Roosters dominate preliminary final as Pies’ run ends

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Roosters dominate preliminary final as Pies’ run ends

Robe 18.19 defeated Kalangadoo 4.9


Robe players sent a metaphorical two-fingered salute to the unnamed selectors of the Mid South Eastern 2024 Team of the Year on Saturday.


Just two seasiders were chosen for the 2024 representative team which has 24 places available.


Despite this snub, the Roosters will head to Kongorong on Saturday following their dominant 94-point win over reigning premiers Kalangadoo in the preliminary final at Kalangadoo on Saturday.


They outscored their opponents in every term and will now meet minor premiers Hatherleigh in the season decider.


Although the Eagles have lost just one game in 2024, they have been defeated in their last three grand finals since their last flag over Port MacDonnell at Kongorong 11 years ago.


The blue and golds have lost the 2017, 2022 and 2023 grand finals.


With just one match in the space of 14 days, it had been expected the fresher legs of the Magpies would have easily taken them to victory on their own oval in the penultimate game of 2024.


Robe had also been rated as underdogs as they had lost their past four finals and not experienced any major round success since 2018.


On the other, Robe had defeated Kalangadoo by more than 10 goals in both of their 2024 minor round meetings.


The spectators turned up in their droves with over $13,700 being paid at the gate.


Among the spectators was Mount Burr coach Clint Gallio who has not missed playing in a major round since 2013.


Eight of the nine Mid SE clubs had teams competing and total major round receipts have soared past $40,000.


A change was forced on Robe with defender Jed Jarrett required to serve a one-match penalty after receiving his third yellow card in 2024.


The seasiders recalled injured coach Nathan Brown as a last roll of the dice.


Earlier in the day, Kalangadoo lost the Under 14 and B Grade cut-throat finals.


HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED


The northern (scoreboard) end was favoured by a three-goal breeze for much of the day.


Newly-minted Mail Medallist and Robe skipper Henry Lawrie called correctly at the toss of the coin and his team had first use of it.


His side drew first blood on the scoreboard at the three-minute mark after James Dutton was incorrectly tackled.


The free kick brought up the maximum six points but was countered a few minutes later by Dylan Bromley of Kalangadoo.


However, that was the end of the goal scoring in the opening term by the home team.


The visitors piled on a further 4.5 to take a 28-point lead into quarter time.


Many in the crowd expected the reigning premiers to respond strongly including the unnamed Team of the Year selectors who chose five Magpies for this honour.


It was not to be as Robe kicked 2.5 into the breeze and conceded only 1.4.


The writing was on the wall for Kalangadoo at the long break as they had managed two goals and were 35 points in arrears.


Some rough-house tactics by the black and whites was counterproductive as Robe added 9.4 to two behinds.


With his side leading by 91 points, Brown took a break at the last change.


The final term was mostly of academic interest with the intensity missing from earlier in the game.


The run and back-up of Robe was outstanding over all four quarters and has kept them in the finals race.


Tempers flared on occasion but field umpires Nick McBride, Adam Gilbert and Matt Cockrum kept good control and handed out penalties where appropriate.


Kalangadoo’s loss brought the two-season coaching tenure of Al Lyon to a close and his successor will be ex-skipper Mitch Lowe.


The Magpies also lost the opportunity to go for a hat-trick of flags to go with their three-peats in 1950-52 and 1982-84.


The focus of the MSEFL now turns to Glencoe tomorrow night (Wednesday) when the umpires hold their final weekly training session for 2024.


After a sit-down meal cooked by the MSEFL executive committee, umpires director Neil Webber will announce the eagerly-awaited grand final appointments.

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