It is more than 30 years since a clash between Tantanoola and Nangwarry ranked as the match of the day in the Mid South Eastern Football League.
That was the 1994 grand final at Port MacDonnell when Phil Muhovics’ Saints won their second consecutive flag at the expense of Ashleigh Barnett’s Tigers.
Interest is sky-high in this round two meeting at Tigerland as the wider football community wants to know if Nangwarry’s carload of recruits can prevail over the summer recruiting spree of Tantanoola.
You can be sure the vantage point of the C.W. Haines Stand will be packed with supporters of the two competing clubs as well as unaligned spectators from the neighbouring Limestone Coast Football Netball League.
This competition has followed the request of the SANFL to schedule a bye to coincide with the 18 AFL clubs competing in Gather Round in Adelaide and the Barossa Valley.
Tantanoola opened the 2025 season with a bye while Nangwarry was impressive in defeating Port MacDonnell for the first time in more than 15 years.
It was a personal triumph for new Saints playing coach George McWaters while its recruits impressed.
Tyler Wool-Waddell patrolled the backlines, “pocket rocket” Jacob Murchison booted four goals and Jake Mansell showed the vitality and toughness his clan are renowned for.
The fourth recruit from Adelaide suburban club Woodville South was unavailable due to injury.
The other newcomer was new non-playing assistant coach Darren Mansell – father of Jake.
The elder Mansell has arguably the most outstanding CV of any one currently involved in the MSEFL.
His formative football years were spent at Nangwarry, Tarpeena and Penola and then he played around 150 games with SANFL zone club Glenelg.
Mansell was twice runner-up for Glenelg’s club champion prize and he played in three losing grand finals against Port Adelaide.
After leaving the SANFL, Mansell coached Encounter Bay to a premiership in the strong Great Southern Football League.
McWaters could not have a more accomplished occupant on the coach’s bench.
The visitors will provide formidable opposition to the home team which has bolstered its playing list.
Key recruits like Millicent’s Sam Willis as well as high-calibre returning players in Jaxon Cushion and Jordan Gould have filled key positions which the Tigers could not cover for several seasons.
If Nangwarry can repeat its opening round form, it can defeat most teams in the competition.
PREDICTION: Nangwarry by 10 points Hatherleigh v Mount Burr
Speaking of match of the day status, the Mozzies and the Eagles clashes over the past decade have proudly held this ranking on many occasions.
With the possible exception of Robe, this will be the biggest gate for the Eagles in 2025.
Sublime players like Hatherleigh’s Tom Hutchesson and Mount Burr’s Kallan Bevan will always draw fans through the figurative turnstiles in the MSEFL.
Both teams spent 2024 in the top bracket with Hatherleigh winning their fifth flag while Mount Burr just missed the major round on percentage.
The Eagles barely raised a sweat on the road to a big win at Kongorong while the Mozzies enjoyed a satisfying victory over the Kalangadoo Magpies under lights at Mick and Jean Walker Oval.
The reigning premiers have a huge amount of expectation to win consecutive flags for the first time since they entered the MSEFL in 1947.
The word around the traps is that at least two senior Mozzies will be sidelined due to injury for this game.
If that proves to be true, the chances of the visitors on the biggest oval in the competition will sink.
PREDICTION: Hatherleigh by 20 points Port MacDonnell v Kongorong
History was on the side of Port MacDonnell in the opening round as it went to Nangwarry in the knowledge the Saints had not lowered their colours for around 20 years.
That amounted for little as the Saints took the lead midway through the third term and never surrendered it.
It was a different situation at Kongorong where Hatherleigh took a 35-point lead into quarter time and increased it at every change.
One onlooker told me that Hatherleigh should have won by far more than the 93 points as shown by the electronic scoreboard at game’s end.
However, another said Kongorong should have had a much lower losing margin but lacked a winning forward to capitalise on their hard work up the field.
The Ian Smith Trophy has not left the seaside for many years and is destined to remain there.
PREDICTION: Port MacDonnell by 25 points Kalangadoo v Robe Relations between Robe and Kalangadoo have been frosty for several years with the multiple ignition points moving into MSEFL folklore.
Both teams are keen to win for the sake of their new coaches.
Adam Kurzman has clocked up his first win at the helm of the Roosters while that milestone for the Magpies still awaits Mitch Lowe.
The most disturbing aspect of Kalangadoo’s loss at Mount Burr was the lowly tally of just two goals.
Its attack has been built around the likes of Michael Krieger, Lachy Jones, Jack Casey and Dylan Bromley and all were missing to start 2025.
Without such firepower, the Roosters should win.
PREDICTION: Robe by 20 points.
