WILL Hatherleigh players be able to overcome a long injury list and end the 2018 finals hopes of Kalangadoo?
This question will be answered when the teams do battle at the Port MacDonnell Oval on Saturday in the cut-throat first semi final of the Mid South East Football League.
Due to the patchy form of Hatherleigh and Kalangadoo, some in the league are openly stating Saturday’s result is of little consequence as the top two teams of Robe and Mount Burr will eventually meet in the grand final at Glencoe on September 15.
The meetings of the two teams in 2018 might provide some clues to the outcome of the match.
Kalangadoo defeated Hatherleigh at home by just nine points in their first meeting on April 14 and the result was repeated in the return bout on June 23.
On this occasion, the difference blew out to a significant 52 points.
The Eagles are in winning form and their four wins in the past month have included Mount Burr.
On the other hand, Kalangadoo began the season with seven wins, but has lost three of its past nine games.
The Magpies have bolstered their playing list since mid-reason due to the return of ex-skippers James Pratt and Michael Durbidge as well as ruckmen Jonny Mules
and Braeden Ousey.
Pratt is travelling back this weekend from his apprenticeship training in country Victoria, Durbidge has emerged from retirement, Ousey has returned from playing basketball in North America, while Mules has made a successful recovery from a serious knee injury a year ago.
The debut season of Ben Gregory with the Magpies has been outstanding and he is expected to feature in the Mail Medal voting.
On the other hand, the Eagles have done well to reach the finals.
The Faulkner brothers are far from 100pc fit, while those who have suffered season-ending injuries include the Wight brothers, Jack Sullivan and Travis Ware.
Other Eagles have had lengthy spells due to injury including Jack Skeer, Gerard McGrath, Lewis Walker and Todd Watson.
Moderate weather is forecast for Saturday afternoon and the sun might peak through the clouds after early morning fog.
It is a safe bet to assume the playing surface at Port MacDonnell will be heavy, as the last match was only a few days ago.
Tantanoola A Grade coach Josh Peters said he believed it would be Kalangadoo which will reach for the mothballs on Saturday.
“It will be a tough game and I am going for a bit of an upset in picking Hatherleigh to win,” Peters said.
“I really rate Kalangadoo as they are a good side, but they have had to play on heavy grounds in the past two matches.
“They really need to be able to get out and run the ball.
“It all depends on the condition of the ground and it looked muddy when I drove past there on Monday.
“The rucking contests between Sam Waring and Jonny Mules will be important,” he said.
“I reckon there will be only one or two goals in it.”
