By Lachlan Onions
WITH the South Australian Country Football Championships now in the rear-view mirror, the state of play is clear for each team in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League with just six rounds left in the season.
It has been yet another unpredictable KNT football season but as we enter the run home, there is a clear top-five and bottom-five.
This season, Border Districts has gone from strength to strength and has set itself as a flag contender with nine wins from 10 games.
Spear-headed in attack by Dylan Schoenmarkers and Mackenzie Bower who have combined for 70 goals this season, the northern Eagles have been a class above and are on an eight-game winning streak.
The only loss came to Kingston, who claimed a 10-point win back in Round 2.
Along with Border Districts, Mundulla and Keith are also well and truly in the premiership battle.
Both sides have won eight games this season and currently occupy second and third place on the ladder.
In what has been a tightly contested campaign, the other teams in finals contention are not far off, with just eight points between the ladder-leading Eagles and fifth-placed Naracoorte Demons.
Both Naracoorte and Kingston have won seven games this season and will both be in the fight for the flag at the pointy end of the season.
The Saints have been hit by injury recently but that has not stopped them from keeping up with the lead group.
Barring any major upsets and massive shifts in form, it is more than likely that the current top five will be the teams playing in finals this season.
While Border Districts looks like the flag-favourite, any team in the top five has the ability to take the spoils this season such is the competitiveness of the league.
There is a 12-point gap between Naracoorte and the sixth-placed Padthaway.
The Lions had a difficult start to their 2023 season with three straight losses to start the season.
However, in their last seven games they have picked up four wins, including a shock 28-point upset over Kingston in Round 6.
Padthaway has shown glimpses of its ability since the start of the season but it has struggled for consistency against the top sides in the competition.
The Lions have a mixed run home with three games against teams in the top five but will look to potentially claim another upset along the way.
Lucindale’s premiership defence has been unideal to say the least.
The Roos were near-untouchable in 2022 but have struggled for form this season with just three wins from 10 games.
Lucindale lost its season-opener in a grand final rematch to Keith but bounced back to win its next two games.
However, since then it has won just one of its last seven games, with its victory coming against Penola in Round 7.
Looking further down the ladder, Bordertown had a difficult start to the 2023 season with four of its first five games against sides in the top five.
Despite losing its opening five games, there was plenty of promise as it lost to Keith by just one point, Kingston by eight and Border Districts by eight as well.
The Roosters eventually notched up their first win of the season with a strong performance against an injury-ravaged Penola outfit in Round 6.
They then backed it up with a 35-point win over Kybybolite the following week.
However, the last three games have seen the Roosters struggle to match their opposition and will look to regain some form when they take on Lucindale this weekend.
Penola currently occupies ninth place on the ladder in what has been a difficult season for the southern Eagles with injuries.
The season got off to the worst possible start as Penola suffered a 108-point loss to Kingston in Round 1.
However, they turned it around to lose by just 15 points to Naracoorte the following week.
In Round 3, it all clicked for the Eagles as they soared to a 49-point win over the Lions.
They then claimed another win two weeks later against Kybybolite.
However, since then, Penola has been unable to return to the winner’s circle.
The Eagles face a tough trip to Naracoorte this weekend before hosting Padthaway the following week.
At the foot of the ladder is Kybybolite, who is yet to claim a win this year.
The Tigers came agonisingly close to ending its drought in Round 6, when they lost by just one point to Keith in a game where they led at all three changes but could not hold on in the final term.
Looking at the run home, the Tigers have three games against sides in the bottom five and will be determined to notch up their first win of the year in one of those contests.
In terms of individual performers across the competition, Schoenmakers has been a standout performer for the northern Eagles in the forward line and leads the competition for goals kicked with 40 majors.
Naracoorte’s Zac Peake and Mundulla’s James Hinge are next best with 34 goals.
In terms of consistency, there are six players who have been named in their side’s best players eight times or more this year.
Kybybolite’s Billy Laurie has made nine appearances in the best players along with Penola’s Jayden Eldridge and Jordan Galpin.
The latter has been on fire this season and has been in the best players in all of his nine games he has played.
Penola’s Brad Bryant has been in stellar form, named in his side’s best on eight occasions, while Fraser Adams and Zac Richards have been pivotal for Border Districts this season and have guided their side to top spot on the ladder at the break.
KNT football will resume this weekend with Lucindale hosting Kybybolite, Padthaway hosting Keith, Bordertown taking on Mundulla, Naracoorte hosting Penola and Kingston doing battle with Border Districts.
