THE Kalangadoo/Hatherleigh match lived up to its pre-match billing of the most absorbing contest of round two with all 42 players giving 100pc.
In a low scoring contest, only a few goals separated the two teams all day and the game was still in the balance with minutes left on the clock.
Kalangadoo 9.12 (66) Hatherleigh 8.9 (57)
The Magpies gradually wore the Eagles down and were ahead by a mere nine points at the final siren.
Hatherleigh paid dearly for not taking full advantage of the breeze in the third term and went to the last change just five points ahead.
Kalangadoo regained the lead by the 10-minute mark of the last term and were not headed thereafter.
The better players for the victors included Liam Hay, Mitch Lowe and the evergreen Brett Lindner who had a restricted pre-season preparation.
Hatherleigh’s better players included defender Josh Wight and first-gamer Will Chay.
A fair measure of credit for the home team’s win can go to newly-appointed bench coach Nick Pratt, who has a good tactical feel for football.
Pratt is past president and coach of the Kalangadoo Football League and an interleague representative in other associations.
In round three, Hatherleigh will start the warmest of favourites at home to Nangwarry, while Kalangadoo heads to “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr.
This will be a meeting of the 2017 premiers and the 2017 minor premiers as well as the sides who currently head the ladder.
Tantanoola 10.10 (70) defeated Kongorong 10.6 (66)
TANTANOOLA was ‘cherry ripe’ to begin its 2018 season with a win when it travelled to Kongorong for the round two match.
On the other hand, the Hawks were keen to make amends for their round one loss at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval at Mount Burr and exploit the absence of star Tantanoola recruit Sam Haniford.
The home team held the upper hand for the opening three quarters and led by as much as 26 points at one stage.
John Simkin and Josh Wright were effective forwards, while Harry Evans marshalled the back line.
As the game wore on, Kongorong play-makers Matthew Cordy and coach Bronson Saffin looked to be hampered by injury.
Tantanoola players like Josh McRostie and Brad White kept on chipping away at the deficit and it was back to a mere four points at the final change.
As part of the day’s proceedings the Returned and Services League arranged with the Kongorong and Tantanoola sporting communities to present a special and early Anzac Day tribute.
Mount Gambier RSL members joined netballers, footballers, umpires and officials on the oval for a solemn and silent tribute to the fallen just prior to the start of the A Grade football match.
The Ode of Remembrance was recited, the Last Post was sounded by a bugler and the words “Lest We Forget” were painted on the oval by Kongorong player John Simkin.
The honoured guests on the day were members of the family of local soldier Private John Rogers who died of wounds in Vietnam just over 50 years ago in February of 1968.
At game’s end, they presented the John Rogers Memorial Medal to Tantanoola forward Braydn Reilly, who was chosen as the best afield in the A Grade football match.
Reilly started the game deep in the forward line and was then switched to centre half-forward.
All the while, he was a target for the Tigers and his game-high tally of five goals was critical in a tight contest.
The Hawks now have a bye while Tantanoola hosts Glencoe with the prestigious Neil Von Duve Memorial Trophy.
It was won back by the Murphies in 2017.
The trophy honours the memory of a former Tantanoola and Glencoe player and MSEFL umpire.
Mount Burr 11.13 (79) defeated Glencoe8.5 (53)
MOUNT Burr made amends for its last visit to Glencoe on May 27 of 2017 when it suffered a 24 point on a stormy day.
The Mozzies turned the tables on the Murphies and won by 26 points on another windy day, but they hardly had matters all their own way.
The wintry overnight weather brought down trees on the Overland Track and so Mount Burr footballers had to overcome physical obstacles before even arriving at the Glencoe Oval.
It was also a forgettable day for former Mount Burr premiership skipper Chris Piuatti who was playing his second game back at his home club after a break of a few seasons.
Piuatti is understood to have hurt a shoulder and was off the field after quarter time.
It was a match of see-sawing fortunes until the visitors wrested control of the contest after the long break.
The visitors took a 7 point buffer into the first change, increased it to two goals at the long break and were then in the box seat with a 26 point lead at the final change.
Both sides then booted 2.2 in the last term.
Glencoe showed a remarkable improvement on its lacklustre loss at Hatherleigh, while Mount Burr did not dominate against a team which was far stronger than its round one opponent Kongorong.
The win lifted Mount Burr to the top of the ladder.
One of the sidelights of the game was to see how the Gregory brothers performed at opposite ends of the oval.
Elder brother Jack and Mount Burr spearhead was not among his team’s 9 goalscorers while Adam did all he could at the goal front by booting a game-high tally of four goals.
The Mozzies return home on Saturday to host Kalangadoo while Glencoe travels to Tigerland.
Port MacDonnell 43.18 (276) d Nangwarry 2.6 (18)
PORT MacDonnell opened its account for 2018 with an impressive 258-point win at Nangwarry.
After a disappointing loss at the Bay to Kalangadoo on April 14, the Demons caused an uproar in the heavenly abode of the Saints.
The seaside supporters usually attend games at Nangwarry in large numbers, but the Round 2 match was an exception due to a dose of wintry weather.
With a five-goal breeze favouring the northern (museum) end, the home team could ill-afford to lose the toss, but it did.
The Demons were quickly on the board and cruised to a 64-point lead by the first change.
Although the Saints had the occasional passage of good play, there were few opportunities for the forward line to convert, while the Demons punished any turnover.
Visiting forwards Ned Wilke and Jake Turner made their presence felt in the opening term and finished the contest with a total of 20 goals.
Turner made an even dozen by game’s end, while Wilke slotted through eight majors.
Others to do well for the victors were best-on-ground Daron McElroy, Mark Smith and James Bald (seven goals).
Players of this calibre and many others, will have to play well consistently if the team is again to play in the major round.
Port MacDonnell has played in seven of the past eight major rounds.
The Saints were keen to get back to their home base after a heavy opening round defeat at Robe.
The team has a number of players who would probably be overlooked for selection in many other teams in the MSEFL.
The notable exceptions include the likes of Andrew Russell, Harley Dunn and Brayden Kelly.
Their names appeared in the best players list on Saturday and you will see their names again throughout the 2018 season.
Looking to Round 3, Nangwarry faces a tough challenge at Hatherleigh, while Port MacDonnell returns to the Bay to host fellow seaside club Robe.
