The Mid South Eastern Football League second semi final at the Hatherleigh Oval on Saturday is shaping up to be one of tightest finals in living memory.
It might only be the second semi final but I believe the winner is well placed to take home the premiership pennant a fortnight later at Kongorong.
We will have a very good idea about the winner of the 2024 premiership by 5pm on Saturday and whether it will be either Tom Hutchesson, Nathan Brown or Al Lyon winning the Phil Muhovics Memorial Medal as the winning grand final coach.
The race for the Wilf Sprengel Shield has become a three-horse race after Port MacDonnell was trounced by an impressive Kalangadoo outfit by 61 points in the cut-throat first semi final at Nangwarry on Saturday.
It is my long-held view the loser of the second semi will also have their colours lowered in the preliminary final.
That was certainly the case a year ago when minor premiers Port MacDonnell lost just one minor round match and then went out in straight sets.
It will be a bitter pill to swallow, but that is the fate that awaits either the minor premiers or the seasiders.
Football is all about physical and mental factors.
In the preliminary final, the fresh Kalangadoo players will be able to exploit the bruised and tired bodies of either Hatherleigh or Robe as well as the second-guessing and doubts that invariably befall a team which loses a major round contest.
The A Grade match will be immediately preceded by the same two clubs who are seeking the direct path to the home of the Hawks on September 21.
Will that result have any impact on the A Grade outcome?
The Roosters Reserves have not dropped a game this year while Hatherleigh has won four of the past five B Grade grand finals.
Back to A Grade, the large Hatherleigh Oval suits the fast, running game of the second semi final combatants while the surface should be firm.
Around three imperial inches of rain in the old money has fallen on many parts of the region in the month of August.
The Hatherleigh Oval, like many others, had little trouble with such a late winter.
Some sunshine has been forecast for later this week and that will assist the calibre of the playing surface.
MY PREDICTION
The Eagles are still hungry for flag glory and want to put losses in their past three grand final appearances well and truly behind them.
With 15 wins in the minor round and a sole blemish against Port MacDonnell, Hatherleigh are still the flag favourites.
Coach Hutchesson is one of the most talented players in the Mid SE in the past decade and all the Eagles should be inspired by his efforts.
Paddy Chay has been the outstanding forward of 2024 and averaged over four goals per game.
On the other hand, the main plus for the Roosters is the strength of their on-ball division.
Tom Wachtel and coach Brown are already league medal winners and centreman Henry Lawrie will probably join that group when the Mail Medal winners are announced in Millicent on Sunday.
The main challengers for this accolade are Glencoe skipper Dylan Childs, past winner Clint Gallio, Port MacDonnell’s four-time medallist Will Macdonald and Hutchesson.
The Tantanoola Football Netball Club will cater for the afternoon function at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre and former Hatherleigh player Trevor Rayson will be the master of ceremonies.
The awards for underage netballers and footballers will be presented at his venue on Sunday morning.
PREDICTION: Hatherleigh by 20 points B Grade
Robe’s B Grade has achieved the rare feat of going through a minor round without a loss but they meet “September Specialists” Hatherleigh on their home ground.
B Grade flags have proved elusive for the Roosters as they have won just two since entering the MSEFL in 1966.
It has been a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the seasiders as they are the senior colts reigning premiers and occupy the top two rankings of the senior grades.
On the other hand, Hatherleigh has won four of the past five B Grade grand finals.
Senior Colts
In senior colts minor premiers Mount Burr takes winning form into the major round as it again faces Glencoe.
The Mozzies lowered the colours of the Murphies by 32 points at Glencoe in round 18 with league-leading Mount Burr spearhead Cambell Hateley booting five goals.
The teams had achieved a perfect tie of 8.9 apiece at their round nine encounter.
Junior Colts
In junior colts Hatherleigh dropped a few goals on the way to the minor premiership.
The youngest of the Demons are carrying the hopes of Port MacDonnell as two other grades were defeated in the first semi.
Coach Appointed
Former Kalangadoo Football Club premiership captain Mitch Lowe has been appointed coach of the A Grade Magpies for the 2025 season.
An-off season injury meant he has not been able to play with the black and whites this season.
Lowe will succeed reigning premiership coach Al Lyon who has also been affected by injury over the past two seasons.
His club has reached the MSEFL preliminary final which will be played on their home deck on September 14.
Lowe joined the Magpies junior colts team in 2009 and has since clocked up over 300 games at underage and senior levels with the club.
Among his many accolades as a player, Lowe has represented the MSEFL.
He also won the 2013 Allen Jenkin Medal for being best on ground in the winning senior colts grand final team.
Just two Mid SE clubs have yet to announce their coaches for 2025.
