One of the most keenly anticipated regional sporting events of 2025 will take place at Kongorong on June 7.
The annual South East Zone Regional Football Carnival is being staged at the home of the Kongorong football and netball clubs and will be a magnet for sports lovers.
As shown in last year’s MSEFL grand final, members of the Kongorong sporting community are excellent hosts and will have all staging and catering matters well in hand.
There are plenty of undercover viewing areas along the western wing.
All regular home and away matches across the region have been cancelled on the King’s Birthday holiday long weekend in favour of showcasing the rich talent in underage and senior grades.
You can expect to see AFL and SANFL talent scouts lurking in the crowd.
There is no doubt that a strong performance in the carnival at Vansittart Park a decade ago by Millicent’s Mason Redman assisted his pathway to the AFL and the Essendon Bombers.
The carnival has been running in its current format since 2014 between the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League (KNTFL), Mid South Eastern Football League (MSEFL) and the Western Border Football League (WBFL), now Limestone Coast Football Netball League (LCFNL).
The WBFL/LCFNL has five wins and this is one more than the KNTFL.
The MSEFL is yet to take home the trophy.
There will be six underage football curtain raisers at Kongorong involving the three leagues and some representative underage netball games are in the mix as well.
The sole senior football match is between the KNTFL and the MSEFL.
The two leagues met at this venue exactly three years ago with the visitors recording an easy victory.
However, they will not have access to any Penola players as the KNTFL Eagles joined the LCFNL at the start of this season.
Injuries will prevent the MSEFL from fielding its best team.
For example, three club coaches in the MSEFL are currently on the sidelines: Hatherleigh’s Tom Hutchesson, Tantanoola’s Jack Dawe and Port MacDonnell’s Josh Woodall.
Players seek to do well in this carnival as they hope to be picked for the SE zone team to play in the annual South Australian Country Championships in Port Pirie in July.
