Glencoe, Tantanoola and Nangwarry are tipped to be the big improvers when the Mid South East Football League begins on Saturday.
All three have not seen much September action for several years but canny recruiting, promising juniors and returning players should lift the trio of clubs into major round contention.
The Saints, Murphies and Tigers are striving for the finals with solid preparation over the hot and dry summer.
Nevertheless, reigning premiers Hatherleigh remains the red-hot favourite to lift the Wilf Sprengel Memorial Shield at Robe on September 20.
To do so, the Eagles will have to write a new chapter in the annals of Mid SE history as they have yet to win consecutive A Grade flags since joining the competition in 1947.
An unhelpful distraction for the Mid SE football and netball fraternity will again come from a local league which has recently re-stated its expansionist vision.
There is still no appetite for movement among the nine Mid SE clubs as its competition is one of the most stable of its size anywhere in the nation with just one change in 60 years.
HATHERLEIGH
The Eagles certainly are the team to beat with some familiar faces filling the spots of the 2024 premiership team who have retired, transferred or have injury problems.
The likes of the Bradley brothers, Matt Fabris and Joe Ferguson-Lane are back in the blue and gold colours while quality recruits are in the mix.
Jake Wight should be back on the arena after a lengthy injury lay-off.
As many as seven premiership players could be absent in round one but the lure of another flag should shrink this number considerably by mid-season.
To my mind, Hatherleigh coach Tom Hutchesson is the best onballer in the Mid SE since the late, great Robe captain-coach Kym Smith in the 1980s.
The Eagles also boast the largest following and the staging of a rodeo over the festive season was a social and financial success.
Prediction: Top
Robe
Robe led Hatherleigh at half time in its four meetings in 2024 and then lost every game including the season decider.
You can bet that new coach Adam Kurzman will be drumming this sad statistic at every opportunity this season.
Kurzman is best known in this region for his successful association with North Gambier and succeeds playing coach Nathan Brown who has left the district.
Brown often played well below 100% fitness but gave his all for the seasiders.
The Roosters have prepared well for 2025 including three trial games.
Their recruits are largely unknown but the team has a solid nucleus of talent headed by reigning Mail Medallist and reappointed skipper Henry Lawrie.
Prediction: Top four
Kalangadoo
The Magpies were on a mission last season to achieve a hattrick of A Grade flags but that bid was abruptly halted in the preliminary final by Robe.
Since then, Kalangadoo has reluctantly farewelled many of its grand final winning teams of 2022 and 2023.
Some have retired, others have left the district and some are taking up challenges with other clubs.
Past skipper Mitch Lowe has taken up the challenge of coaching the black and whites and he has large stocks of goodwill.
He missed all of 2024 due to injury and it is expected he can return to playing again.
His team needs players of his calibre and experience.
Prediction: Bottom three
Port MacDonnell
Port MacDonnell looked to replenish its playing stocks over summer by securing additional player transfer points.
However, its request was denied by the MSEFL officialdom.
The seasiders have some key positions to fill following the departure of Christian Howlett and Colby Munro and the enforced absence due to injury of Mail Medallist and past skipper Tim Sullivan.
Some of the faithful Demons are well past 30 years of age.
Coach Josh Woodhall was sidelined for lengthy periods in 2024 and his team needs him to find that form which won him the 2023 Mail Medal.
Prediction: Bottom three
Mount Burr
There have not been too many of the past 15 seasons when Mount Burr coach Clint Gallio has not seen any September action.
One of them was 2024 when the superior percentage of Kalangadoo knocked them out of a place in the finals.
The young Mozzies lineup is similar to 2024 but they are all one year older, wiser and stronger.
Taking everything into consideration, Mount Burr should return to the major round this season.
With a decent amount of luck, another flag is possible.
Prediction: Top four
Glencoe
The Murphies now possess the on-ball division and forward firepower to jump at least two rungs on the premiership table.
Quality ruckman Carl Slape and ex-coach Tom Edwards will join Zacc Cocks and Dylan Childs in the centre square this season.
This quartet will set up scoring opportunities for the likes of Alex Hentschke, Patrick Mitchell and Tory Weaver.
The defenders and flankers will have to do their part to get Glencoe to the finals.
Along the way, they should win the Max Matthews Memorial Cup back from Kalangadoo for the first time in more than a decade.
Prediction: Top four
Tantanoola
The Tigers captured the headlines over the summer with the signing of star Millicent player Sam Willis.
His signature was followed soon after with other Saints premiership players and other recruits as well as the return of ruckman/forward Jordan Gould from tertiary studies interstate.
Tantanoola also attracted the attention of the local and capital city press for having six females on its football committee.
Such an upbeat tone has not been evident at Tigerland for several seasons.
Coach Jack Dawe deserves team success to come his way but he may have to wait a further year for any September action.
Prediction: Mid-range
Nangwarry
The question most asked about the Mid SE over summer has been about the carload of recruits which will be coming to the Saints.
Not much is known about them but one does carry the revered Mansell name.
The Mid SE has largely avoided the use of “capital city travellers” but no one would begrudge Nangwarry boosting its playing stocks in such a fashion.
The Saints have faced many extraordinary obstacles in the past decade including an arson attack on its clubrooms and the closure of the town’s mill.
New coach George McMasters leads a tight-knit group which will cause some upsets.
Prediction: Mid-range
Kongorong
There is a lot to like about the Kongorong Football Netball Club such as its successful hosting of the 2024 grand final which could not be faulted.
On-field success has eluded the Hawks and their rebuilding is in the safe hands of new non-playing coach Matt Roscow.
He succeeds playing coach Cam Sandercock who has departed for a Mount Gambier club.
Roscow has a wealth of football experience including a place in the Prince Alfred College First XVIII.
He was Sandercock’s bench coach and knows how to extract the most out of his team.
Standby for Kongorong wresting back the Lightbody and Smith trophies from Port MacDonnell.
Prediction: Bottom three
