ROBE has leapt to the top of the premiership table after its comprehensive 122 point demolition of Tantanoola at home on Good Friday.
After matching their hosts for much of the first quarter, the Tigers were consigned to chasing guernseys thereafter,
The tenure of the reigning premiers at the helm of the ladder may be short-lived as there are three other matches to be played on Saturday to complete the third round of the Mid South East Football League.
The honours were shared in the opening term, with Robe having seven scoring shots to five from Tantanoola.
The home side led by 22 points at the first change and then put the game out of the reach of the visitors with a 7.6 to 1.2 second term.
In terms of the scoreboard, the third term was the most even of the contest, with the disparity in the scoring being a relatively modest 14 points.
Robe sought to maximise its percentage in the final term by slamming on 7.4, while not conceding a score.
Although the Roosters only had a six day break since their round two game at Kalangadoo, they finished full of running.
On the other hand, the Tigers had the benefit of a 13 day break.
Best for the victors were Jed Jarrett, assistant coach Kane Cuthbertson, Jordan Pettit, captain Jake Wehl and star recruit Todd Lockwood.
The game-high five goal haul from Lockwood lifted his season’s tally to 14 and he is one behind Glencoe import Brodie Foster.
Among the other dominant forwards for Robe were Cuthbertson, Riley Dickinson and coach Jack Kelly with four goals.
On the other hand, Tantanoola broke down in attack with no multiple goalkickers among the tally of 4.3.
The best players were Bradyn Reilly, Hayden Brown, assistant coach Sam Haniford, Scott Varcoe, Cooper Hamilton and first-gamer Nick Harris.
Both teams were missing key players due to injuries and availability issues.
Tantanoola welcomed back Jordan Gould for one match as he has moved to study at university in Geelong.
However, spearhead Matt Pilmore was in Adelaide.
Robe was without the services of its co-captain Jonny Agnew and ruckman Tom Wachtel who were recovering from injury.
In effect, Robe now has a “double bye” as its next game is a “blockbuster” at Glencoe on May 11.
Tantanoola coach Josh Peters said his club would definitely look at playing on Good Friday again.
Peters said the young Tigers would have gained from the experience of playing in front of a large crowd.
“Robe would want to continue playing on Good Friday and we will talk it over with our netballers and junior committee,” Peters said.
“The Roosters were really good, they were well drilled and they worked hard for each other.
“We had some injuries by the last quarter and so we could not do our rotations.
“Marc Roberts and Ethan Glass were both concussed, while Chris Hale hurt his shoulder in his 100th game.
“At Tantanoola, we are a young and developing side and we are looking at getting a bit of continuity into our footy.”
Kelly said his side had begun the game poorly, but took control by midway through the opening term.
“Tantanoola got the jump on us and had the first goal on the scoreboard,” Kelly said,
“Todd Lockwood then got the first four goals for us.”
The Robe coach said his side had the upper hand in the second quarter and Tantanoola defended well in the third term and put two extra men back in defence.
Kelly was pleased his team finished with a clean style of play in the final term and did not concede a score.
“It was a fantastic day and good for country footy and the playing deck was awesome,” he said.
“Our thanks go to Tantanoola for playing on Good Friday.
“It is all very well for us to say we want to play on Good Friday, but the Robe Football Club made it happen with many people working behind-the-scenes”.
The controversial decision to schedule a match on a sacred day did not deter spectators as well over 2000 poured through the gate in the perfect autumn weather.
It was probably more than the 2261 who witnessed the SANFL game at Richmond Oval between Woodville West Torrens and West Adelaide.
It was the first Good Friday game for premiership points at Robe since 2015.
Good Friday was the day the MSEFL hierarchy chose to make it widely known Kelly had stood down after two successful seasons as interleague coach.
His successor will be immediate past Port MacDonnell coach Ben McGregor.
Good Friday was not a total loss for the Tigers as they won the B Grade and junior colts fixtures.
They also collected a $3000 cash incentive to play on the public holiday as well as the proceeds of the gate raffle which was also reckoned to be a healthy sum.
Tantanoola has an entrepreneurial streak as shown by its staging of games under lights at McLaughlin Park in Millicent around 15 years ago as well as securing retired West Coast Eagles premiership player Daniel Kerr for a guest appearance in 2017.
The attention of MSFL followers now turns to Saturday when the customary Anzac game will be played at the Bay between Port MacDonnell and Nangwarry with memorial medals on offer to the best footballer and best netballer.
The winner of the Kalangadoo versus Glencoe match will claim the Max Matthews Memorial Cup while Kongorong hosts winless Mount Burr.
