James Murphy
The Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League will aim to defend its Interleague title this Saturday against its Western Border rivals.
Last year the KNTFL defeated Mid South East on foreign soil, but this time they will have the home-ground advantage playing at Bordertown.
As per the format of recent years, the three South East football leagues rotate the chance to play a single full-length match against one of their counterparts, opposed to the several shortened games of yesteryear.
Mundulla coach Nick Davis takes the reins of the Interleague side for the second year and he is eager to see what his team can produce this time around.
The roster differs from last year, with player unavailability often a factor with such games.
“We are going to be a fairly young side,” Davis said.
“We will probably have eight Under 21’s I reckon and there will be a fair few (first timers).”
Davis thought around half of the team may be taking their first plunge into senior Interleague football.
However, he said the three training sessions went well and everyone was coming together as a team.
Amongst the fresh talent there remains plenty of experience and the side is expected to remain competitive.
“I am looking forward to seeing Tom Whittlesea play again,” Davis said.
“He kicked six or seven (goals) in last year’s game.
“He is combining with another Bordertown boy in Jacob Eats playing forward this year.
“He is also tall and really athletic.”
On top of that there will be some talented youth on field, along with some exciting new faces.
“Zac Peake from Naracoorte is new to the league and he has put his hand up which is great,” Davis said.
“He is a full forward so hopefully he can kick some goals as well.”
When asked of his opponent, Davis said his knowledge of the Western Border league was limited, but he had some idea on what to expect.
“I know a few of them through my involvement in the zone side last year,” he said.
“I coach Mundulla and we played them in the Covid year as well, so I know a little bit about a few of them.
“We hope we will match up okay and give it a red-hot crack.”
Davis also looked forward to playing at Bordertown, which he hoped would give KNTFL an edge.
“We are on one of our home decks and all of the boys have played there a fair bit,” he said.
“Opposed to last year when we headed to Kongorong and no one had every played there before.
“We have a pretty basic game plan – just go out there and win the footy and keep the pressure high.”
Penola coach Brad Maney will aid Davis this year as assistant coach, while Whittlesea is captain and Tom Gaden is vice captain.
The team was finalised this week and will be put to the test this Saturday afternoon.
KNTFL FINAL TEAM
Blake Read (Keith), Tom Whittlesea (Bordertown), Zac Peake (Naracoorte), Henry Tregoweth (Lucindale), Jacob Eats (Bordertown), Seb Schreiber (Keith), Jacob Grosser (Mundulla), Matt Willson (Naracoorte), Daniel Bibby (Keith), Tom Fisher (Lucindale), Elliot Jaeschke (Mundulla), Nathan Davey (Naracoorte), Tom Gaden (Mundulla), Josh Gregg (Naracoorte), Jacob Fiebiger (Padthaway), Jack McAuley (Keith), Campbell Watts (Kingston); INT: Matt Leigh (Bordertown), Darcy McKenny (Naracoorte), Tom Moyle-Read (Padthaway), Carl Hausler (Border Districts), Jacob Robbie (Penola).
