it travelled to Mick and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr in round 12. McWaters had been injured at the Bay over a month ago and may be fit to resume.
The Eagles were proud to have two of its younger players in Paddy Chay and Mitch Pulmer get a call-up to play in the annual SA Country Football Championships at Victor Harbor last weekend.
As in their last one-sided game against Kongorong, I expect Hatherleigh to give plenty of game time to their talented colts.
Some may also be presented with their very first A Grade jumper.
In addition to the usual mid-winter activities, the Nangwarry Football Club is planning a special function on August 3 at the same time as Tantanoola visits.
Members of the Dohnt family will be the guests of the club over afternoon tea, marking the 60th consecutive year that L.V. Dohnt & Co. has sponsored the Saints.