Picture: ASHLEY EARL
THE Mid South East Football League is well placed to go one better and win its first-ever Limestone Coast Regional Carnival at Naracoorte tomorrow.
In recent years, the MSEFL has been able to defeat its two neighbouring leagues, but not in the same carnival.
With key attributes of youth, talent, form, fitness, the leadership of the red-and-black league believes it will achieve a breakthrough championship victory.
MSEFL senior vice president Dennis Muhovics said his league is no longer overawed by the Western Border or the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara.
According to Muhovics, the MSEFL has shown it can match its two neighbours and only needs an ounce of luck to be named the 2019 champion.
He said the turning point for the MSEFL and interleague football came around 15 years ago with a win over the Horsham and District Football League.
“They are a strong league and to beat them on their own patch at the Horsham City Oval was a high point in the history of the MSEFL,” Muhovics said.
“Although that victory was only by a few points, it kick-started enthusiasm for representative football across the league.
“Ever since, there has been great regard for interleague football and coaches, players and support staff have readily made themselves available.”
Muhovics said the win over the HDFL lifted the stocks of the MSEFL and it ceased to be regarded as the poor relation of football in the region.
“Until we won on the Horsham City Oval, the level of interest in interleague competitions had waned,” he said.
“We used to have many players drop out citing niggling injuries or prior commitments.
“Thankfully, we seldom hear those lame excuses nowadays.”
The MSEFL senior vice president said there were now programming advantages which made it easier for players to make themselves available for trainings and on game day.
“We were sorry to see Tarpeena go into recess in 2002, but that created two byes for all the other nine clubs,” Muhovics said.
“Combined with byes for Easter and the South Australian Country Football Championships in Port Pirie in July, every MSEFL footballer has a minimum of four free weekends each winter.”
Muhovics said the MSEFL executive committee had every confidence in the abilities of new coach Ben McGregor.
“Robe’s Jack Kelly did a great job over the past two seasons,” he said.
“He stepped down and we are grateful for his whole-hearted commitment to interleague football and the MSEFL.
“Ben will also do well as he has the respect of all.
“He has been a club coach and vice-captain of the Western Border Football League and knows the current crop of players well.
“There have been three sound training runs in recent weeks and the last one will be held at Glencoe this week.
“After that training, the on-field leaders will be announced.
“It is an expensive business to field an interleague team, but all club delegates and the league executive are fully supportive of our participation at Naracoorte.
“We realise there are many sacrifices that are made by players, support staff and their families to be involved in representative football.”
If the Mid SE can defeat its two neighbours in the Western Border and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara, it will arguably be one of the best days since it was founded 83 years ago.
The Mid SE has been a breeding ground for stand-out youngsters at the elite level with four ex-players currently on AFL lists – Jordan Murdoch, Toby Pink, Jordan Dawson and Mason Redman.
Perhaps the Naracoorte carnival will be the launching pad for another AFL career.
MSEFL’S REVISED SQUAD
Kalangadoo: Jason Bannister, Mitch Lowe, Billy Galpin, Sam McManus, Andrew Stone.
Port MacDonnell: Jacob Langdon, Mark Smith, Ned Wilke, Wade Chant, Hamish Stevens.
Robe: Jake Wehl, Jed Jarrett, Tom Wachtel, Tom Williams, Zac Deane
Mount Burr: Josh Wallis, Tom Renzi, Josh Fiebig.
Hatherleigh: Mitch Pulmer, Brad Wight, Brodie Fabris, Jase Bateman, Lewis Walker.
Tantanoola: Cameron Saint.
Glencoe: Zacc Cocks, Brodie Foster, Alex Hentschke, Matt Kasparian.
Kongorong: Harrison Evans.
