MOUNT Burr’s season is well and truly back on track following its hard-fought 12-point victory over Port MacDonnell at the Bay.
Little more than a couple of goals separated the teams throughout the 120 minutes which was not surprising given the importance of the contest.
The result is season-defining as the middle third of the 2017 season is drawing to a close and the Mozzies have forced their way back in the upper bracket.
After several weeks in the football wilderness, the team now sits in third position while the Demons have slipped outside the top four.
The reigning premiers had been favoured to win give solid successes over Nangwarry and Kalangadoo earlier this month.
They went to a quarter time lead of 18 points but it could have been much more.
They had 10 scoring shots for goal in the opening stanza but only registered four maximum scores.
On the other hand, the seasiders registered two goals from their two shots.
One of the highlights of the match was the rucking duels involving Port MacDonnell veteran Will Macdonald and Mount Burr teen Henry Crauford.
A surprise inclusion for the Mozzies B Grade was Zac Watson and it was his first game for the club in 2017.
As a teen, Watson was a member of the club’s premiership sides in 2015 and 2016.
Mount Burr will attempt to cement its position in the top four in round 12 by defeating the out-of-form Kongorong at home at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval.
Teen Dylan Vanderhorst may be a candidate for a recall as he had to miss Saturday’s game as he had his tonsils removed earlier in the week.
As Port MacDonnell defeated Tantanoola by 49 points at their first meeting in 2017, the Demons should defeat the luckless Tigers at Tigerland on Saturday.
Magpies return to winning form
KALANGADOO won its first game since May 27 when it accounted for Tantanoola at home by 57 points.
It was appropriate for the home team to play top quality football as its large supporter base was boosted by the annual sponsors’ and life members’ luncheon.
The margin had been one straight kick in favour of the Magpies at their first meeting in 2017 but the Tigers have since been struck by player availability issues.
Injuries will keep Ricky Hay and Bryce Radley on the sidelines for the remainder of this season while ace rover Tom
Holmes had to miss Saturday’s match due to work commitments.
Meanwhile, the Magpies have lost Anthony Reynolds who has left the district after he has given invaluable service both on and off the field.
Not only was he an A Grade player, his occupation is a lawyer and he acted for the club in tribunals.
The game was Tantanoola’s last chance to make the finals and now it can focus on its 2018 campaign.
The club has lost 25 players from its 2016 senior list and is in the rebuilding phase.
The victory was a tonic for the Magpies which had lost heavily to Hatherleigh and Mount Burr in the previous two matches.
The game was still in the balance at quarter time but greater consistency by Kalangadoo earned it the premiership points.
The Magpies kicked four goals in each of the opening three terms and then doubled it to eight in the final term.
The Tigers also found goals easier to come by in the last quarter as their tally jumped from six to 10 in this period.
Kalangadoo will bring in the 2017/18 financial year on Saturday with a visit to Robe while Tantanoola is home to Port MacDonnell.
On a streak
IT was a sweet victory for Hatherleigh at Kongorong on Saturday in Round 11 of the Mid South East Football League.
There had been many signs 2017 would be a season of major improvement for the Eagles and that result was confirmed by the time the final siren was sounded.
Coming into the match, the Eagles aimed for their eighth consecutive win and to reverse the result of the battle of the birds on April 8 when the Hawks were victorious by 27 points.
On the other hand, the Hawks emerged from a three-week lay-off and two heavy losses to Kalangadoo and arch rivals Port MacDonnell.
It was not the happiest of days for the home club which hosted its annual sponsors’ day.
However, an extended power cut lasting a number of hours meant generators had to be borrowed to keep essential services running.
Elbow grease was commissioned to power the cow bell which took the place of the siren in the preliminary games.
After acting skipper Aaron Lightbody won the toss for the home team, it was the visitors who were off to a crackerjack start.
Goals came to Jack Sullivan, Gerard McGrath and Brodie Fabris before the Hawks got a score on the make-shift manually-operated scoreboard.
Hatherleigh always held a buffer of a couple of goals and this continued until the last quarter when it added 5.2 to just 2.2.
The visitors were almost at full strength with the notable exception of key forward Brad Wight.
He should be fit to train with the Murray Zone East zone squad on Sunday at Keith and is in the running for selection in the local team for the SA Country Championships.
Kongorong could ill-afford to be without its skipper Nick Ham and key playmaker Dwayne Phillips due to injury.
The team is holding onto fourth spot due to percentage.
Kongorong now has the challenge of playing reigning premiers Mount Burr on its home ground.
Hatherleigh players can have an extended mid-season break as they have a scheduled bye on July 1.
There will be no regular games played across South Australia on July 8 on account of the annual South Australian
Country Championships which are being played in Murray Bridge for the first time.
Meanwhile, there has been mixed news for two of the club’s 2013 premiership side.
Tom Schulz has had surgery on a leg injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Jack Skeer is set for a month-long European vacation.
Percentage booster helps Robe’s mid-season revival
THE mid-season revival of Robe has continued with a 188 point win at Nangwarry.
Although the scores were much closer than the 273 point margin at the seaside in Round 2, it was still a one-sided contest.
It could be said the Roosters had the game in their keeping by quarter time as they led by 44 points.
The visitors dominated in the second quarter while the third term was the closest of the contest as the disparity in the scores was “only”six goals.
The Roosters finished the game in good style with Glenelg recruit Craig Pitt (13 goals), ex-Bordertown player Kane Cuthbertson (9) and teen Terrence Wilfred (5) responsible for most of the scoring.
The Robe hierarchy has publicly expressed its disappointment with the physical pressure applied to its colts players by their opponents.
The win means the Roosters are just two wins outside of the top four with six matches still to play in the 2017 premiership season.
Meanwhile, the Saints are building their list ahead of the June 30 clearance deadline on Friday.
The club has recently signed Brayden Morton from East Gambier Football Club and more players are returning from injury.
Looking ahead to Round 12, Robe hosts Kalangadoo while Nangwarry will head to Glencoe which will be fresh from a bye.
