The top four is just about set in stone for the Mid South Eastern Football League with “September Specialists” Mount Burr needing a minor miracle in the final round of the home and away season on Saturday to displace reigning premiers Kalangadoo from fourth spot.
Ladder leader Hatherleigh defeated second-placed Robe at home on Saturday in Round 17 to secure the minor premiership.
The Roosters will finish the minor round one rung below the Eagles while Port MacDonnell is assured of third place.
The Mozzies and the Magpies are locked together on nine wins but the black and whites hold a 3% advantage.
For Mount Burr to move into the major round, they need to defeat Glencoe and rely on Nangwarry defeating Kalangadoo.
I think the 300 Spartans had a better chance in their battle against the Persian Army.
Round 17 produced four hotly-contested matches, with the average winning margin trimmed back to almost 27 points.
Hatherleigh 17.10 def Robe 12.4
The battle of the top two teams was anything but one-way traffic as home team Hatherleigh eventually accounted for Robe by the comfortable margin of 36 points.
The Eagles were almost five goals in arrears midway throughout the second term, but played superbly in the second half.
The Roosters were eight points behind at the last change but then inspirational and in-form coach Nathan Brown had his leg packed in ice and took no further part in the match.
The seasiders posted just one goal in the final stanza while the Eagles added 5.4.
The home side wore black arm bands to acknowledge the recent passing of former Hatherleigh skipper Dale Bateman.
All present at the Hatherleigh Oval stood and observed a minute’s silence in his honour prior to the start of the A Grade football match.
Hundreds were present at his funeral at the Furner Oval yesterday afternoon (Monday).
Neither team was at full strength with Robe missing six first-choice players while Hatherleigh had seven on the injured list.
Eagles forward Paddy Chay booted four goals to take his season’s tally to 50.
He is equal to Glencoe’s Alex Hentschke at the head of the goalkicking table.
Henschke did not play on Saturday and may also miss the Round 18 match.
Robe has the bye to conclude the minor round and so it has the doubtful distinction of waiting three weeks for its next game.
That match will be the double chance second semi against the minor premiers Hatherleigh back at their home ground.
Hatherleigh will be warm favourites to take on Tantanoola in the cross-town fixture at Tigerland.
Kongorong 11.9 def Nangwarry 10.11
The chances of Kongorong avoiding consecutive wooden spoons increased when the home team achieved a hard-fought four-point win over Nangwarry.
Even without suspended ruckman and incoming coach George McMasters, the Saints controlled most of the play.
However, the doggedness of the Hawks won through.
The season has ended for McWaters as he accepted a set penalty of two matches for striking Glencoe’s Alex Henschke in round 16.
Kongorong’s last game for 2024 will be at home against Port MacDonnell when the Bruce Lightbody Memorial Shield is at stake.
It honours the memory of the late Hawks president and it has not left the seaside for well over a decade.
Nangwarry has not won more than two games in a season for around 15 years and its chances of a third are slim on Saturday as it plays the reigning premiers at Kalangadoo.
Mount Burr 11.11 def Tantanoola 9.6
September Specialists Mount Burr had to defeat Tantanoola at home at Mick and Jean Walker Oval by a sizable margin to retain a slim hope of another major round campaign.
A 25-goal winning margin was the ultimate goal of the Mozzies, but it was always going to be a tall order given the pluck of the Tigers and the heavy rain on the preceding days.
Mount Burr was 20 points down at the last change, but coach Clint Gallio, backman-turned-forward Sam Wallis and a strong breeze carried the home team to victory.
Jumping into the forward line for the Tigers’ clash, one of the league’s most formiddable backmen split the big sticks five times for the Mozzies, giving his side back the lead in the final quarter before setting up another goal much to the delight of the home crowd.
The 17-point win lifted the Mount Burr percentage by a tiny fraction and so it has to rely on Nangwarry defeating Kalangadoo to reach fourth.
The Mozzies meet the Murphies to finish the minor round while Tantanoola hosts Hatherleigh.
Port MacDonnell 17.12 def Glencoe 9.10
Only pride was at stake in this contest with the seasiders a remote possibility of losing in Rounds 17 and 18 and surrendering third place to Kalangadoo.
After an even first quarter, the Demons set up their 50-point win in the second term by slamming on 8.5 while conceding a mere behind.
Four-time Mail medallist Will Macdonald was in everything for the Bay Boys and finished with eight goals.
Once again Glencoe skipper Dylan Childs led the way for his team and is considered one of the other favourites for the Mail Medal.
The count takes place at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre on September 8.
Glencoe finishes 2024 at home to Mount Burr while Kongorong hosts Port MacDonnell.
Season over for star Saint
The 2024 season is over for incoming Nangwarry Football Club coach George McWaters.
He has accepted a two-match set penalty for striking Glencoe forward Alex Hentschke in the last quarter of the round 16 match at Glencoe on August 10.
The hierarchy of the Murphies referred the matter to SANFL investigation officer Michael Mourbey.
He determined the actions of McWaters to be high contact, careless conduct and high impact. Under the SANFL matrix, McWaters had the option of a two-match set penalty if he entered an early guilty plea.
McWaters took that option and was sidelined for rounds 17 and 18 and is ineligible for the Mail Medal.
He is a dual best and fairest winner with the Saints and has played interleague football.
His coaching stint at Nangwarry commences in 2025.
