PORT MacDonnell’s chance at a 2017 Mid South East Football League finals berth is still alive as it gained two premiership points after drawing with Robe at home.
The result means the team has moved ahead of Kongorong and now sits in fourth place.
On the other hand, major round participation looks unlikely for the Roosters unless they can string four consecutive wins together to complete the minor round.
The visitors looked to have the game in hand at the five minute mark of the final term when their lead was 28 points after a goal to Craig Pitt.
However, the Demons were inspired by yet another best-on-ground performance by Will MacDonald and clawed their way back into the contest.
With 90 seconds left on the clock, Demon Jacob Simmonds tied up the scores.
He grabbed the ball in a pack and snapped truly from around 25 metres.
After the resultant centre bounce, the ball went deep into the Port MacDonnell scoring zone before it was cleared back as far as the Robe half-forward line.
The siren sounded and Robe players realised they had squandered an opportunity after leading for 98pc of the contest.
The home side had registered the first score of the game, a behind.
The visitors then booted the first goal and were never headed thereafter.
Robe led by 20 points at quarter time, 11 points at the long break and 22 points at the last change.
As in many other games this season, the Roosters had to fill their A Grade with five players who had played earlier in the day.
The presence of three colts and two reserves players may explain why the Roosters faded in the final term.
A stand-out player for the visitors was its inspirational coach Jack Kelly.
He carried on the fine form he had displayed in the annual SA Country Football Championships when he was named Player of the Carnival and won the Don MacSweeney Medal.
Meanwhile, the Roosters had productive talks on Wednesday night with the upper echelons of the football hierarchy.
The committee of the Robe Football Club met with representatives of the Mid South East Football League and the South Australian Community Football League.
All parties discussed Robe’s perennial problem of player shortages and various strategies were suggested.
In round 14, Robe is at home to Kongorong while Port MacDonnell heads to Glencoe.
Mozzies build campaign
Mount Burr 12.12 (84) d Hatherleigh 10.15 (75)
MOUNT Burr shortened its odds for the 2017 flag as it defeated the Eagles by nine by points in the match-of-the-day at Hatherleigh.
As it was the second-placed Eagles hosting the third-placed Mozzies, an enthralling encounter was forecast and the 42 players did not disappoint the large crowd in attendance.
It was a much more focused Mount Burr outfit than the one which took on Hatherleigh in the wet at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval on April 29.
On that occasion, the Mozzies were often second to the ball and had their colours lowered by 36 points.
The reigning premiers were determined to end the nine-match winning streak of the Eagles which started on that soggy day at Mount Burr on April 29.
It was a true arm wrestle in the opening half with neither side able to dominate and scores hard to come by.
That all changed in the third term when Mount Burr added 5.4 while Hatherleigh could only manage just one major score and four behinds.
That 28-point buffer at the last change served the Mozzies well as the Eagles stormed home.
They were not able to bridge the gap but showed enough to ensure a high-standard encounter if they meet again in the finals.
Much of the credit for the win can go to Mount Burr spearhead Jack Gregory who booted a game-high tally of six goals.
This lifted his season’s aggregate to 48 and he kept his place at the top of the league table.
Hatherleigh recruit Dylan Coxon was yellow carded for allegedly striking James Wallis and the matter will be heard by the tribunal tonight.
Mount Burr is fine-tuning its squad ahead of the major round which starts next month.
The latest inclusion into the A Grade ranks has been teenager Zac Watson who has been playing in Adelaide.
He played in the winning grand final teams of 2015 and 2016 and in two B Grade matches in 2017.
The visitors were keen to do well for the sake of Jake Dowdy who played his 50th game in a green-and-gold jumper.
Dowdy was recruited from South Gambier for season 2015.
As a sidelight, Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League senior umpire Nick McBride had originally been scheduled to officiate in this match but this arrangement had to be postponed.
In a bid to secure the coveted double chance and top two ranking by season’s end, Hatherleigh players will be heading to Tantanoola on Saturday in search of both percentage and premiership points.
Mount Burr players can now enjoy a fortnight’s break until they play again at home against Tantanoola on July 29.
Hawks lose place
Tantanoola 12.13 (85) d Kongorong 11.6 (72)
KONGORONG has now lost its place in the Mid South East Football League top five following a 13-point loss at home to Tantanoola.
It was the fifth consecutive defeat for the Hawks, but the Tigers have now climbed to seventh place and hold tiny finals chance.
The Hawks had not won a game in almost two months as their last success had been achieved on May 20 when they booted a record score and winning margin at the expense of Nangwarry.
The home side’s loss had not been widely forecast as they had defeated the Tigers by a massive 63 points at Tigerland in the fourth round.
The visitors started well as they had 10 scoring shots in the first term while conceding just two.
This gave the Tigers a 28-point lead at quarter time and the black-and-golds did not make significant inroads in the term that followed.
With Tom Holmes leading the way in the pivot, Tantanoola outscored Kongorong in the third term.
With a lead of 26 points at the final change, the Tigers remembered some of their early-season last quarter fade-outs.
The visitors withstood a strong challenge to be ahead at the siren.
The loss was an imperfect way for two of Kongorong’s key forwards to mark milestone games.
Casterton recruit John Simkin played his 200th game while “home-grown” Josh Wright made his 100th senior appearance.
Between them, they booted eight of Kongorong’s 11 goals.
For their part, the Tantanoola players were able to replicate their form in their most recent game which was a 27-point win over Port MacDonnell on July 1.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Tantanoola is back at home to take on competition heavyweights Hatherleigh while Kongorong heads to Robe.
Kalangadoo stamp authority with triple-figure victory
Kalangadoo 25.18 (168) d Glencoe 10.8 (68)
ARCH rivals Kalangadoo and Glencoe faced off at the Magpies’ nest and it was the home team which got to sing its victory song at 4.30pm.
The big 100 point win cemented the Magpies at the top of the ladder whereas the Murphies have again been pushed back down to second-to-bottom.
Among the happiest of the winning team was Brad Auld who was making his 100th appearance in a black-and-white jumper.
The big blow-out on the scoreboard was not expected when the teams went into their quarter time huddles with 5.3 apiece.
After quarter time, three of the Kalangadoo forwards dominated and put Glencoe to the sword.
Braiden Ousey led the way with six goals and he was well supported by coach Ben Mules (five goals) and Michael Krieger (four).
The home team led by 30 points at the long break and then pushed the advantage out to the equivalent of nine goals at the last change.
With Glencoe managing just one behind in the final term, the Kalangadoo team brought up a rare three-figure winning margin at the expense of their neighbours.
There were four players who could have been excused for being somewhat leg weary as they had played the previous weekend.
They were Kalangadoo co-captain James Pratt and Glencoe trio Zacc Cocks, Matt Kasparian and Bradley Mitchell.
The attention of the Murphies now turns to its hosting of Port MacDonnell on Saturday.
The home team will have a lot of extra vocal support as it is the annual premiership reunion day of the Glencoe Football Club.
Members of nine past grand final winning teams in various grades and dating back to 1957 will be honoured.
The yearly celebration ensures a sea of maroon-and-gold colours will be seen.
Kalangadoo will stay in the top bracket after round 13 is played as it is heading the short distance to Nangwarry.
