KALANGADOO 13.14 (92) d GLENCOE 12.12 (84)
THE Max Matthews Memorial Cup is staying at Kalangadoo for the sixth consecutive season after the wounded Magpies held off the Murphies by a mere eight points on Saturday.
The victory in the match-of-the-day in the third round of the Mid South East Football League has kept injured coach Chris Mules and his team near the top of the premiership table for the third consecutive week.
If Glencoe had won by the barest margin it would have stayed on top of the MSEFL ladder but that spot is now held by reigning premiers Robe
It was a sweet win indeed for the visitors against their arch rivals and closest neighbours and was achieved despite three injuries during the game.
Kalangadoo and Glencoe have contested many intense matches since the 1920s and Saturday’s game was no exception.
In recognition of this fact, the two clubs and a local family instituted a memorial trophy several years ago to honour the memory of a revered player who played in premierships for both Kalangadoo and Glencoe.
Speaking after the game, Mules thanked Glencoe for the match and said it was hard work to boot a winning score.
“We really had to grind out a win,” Mules said.
Before a large crowd, Kalangadoo took to the field without coach Mules who is still nursing a nursing a broken finger while it was much stronger with the return of Michael Krieger and Nathan Reeves.
However, the strengthened Magpies proved to be no match for the Murphies in the opening term as they had superior pace and skills.
Visiting ruckman Jonny Mules injured his knee at the opening bounce and took no further part in the contest.
Kalangadoo was then reduced to one spare player after Matt Fatchen also suffered a game-ending ankle injury at the five-minute mark of the first term.
Glencoe took a seven-point lead onto quarter-time but that was the only interval where this occurred.
Under grey skies, the Magpies took the lead in the second term and never surrendered it.
It extended to as much as 20 points but the home team were never really out of the contest.
There were two incidents early in the final term which had an impact on the Kalangadoo team.
Firstly, creative playmaker Sam McManus was injured in controversial circumstances and this incident appeared to make Kalangadoo even more determined to win.
Secondly, a Glencoe player was yellow-carded a few minutes later and was sent from the field for 15 minutes.
It was goal-for-goal for much of the final term but the Magpies had built an adequate buffer.
McManus was named as the man-of-the-match but he could not come on to the oval to accept the award.
He was waiting in the changerooms for the SA Ambulance Service to take him to the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Coach Mules said McManus suffered broken ribs, was discharged from hospital the following day and is likely to miss six weeks of football.
He said the extent of the injury to his younger brother was not yet known but he expected Fatchen to resume on Saturday.
Kalangadoo Football Club president Adam Box was asked by The South Eastern Times if his club wanted any further scrutiny of Saturday’s game via the official investigation process.
In reply, Mr Box said the Magpies were not initiating any such moves,
“As a club we completely trust the umpires who were professional throughout and after the game and will therefore trust them to follow any required processes,” Mr Box said.
Looking to round four, Kalangadoo returns home to meet Kongorong while Glencoe heads down the Mile Hill to Tantanoola.
PORT MACDONNELL 30.22 (202) d NANGWARRY 2.2 (14)
IT was a double win at the Bay for the home side as Port MacDonnell lowered the colours of Nangwarry and utility player Mark Smith also claimed the Herb Ashby DCM, OAM Memorial Anzac Medal.
It is the 10th consecutive year the local RSL sub-branches and the MSEFL have awarded the prize to the footballer who best shows the Anzac spirit.
It was presented post-match by the RSL and it was a deserved win as Smith had been a dominant player around the ground and booted a game-high seven goals.
The Saints booted two goals in the opening term and trailed by a margin of 38 points at quarter time.
After the visitors added just one more score and were left to chase guernseys.
It was a consistent four-quarter effort by the southern seasiders as they booted at least seven goals in each of the remaining three terms.
As well as Smith, the likes of Damien O’Dine (six goals) and Matt Stark (four) posed headaches for the Nangwarry defenders.
In all, there were 11 individual goalkickers for the victors.
A club official said the Saints were completely outclassed.
Recruit George McWaters, returning player Ricky Lindner and ex-coach Craig Hicks were named as the best for Nangwarry.
It had been a disruptive start to the season for the southern seasiders as they had a bye in the opening round and then had another bye for Easter.
Looking to round four, Nangwarry faces tough opposition at home to Hatherleigh while it will be a tall order for Port MacDonnell to win against Mount Burr at “Mick” and Jean Walker Oval.
MOUNT BURR 11.20 (86) d KONGORONG 7.11 (53)
MOUNT Burr took away the premiership points from Kongorong on Saturday as well as the John Rogers Memorial Medal.
After consultation with the two clubs, it was awarded by Rogers’ brothers Don and Ken to Mount Burr defender Josh Wallis.
It was a popular win as Wallis does not get the kudos he deserves in comparison to team mates up the field and on-the-ball.
It honours the memory of the local soldier who was killed while on active service in Vietnam in 1968.
The A Grade footy match had been preceded by an Anzac ceremony conducted by members of the Mount Gambier sub-branch of the RSL.
Darcy Henderson sounded the “Last Post” and Melanie Whitty sang the National Anthem.
The Ode of Remembrance was recited and a minute’s silence was observed by officials, umpires, footballers, netballers and the crowd.
As in past years, veteran Kongorong footballer John Simkin painted the words “Lest We Forget” on the grass.
There was a large crowd in attendance with additional interest created by former Mount Burr premiership player and club vice-president Will Whitty coaching against his old club for the first time.
Retirement proved to be short-lived for multiple Mount Burr premiership player Nick Morrison.
He missed all of the 2018 season, but has pulled on the green-and-gold jumper yet again.
The decision of Morrison to return to the field has helped compensate for the departure of star player Henry Crauford to Norwood in the SANFL.
It also allowed stand-in ruckman Jake Dowdy to spend more time in the forward line and he finished with a game-high tally of five goals.
Despite losing the toss, Mount Burr began the game well and had established a 19-point lead by quarter time.
There was an even greater imbalance in the scores in the second term as Mount Burr set up a match-winning lead of 39 points by the long break.
Visiting coach Tom Renzi was in stand-out form.
The Hawks staged a recovery in the final term, but the result of the match was beyond doubt.
According to Whitty, the lack of drive from the mid-field was costly for his team and resulted in few scoring opportunities.
On the other hand, Whitty said such Mount Burr ball-winners as Nathan Muhovics and Dylan Ridley were able to set up the play.
Whitty praised the Mozzies for their ability to use the ball to advantage.
“We have to keep on chipping away and we are a work-in-progress,” he said.
On a sour note, Whitty said some of his players had undertaken inadequate preparation for this match and were likely to face such disciplinary action as time in B Grade.
“After the game, we talked about the culture of successful football clubs,” he said.
“It requires a big commitment to play 16 games every season and to attend trainings.”
Mount Burr hosts Port MacDonnell in round four while Kongorong heads to Kalangadoo.
