GLENCOE v ROBE
VISITING coach Jack Kelly and his team are keen to achieve a winning result in round five of Mid South East football on Saturday when Robe travels to Glencoe after a lay-off lasting 22 days.
The Roosters last played at home against Tantanoola on Good Friday on April 19.
Kelly said his team had since kept in touch with the dual twice-weekly training sessions, but with one exception.
He said Robe would be close to full strength with the exception of Egan Regnier who broke his collarbone and is expected to miss six weeks.
“Tom Wachtel and (co-captain) Jonny Agnew will be back after missing the win over Tantanoola,” Kelly said.
“We are really looking forward to the match at Glencoe.
“Our backline really matches up pretty well on their forward line.
“Our own forward line has been functioning well.
“We have to make a decision on who will take on Alex Hentschke.
“It might be Riley Dickinson, but we might use him in attack.
“There is also Jack Sneath or Todd Lehmann.
“Zach Deane will go on Brodie Foster.”
He is the obvious dangerman as the star recruit has already booted 30 goals in his four appearances for Glencoe this season.
HATHERLEIGH v MOUNT BURR
ATTENDANCE records could be broken at the Hatherleigh Oval on Saturday when league powerhouse Mount Burr makes its annual visit.
The savvy Eagles have arranged for its annual sponsors day to be held and on a date when the Millicent Football Netball Club has a bye,
Spectators and sponsors alike will be treated to a fine spectacle over the course of 2.5 hours.
For visiting coach Tom Renzi, the large oval holds no fear.
“I like playing at Hatherleigh, it suits our style of game and the match will be a good test,” he said.
The Mozzies welcomed back 2018 grand final best and fairest and Stan Jones Medallist Cory Gamble in round four but Renzi is not certain of his availability for the game against the Eagles.
“He might be staying in Adelaide and playing with the Glenelg Reserves,” he said.
“Cory can play with us when they rotate the squad.”
Another player who is doubtful is Jake Dowdy who copped a knock to the knee in the 36-point home ground win over Port MacDonnell.
Renzi proudly points to the contribution of his teenage players to the success of his team.
“Last week we had six players who had played six games or less,” he said.
“Those colts have been good for us.
“They are the future of the club and we want to get them playing in A Grade as soon as we can.”
After losses to Robe and Kalangadoo, Mount Burr has triumphed over Kongorong and Port MacDonnell.
“We are slowly getting there,” Renzi said.
Meanwhile, Hatherleigh coach Gerard McGrath is confident his team will go well in front of the big crowd.
McGrath said he would frequently remind his players they lost the 2017 grand final to the Mozzies.
He did not play in his team’s big win at Nangwarry as he wanted to view the game from the sidelines.
“We kicked a lot of points and we were a bit rusty after not playing for three weeks,” McGrath said.
“Nangwarry were competitive but had trouble scoring”.
McGrath will return to the starting 18 against Mount Burr and cover the absence of injured veteran Josh Wight.
“We will also be changing our colts,” he said.
PORT MACDONNELL v KALANGADOO
MAGPIES coach Chris Mules expects to meet stiff competition from whoever plays for the Demons at the Bay on Saturday in round five of the Mid South East Football League.
The seasiders were without captain Zack Williams, reigning Mail medallist Daron McElroy, 2018 leading goalscorer Jake Turner and best defender Matt Roscow on account of injury in round four.
It remains to be seen how many of this talented quartet will face the black-and-whites.
Without them, the Demons lack height and strength in some key positions.
For Kalangadoo, the injury list is somewhat brighter.
Sam McManus will definitely miss on account of broken ribs, but dual club best and fairest winner Mitch Lowe is set to return.
There is a big question mark hanging over first-choice ruckman Jonny Mules and his injured knee.
Chris Mules is pleased with the form of his elder brother Ben and Casterton/Sandford recruit Billy Galpin.
“Ben has a new lease of life,” he said.
“He was clearly best-on-ground against Kongorong.
“He was supposed to change with me but kept on staying on the ball.
“Ben booted six goals from the middle.”
The Magpies are keeping in touch with the competition leaders while the Demons cannot afford another loss.
KONGORONG v TANTANOOLA
Both sides are far more accomplished than their recent form would suggest.
The Tigers and the Hawks have copped some hidings in recent games.
They have repeatedly made poor starts and found themselves out of the contests by half-time.
Kongorong has found it hard to cover the on-field experience of past coach Bronson Saffin who has returned to South Gambier.
In the case of Tantanoola, regular possession winners Jordan Williams and Garrett Ha are also in the Western Border in 2019.
Neither side was active on the recruiting front over summer and this is why some seasoned campaigners and colts are being made to make up the 21.
This situation is not confined to Tantanoola and Kongorong as other teams also have limited numbers in reserve,
This situation is set to worsen over the coming winter months with illnesses, injuries and disinterest taking their toll.
That all sounds like it will be dull day but the opposite is the case.
You can be certain the Tigers and the Hawks will fight like cats and dogs to secure the premiership points.
The visitors want their first win of 2019 and the home team wants its second.
Tigers coach Josh Peters said his side was undermanned due to injuries to Chris Hale, Ben Chant and Nick Harris and the possible absence of Cooper Hamilton due to suspension.
“We might have to bring up some of the older heads from the Reserves,” he said.
Kongorong needs to win the premiership this season or else receive an unwanted record from Hatherleigh.
Hatherleigh endured 31 seasons without a flag from 1971 to 2002 and Kongorong matches that big number this year.
