Plenty on the line in Mid South East football clashes

Aiden Mills April 13 TBW Newsgroup

Aiden Mills April 13 TBW Newsgroup
SKIPPER AGAIN: Aiden Mills leads out the Nangwarry Saints every week. Pictures: J.L. “FRED” SMITH

PORT MACDONNELL v NANGWARRY

NEW Demons coach Beau Harris should enjoy his first win as coach as his side should take the premiership points over the
Saints.

The seasiders had the bye in the opening round and then ran out of legs in round two at Hatherleigh.

In all likelihood, this upcoming win will boost Port MacDonnell ahead of its trip to Mount Burr in round four and then back home to the Bay on May 11 to face Kalangadoo.

Since the loss to the Eagles the team has received some welcome news regarding one of its favourite sons in Ben McGregor.

He has been elevated to coach of the MSEFL interleague team and this promotion has been well received across the league.

Among those to welcome the appointment have been Tantanoola coach Josh Peters and Nangwarry Football Club treasurer Kevin Dinnison.

In the meantime, McGregor will play his customary lion-hearted games against every opponent.

Nangwarry is a five-goal better side than in 2018 and the return of Ricky Lindner and the addition of Ryan Zerk and George McWaters has added to the talent pool.

Tyson Ploenges has yet to pull on the boots in 2019, but will add the firepower in attack which the team so desperately needs.

The Saints of 2019 are much improved from one year ago when ball-handling fumbles and mis-kicks generated too many turnovers.

The Mid South East Football League and Netball Association is proud to once again offer an Anzac Day Medal in this game in association with the Port MacDonnell sub-branch of the RSL.

The medals will continue to honour the memory and war service of late local World War II veterans Herb Ashby DCM OAM (football) and Sister Mary Catherine Mules (netball).

Footballers and netballers will assemble on the Port MacDonnell oval before the start of the A Grade football match to pay their respects as well as embracing the memory of and gratitude for the supreme sacrifice made by many Australians in conflict and times of war.

The players in each code adjudged by an independent selection panel as those who best exemplify the Anzac spirit of skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play will be recognised with medals.

Since the successful pilot program nine years ago of awarding an Anzac Medal in selected football and netball games across the state, the SA Community Football Board, Netball SA, Veterans SA and the RSL have continued to provide this opportunity to all leagues across South Australia.

GLENCOE v KALANGADOO

THE Max Matthews Memorial Cup will make the 20km journey from Kalangadoo to Glencoe on Saturday when the third round of the Mid South East Football League finishes.

The coveted silver cup has been in the possession of the Magpies for several seasons, but the Murphies will seize it off their arch rivals with a convincing win.

For well over a decade the trophy has honoured the memory of the versatile post-war player who played in premierships with both clubs.

The black-and-whites have competed in the finals in the past five seasons, but a sixth consecutive major round appearance is far from a certainty.

Kalangadoo’s lack of pace was exploited by Robe in round two and the reigning premiers booted the first six goals of the game.

Coach Chris Mules said his team would welcome back Michael Krieger, Nathan Reeves and Mitch Lowe on Saturday.

He broke a finger against Robe and is in doubt for this match.

“I will see how it goes after training,” Mules said.

“We were lazy early on in the game against Robe and we did not touch the ball for the first 15 minutes.

“It was the same in the last quarter and we were not ready.”

The Magpies will be stronger when the likes of Brett Lindner and Braiden Ousey are available once again.

In the meantime, it is hard to see how such talented Murphies as Tory Weaver, Alex Hentschke and Brodie Foster will be prevented from booting a winning score.

Glencoe has looked impressive in wins against Nangwarry and Tantanoola, but both of these opponents have been starved of success in recent seasons.

Kalangadoo will provide much stiffer competition as they have done so ever since games between the neighbouring clubs began in the 1920s.

KONGORONG v MOUNT BURR

THERE will be a further honour on offer when Kongorong hosts winless Mount Burr.
The best-on-ground will be awarded the prestigious John Rogers Memorial Medal to honour the memory of the local national serviceman who was killed on active duty in Vietnam around 51 years ago.
It will be presented after the game by members of the Rogers family.
The Kongorong Football Club takes its hosting of its annual Anzac Day match seriously and it has again enlisted the support of the RSL and the opposing club to honour those who served.
Hawks president Scott Cram said such elements as the Ode of Remembrance, honour guard and minute’s silence will be observed by footballers, netballers, umpires, officials and spectators.
He said the solemn observance will take place ahead of the A Grade football match.
Cram said senior player John Simkin would again be painting the words “Lest We Forget” in large letters on the western flank of the Kongorong Oval.
“The National Anthem will be sung by Mel Whitty who is the wife of our new senior coach Will Whitty,” Cram said.
Once the game gets under way, Will Whitty and his fellow ex-Mozzie team mate Tommy Hales will be keen to do well against their former team.
The overall stocks of the Mount Burr United Football Club will be boosted by the decision of 2010 A Grade premiership skipper Andrew Ferguson to return to the fold.
He played one Reserves match with Tantanoola in the opening round, but was returning to help ease the Mozzies player shortage.