Mount Burr 29.14 (188) d Kongorong 10.3 (63)
REIGNING premiers Mount Burr have begun the quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive flag with an impressive 125 point win over Kongorong on Saturday in the opening round of the 2018 season in the Mid South East Football League.
The Mozzies have thrice won a hat-trick of flags, Kalangadoo has done it twice and Glencoe achieved it on one occasion in the post-war years.
Going on Saturday’s form, the green-and-golds look to be in good shape and have well-covered the significant player losses over summer.
Leading into the match, the Hawks had been well and truly outside of the spotlight.
After all, Mount Burr was celebrating the 350th match of nine-time premiership rover Dale Bowering and he had the honour of leading the team through a decorated banner and on to “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval.
Just prior to the game, MSEFL executive member Dennis Muhovics had addressed the team and handed over the 2017 premiership shield to Mozzie coach Tom Renzi.
If the Kongorong Football Club had wanted another omen, it came in the form of a freshly-painted and super-size Mozzie emblem on the oval-facing licensed clubrooms wall.
Despite the hype, Hawks forward Josh Wright posted the first A Grade goal of the 2018 season at the four minute mark.
The visitors followed this up with another two majors and the scoreboard then read 3.0 to 0.3.
The home team started to make inroads on that deficit with an accurate snap from the boot of Dylan Ridley.
This was followed by seven others over the course of the game as Ridley made his way to the head of the best players’ list.
The large crowd on “Can Hill” then delivered one of the largest roars of the day after the Mozzies scored their second goal.
It came from a trademark snap from the boot of Bowering after he had spun his way out of the pack.
By quarter time, the home team trailed by just three points and it then seized the advantage in the following three terms.
Mount Burr led by 26 points at the long break, 84 points at the last change and almost 21 goals at the final siren.
There were many positives for Renzi and especially the form of newcomer Ethan Glass and returning players Taylor Redden, Hayden Schultz and ex-skipper Chris Puiatti.
For Hawks coach Bronson Saffin, the club could assess its current standing given it was playing the reigning premiers on their home ground.
There was a pleasing return from injury for Bryn Weaver.
Looking to round two, Mount Burr heads to Glencoe while Kongorong is home to Tantanoola in its annual designated Anzac Day match.
Kalangadoo 20.20 (140) d Port MacDonnell 7.8 (40)
NOT only did Kalangadoo players experience summer-like conditions in their annual trip to the Bay on Saturday but they also came away with the vital premiership points thanks to a 100 point win.
The black-and-whites are seeking atonement for a poor end to the 2017 season.
They claimed the minor premiership after suffering only two losses during the home-and-away season and then succumbed in both finals.
The Magpies and the Demons have already battled each other this season as they played off for the pre-season cup in similarly sweltering conditions at Kongorong last month.
The cup made its way back to Kalangadoo but the $500 cash prize was used post-match to purchase refreshments for the victorious players at licensed premises in Mount Gambier.
Although the pre-season cup is not regarded by many as a vital contest, the visitors were hell-bent on returning from the seaside with a win.
They were keen to do well for the sake of returning coach Chris Mules who was having his second stint as the senior mentor.
The signs were all good for the Magpies at quarter time when they held a handy lead.
The Demons never made significant inroads into that lead as Kalangadoo took a stranglehold on the match by half-time.
Among the key performers for Kalangadoo was Nairne recruit Ben Gregory whose father Trevor Gregory was a 100 game player at Tantanoola.
In round two, Kalangadoo hosts Hatherleigh in the undoubted match-of-the-round while Port MacDonnell should open its account with a win at Nangwarry.
Hatherleigh 21.18 (144) d Glencoe 10.11 (71)
THE path for redemption for Hatherleigh began on round one on Saturday when the 2017 runners-up easily accounted for Glencoe at home.
Despite the warm conditions, the Eagles overran the Murphies after the long break to record a 73 point win.
After holding sway to the tune of 13 points at quarter time, the home side led by 25 points at half-time and then 58 at the last change.
They saved their heaviest scoring for the final 30 minutes when they added 7.4 while conceding only 5.1.
The victory ticked many boxes for reappointed Hatherleigh coach Jase Faulkner but it was a different story for Glencoe mentor Zacc Cocks who is also in his second season at the helm.
Both players have experienced player movements over summer but the blue-and-golds appear to have settled well as the business of winning games for premiership points has begun.
Hatherleigh players always savour a victory against Glencoe as the rivalry dates back more than 70 years.
The Murphies defeated the Eagles in their first game in 1947 as well as their first appearance in a grand final two seasons later.
Among the bumper crowd on Saturday was Hatherleigh’s 2008 premiership coach Simon Beggs and 17 of his victorious team.
They had defeated Glencoe a decade ago in the 2008 grand final at Mount Burr.
Also making merry for reunion purposes were members of Hatherleigh’s 2008 B Grade netball premiership side.
Looking to Saturday, reigning premiers Mount Burr make the trip along the Overland Track to Glencoe while Hatherleigh features in the match-of-the-day against the 2017 minor premiers at Kalangadoo.
Robe 48.15 (303) d Nangwarry 2.0 (12)
ROBE has leapt to the top of the Mid South East premiership due to its decisive 291 point win over Nangwarry at the seaside on Saturday.
It was the second time within the space of eight days the Roosters had played on the Robe Oval as a crowd of 3000 was present on Good Friday to view a round robin contest also involving Millicent and Kybybolite.
There were far fewer souls present on Saturday to see the home side have 63 scoring shots to just two to the visitors.
Even before the 2018 season began, the Saints did not have the services of four first-choice players.
If the Stratman brothers, Karl Brodie and Jesse McPhail had taken the field, the margin would not have been by such a massive amount.
It is likely that capital city recruit Jake Pitt’s 10 goal haul may be the best first-up effort for a Robe player while the Roosters have probably never before had 16 goal scorers.
On the other hand, the seasiders are relying heavily on “imports” and used all of their 16 player transfer points
The club has recently made a fresh plea with the authorities for a further allocation of points to cater for capital city recruit Matt Wachtel who secured a teaching position at Robe Primary School in February.
In the Nangwarry camp, it has an allocation of 18 transfer points but its lack of recent success and ability to provide significant financial incentives have long hampered the recruiting efforts.
Looking to the second round, Robe has the bye.
Nangwarry is at home to Port MacDonnell and it is a long tradition for supporters of the Demons to turn up in big numbers at this venue.
