ROBE brought its Mid South East football season to a close with a 12-point loss at Tantanoola after a match of sea-sawing fortunes.
The wind was mostly blowing across the ground for most of the day but slightly favouring the eastern end.
The home side had first use of the breeze and looked to be in control over most lines.
It added 4.4 while conceding just three behinds.
The Roosters then arguably played one of their best terms of 2017 while the Tigers had a term to forget.
The old saying of swapping guernseys could have applied for Robe booted 9.3 in the second quarter to a meagre 1.1 from Tantanoola.
Facing a half-time deficit of 25 points, the Tigers regained their mojo after the long break to reduce the difference back to the smallest-possible margin at the last change.
With Braydn Reilly leading the way, the younger and fitter legs of the Tigers proved decisive in the last 30 minutes of the contest.
Although 27 goals were kicked throughout the day, no individual player recorded more than three.
It was the first game to be played by the home team since it made a significant announcement earlier in the week.
The Tigers decided to re-appoint rookie A Grade coach Josh Peters for a further season.
The seasiders managed to get through 2017 without registering a forfeit in either senior grade.
However, it still had to ask four senior colts and six Reserves players to play two games to enable its senior team to take to the field.
There is little doubt that fatigue was a major factor in the inability of the seasiders to maintain their lead at the final change.
In the Tantanoola camp, another senior colt made his debut in A Grade.
Campbell Serle became the ninth member of the underage group to make this transition.
His parents are Kylie and Paul Serle who are president and secretary respectively of the Tantanoola Football Club.
Tantanoola’s last game for 2017 will be at Glencoe and a victory will mean it will leap-frog Robe and finish the season in sixth place.
Final score: Tantanoola 14.15 (99) d Robe 13.9 (87)
THE Ian McInnes Memorial Cup is staying at Mount Burr after the Mozzies defeated the visiting Glencoe Murphies at home by 45 points.
The McInnes family presented the prestigious shield to the Mozzie hierarchy in a brief post-match ceremony on the playing arena of “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval.
The Murphies well and truly felt the sting of the Mozzies who were on the rebound after an upset loss at Robe in Round 16.
The home side took a 25-point lead into the first change and then honours were shared in the second term.
Mount Burr ensured there would be no repeat of the 24-point loss at Glencoe on May 27 when it booted 7.5 to 2.2 after half time.
Facing a huge 69-point deficit at the last change, Glencoe rallied and ran the game out well to finish with a creditable 15.7.
The undoubted star of the day was Mount Burr teen Tommy Hales who posted a career-high tally of eight goals.
The major victory capped off a remarkable day for three key Mount Burr players who celebrated milestone matches.
Nathan Muhovics (200 games) and Dylan Ridley and Josh Fiebig (100 each) had matches to remember.
Mozzie spearhead Jack Gregory played up the field and booted two goals.
The victory reinforced a widely-held view in the MSEFL that Mount Burr is the premiership favourite as it is back in form, has an injury-free list and is finals hardened.
Glencoe’s last match for the season is at home to Tantanoola and it cannot avoid finishing the season in the second-to-bottom position for the second consecutive year.
Mount Burr heads to Nangwarry and it will not be too bothered by the home ground advantage enjoyed by the winless bottom team.
All going well, the green-and-golds trust they will play further game at this venue as that will be the 2017 grand final on September 16.
Final score: Mount Burr 20.22 (142) d Glencoe 15.7 (97)
HATHERLEIGH added another confidence-boosting victory to its 2017 record with an impressive 295-point home ground win over Nangwarry on Saturday.
It was one-way traffic all game as the home team had too much speed and skill.
The size of the win lifted the percentage of the Eagles to 71.19 and the result was a repeat of their first meeting back on May 27.
It is 70 years since Hatherleigh entered the MSEFL, but it is doubtful that it has ever finished a minor round with a figure well above 70pc.
Come what may in the major round, the Eagles will finish the home and-away season with the most potent attack and the tightest defence.
The goals were shared among 16 of the victors with veteran Matt Faulkner leading the way with a career-high tally of 12.
He has done everything right to assist his younger brother Jase Faulkner in his first year as coach and that has included kicking goals.
The elder Faulkner has been a multiple goal scorer in the 13 games he has played this year and leads the Hatherleigh goalkickers this season with 56.
That puts him level with Mount Burr’s Jack Gregory who has played all 15 games in 2017.
Nangwarry did not play 14-year-old Joel Virtanen in this match, but he has had a remarkable season in junior colts, senior colts and A Grade.
He plays multiple games most weeks and leads or shares the club goal-kicking in all three grades.
The 2017 season will draw to a close for the Saints on Saturday with a home ground clash with reigning premiers Mount Burr, while Hatherleigh heads to Kalangadoo.
Saints officials have repeatedly been asked if their club will still be hosting the grand final on September 16 or if it being transferred to Vansittart Park in Mount Gambier.
They have given an emphatic “no” to such statements and replied their grounds and facility preparations are well underway.
Works personnel from Wattle Range Council have already been on site while the oval surface will be fertilised after the final minor round game.
Final score: Hatherleigh 48.27 (315) d Nangwarry 3.2 (20)
KALANGADOO assured itself of the Mid South East football minor premiership with a hard-fought point 21-point win at Kongorong.
It was a game where a strong northerly breeze gave a significant advantage to the team booting towards the goals at the Kongorong Primary School end.
The visitors had the first use of it and had 12 scoring shots while conceding just one behind.
However, the Magpies only had a 25pc conversion rate so their tally of 3.9 only earned them a 26 point advantage.
The Hawks were well and truly still in the contest and their second quarter was worthy of a premiership contender.
They added 8.2, while allowing Kalangadoo to score just two goals.
As just two straight kicks separated the sides at the long break, it was a case of “game on”.
The defences of both teams tightened up in the second half.
Kalangadoo had that extra touch of class and showed why it is the ladder leader.
It was not the result sought by the Hawks as they had just announced the reappointment of coach Bonson Saffin for a further season.
The home team was not disgraced as it without the services of star recruit Matt Cordy and key forward Josh Wright.
Both are expected to play at the Bay on Saturday when the last minor round match of 2017 will determine if either Kongorong or Port MacDonnell plays reigning premiers Mount Burr in the first semi final at Tantanoola on August 20.
The Magpies and the Eagles will meet on Saturday at Kalangadoo’s home ground and then they will meet again at Robe in the second semi final a fortnight later on September 2.
It is possible that these sides may yet again play against each other in the grand final as they have occupied the top two rungs of the premiership table for much of the minor round.
Final score: Kalangadoo 14.15 (99) d Kongorong 12.6 (78)
