ROBE v MOUNT BURR
THE Mount Burr Mozzies will exact a sweet measure of revenge when they narrowly defeat the Robe Roosters at Guichen Bay in the opening round of the Mid South East Football League on the weekend.
This much-heralded match is a replay of the high-tempo 2018 grand final when the red-and-whites clinched victory right on the final bell due to the heroics of the two Pitt brothers.
Without those final decisive kicks by Jake and Craig, Mount Burr would have won a record fourth consecutive MSEFL flag.
The Pitts have returned to Adelaide and ex-skipper Jaryd Dawson is out of action with a knee reconstruction.
Without this trio it is hard to see where Robe has the firepower to boot a winning score.
In skipper Brodie Hennink, Peter Guyett and the two Wallis brothers, Mount Burr has the best defence in the competition.
The green-and-golds have a point to prove from 2018 and many privately say the cards were stacked against them by officialdom.
The additional allocation of player transfer points to Robe has been a talking point across the league and this undercurrent may surface in round one.
The Mozzies have lost some quality players over summer to Adelaide and beyond, while others have sought fresh challenges in the Western Border and the MSEFL.
No more than a couple of goals will separate the sides at the final siren.
KONGORONG v HATHERLEIGH
A NEW era is dawning at Kongorong under the leadership of novice coach Will Whitty and Hatherleigh will have to be at full stretch to win this match on the road.
Whitty brings more than 20 years of playing experience to the Hawks gained at three clubs and, above all, he knows what is needed to succeed.
During his many premierships at Mount Burr, Whitty was the on-field marshal of the backline and a key influence in off-field matters as well.
He also has vast experience in the business world and this background is invaluable in the coaching role.
There would probably be significant odds of the Hawks reaching the grand final, but Whitty has set the realistic goals of player improvement and junior development as the foundation for ongoing success.
The history books are on the side of Kongorong as the club won flags under ex-Mount Burr stars Brian (“Bushy”) Baker and John (“Jackson”) Roberts in the early 1970s.
For Hatherleigh players, this is very much a danger game as they are the odds-on favourite to win by a hefty margin.
Player-for-player, the Eagles outrank the Hawks across every line, but new coach Gerard McGrath will stress all week such favouritism could lead to complacency.
Whitty’s shrewd football brain will prove to be a great asset to Kongorong and his tactics will be thoroughly researched.
Victories will come the way of the Hawks in 2019, but not in the season opener.
GLENCOE v NANGWARRY
IT is many years since a club has borne the tag of sentimental favourite to such a degree as Nangwarry as it prepares to travel to Glencoe for the opening round.
The so-called Cinderella side of the competition had its clubrooms destroyed by fire in a probable arson attack in January.
Since then there has been an outpouring of support for the Nangwarry Football Club from many quarters as it attempts to re-build its physical base.
Strong leadership has been shown by such senior Nangwarry officials as long-serving president Shane Ploenges and third-year coach David Stratman.
It would be a true fairy-tale ending if the club recruits and returning players helped to conjure a win against the Murphies.
The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson might well have scripted the ending of the 2018 grand final at the Glencoe Oval, but there will be no such ‘happy ever after’ conclusion to this meeting of the Saints and the Murphies.
Glencoe has a much stronger list than it did last season and has many scoring options in Patrick Mitchell, the returning Alex Hentschke and newcomer Brodie Foster.
Many footy insiders have pencilled in Glencoe as a definite major round participant with a good chance of reaching the season decider.
It has the firepower to record a percentage-boosting victory, but Nangwarry will not concede until the final bell.
The Saints who pull on the guernsey on Saturday will strive to re-pay those who have done so much since that sad inferno around three months ago.
TANTANOOLA v KALANGADOO
THERE have been huge expectations placed on the Kalangadoo Magpies, but few on the Tantanoola Tigers as the summer of 2018/19 wore on.
The black-and-whites have been remarkably consistent over the past five seasons and their playing strength is on a par with 2018.
On the other hand, the red-and-whites have been going through a lean spell for a number of years and have lost key players to the Western Border.
Tantanoola is a club which ticks many boxes as it is a harmonious outfit which values good facilities and has a strong social and family focus.
The Tigers also have an entrepreneurial streak and have accepted a $3000 cash incentive to play at Robe on Good Friday.
Late in the summer, a number of clearances flowed into Tantanoola from other MSEFL clubs.
Although unlikely to bolster A Grade, these newcomers will nonetheless boost the overall stocks of the Tigers.
This is the third mis-match of the opening round and, like Glencoe and Hatherleigh, Kalangadoo is strongly favoured to win.
Like the Murphies and the Eagles, a loss by the Magpies has the potential to derail the whole season.
If Chris Mules can get his team to play a steady brand of football, his side will win this match and many others.
