Hatherleigh has been the outstanding team in the Mid South Eastern Football League in 2024 and has had the measure of grand final opponents Robe on all three occasions this season.
But one big question remains – Can the Eagles overcome the phobia of losing their past three grand finals in 2017, 2022 and last season?
In other words, will they gag on the biggest day of the year?
There are other queries too.
What more can first-year coach Tom Hutchesson do to lead the blue and golds to a sixth premiership pennant?
How can skipper Will Chay ensure it is he who lifts the Wilf Sprengel Shield at 4.50pm on Saturday and not the opposition captain and newly-minted Mail Medallist Henry Lawrie.
Can the minor premiers counter the self-imposed booze ban which has applied to the Roosters for around two months?
Is having an extra week’s rest in the major round a blessing or a curse?
How do you counter a team which has just defeated the reigning premiers on their home ground by 94 points to reach the grand final?
There are matters which Robe has to address as well.
How do stop a team which has beaten you three times since June by an average margin of almost 40 points?
How do you tighten a defence which conceded 17 goals on two of those occasions?
How do you get the most value out of coach Nathan Brown who is below 100% fitness?
How do you put out of your mind the fact that you have lost three of your past five games?
Should the fact that only two Robe players won selection in the Mid SE Team of the Year be used as a motivational tool?
Who is to make way for Jed Jarrett who has served a one-match suspension?
Will the “Bound for Glory” bus reappear in 2024? [certainly not say club insiders].
Robe is the newest club in the MSEFL having joined in 1966 following the demise of the Southern Ports Football League.
The Roosters and the Eagles have never met in a season decider.
There are no villains or sentimental favourites in the MSE in 2024 and there are some unlucky players who are on the long-term injured list.
Some have had long mid-season layoffs but are now cherry ripe for the major round.
Hatherleigh vice-captain Jed Telfer falls into this category as he missed nine games along with the likes of Darcy Bateman (11 games) and Sam Waring (five games).
Over at Robe, the coach is back in the starting 18 along with Zac Deane who missed five games, Tom Wachtel (four games) and Tom Williams (seven games).
The online accessible records do not provide all the morsels of information that I desire.
That is, the Hatherleigh 2013 premiership players in A Grade on Saturday are expected by me to be Brad Wight, Sam Telfer and Jase Bateman while the Robe 2018 grand final winners are Jack Sneath, Jordan Pettit and Zac Deane.
The Kongorong Oval has had some notable curators over the years and the names of Peter Norman and the late Bill Hanel spring readily to mind.
No games have been played there for several weeks and rain is forecast for every day of this week.
You can thus expect the playing surface to be somewhat on the slippery side but nevertheless of a good standard.
Both teams have a running style of play best suited to large and firm surfaces.
Those factors do not apply at Kongorong on Saturday.
THE WASH UP
In its 2023 grand final, Hatherleigh started well and lost.
In its 2022 grand final, Hatherleigh started poorly and lost.
In its 2017 grand final, Hatherleigh broke even at the start and lost.
Hatherleigh has been the best team in 2024 and rightly deserves to start as favourites against a worthy but patchy Robe.
However, if two strokes of luck go Robe’s way, the seasiders will win as the Eagles and the Roosters are so evenly balanced.
There has to be a strong breeze worth at least three goals and Lawrie has to win the toss for the third consecutive week.
Two big “ïfs”.
B Grade
Robe v Hatherleigh
Robe is just one win away from the rare feat of going through a season undefeated.
The Roosters are in fine fettle after demolishing Hatherleigh by plenty on their home ground in the second semi.
Among the standouts was Jimmy Wasson who has returned to Aussie Rules after many years on the sidelines.
Back in 2007 and 2008, Wasson won consecutive Malseed Medals as the best and fairest senior colt in the Mid SE.
Former A Grade skipper Jaryd Dawson was another to feature with seven goals.
As non-playing co-coach, Port MacDonnell’s Kyall McLean is not surprised the Roosters and the Eagles are playing each other on the last match of the season.
McLean said Hatherleigh has had great success with four recent flags and a win over Kalangadoo at Kalangadoo in the preliminary final.
“Robe have been building towards this over the past few years,” McLean said.
“They set up the zones well and have a similar style of play to the Eagles.
“Dawson will have a big impact as he demands the ball.
“Hatherleigh is a well drilled team and has plenty of experience.”
Senior Colts
Glencoe v Nangwarry
Nangwarry has risen from fourth to the season decider against Glencoe after wins over Port MacDonnell and minor premiers Mount Burr.
The Saints have not won a premiership in any grade since 1998 and would be sentimental favourites in many quarters.
Bay coach Steve Lewis watched his side get narrowly defeated by them in the first semi and believes they can complete a fairytale finish to 2024.
He said the minor round matches involving the top four colts teams were tight contests.
On occasion, his seaside team was undermanned as colts were summoned to play A Grade.
He has singled out Elwood Geary, Oliver Capewell and Jaggar Geary as the three Nangwarry players likely to put the Murphies into second place.
“The Kongorong Oval suits Nangwarry and they have the momentum after those two good wins,” Lewis said.
One of the keenest supporters of the Murphies is past president and multiple premiership player Max Childs who has seen every Mid SE grand final since 1948.
Junior Colts
Hatherleigh v Port MacDonnell
The Eagles endured a lean grand final day a year ago and again arrive at that one day in September with three competing sides.
Under first-year coach Dr Sean McGrath, Hatherleigh Junior Colts comfortably won the minor premiership and took the direct route to the grand final by accounting for Port MacDonnell in the second semi.
The Demons bounced back with a win over Kalangadoo in the preliminary final but Robe Junior Colts coach Chris McLay expects that will be the last time they sing their victory song in 2024.
“Hatherleigh has greater size and body strength,” McLay said.
“They have about five prime movers who dominate the play.
“They are headed by on-baller Will Dower who polled 41 votes to win the Mansell Medal.
“Over at Port Mac, their best players are Tyler Neale and Tyron Howard.
“I have checked the stats of the three games between the clubs in 2024 and Hatherleigh won them all.
“In the first game, the margin was five points and each team had eight scoring shots.
“It was 32 points in the second match and the scoring shot account was 15 to three.
“The numbers in the third were almost identical.
“They show the Eagles went deeper past the 50m line.”
