By Trevor Jackson
HATHERLEIGH V KALANGADOO
AS the Mid South East football season is now well into the second half, prior form comes into play, as teams have another shot at a win.
However, for Kalangadoo it might be a bit different.
The Magpies started their premiership defence campaign with four straight losses and looked out of the picture early.
But they have fought back to win six games on the trot and now sit just inside the top four.
They face a huge test against the undefeated Hatherleigh, who they matched up against quite well in their last outing.
While the Eagles won comfortably in the end, Kalangadoo led at the long break, in the middle of a form slump.
They capitulated in the second half, while the Eagles went on to rack up a big score.
Fast forward to now and the Magpies are in top form, but will it be enough to topple the ladder leaders?
Both sides had their kicking boots on in that last clash, although the action petered out from the Magpies.
For Hatherleigh, Brad Mitchell led the way with five goals, while Tom Hutchesson and Jed Telfer kicked four each.
Patrick Chay (3) and Bailey Lindner (2) also kicked multiple goals.
That was not the case for Kalangadoo, with three players kicking multiple goals.
Connor Gentile led the way with five goals, while Michael Krieger kicked four and Ben Gregory three.
A couple of rounds ago there were several different goal kickers, including a bag of nine from Dylan Bromley.
Lachy Jones chipped in with five in that game as well, along with a few others.
Hatherleigh has only experienced two close games this season.
They won the opening-round clash against Glencoe by 14 points, then by 13 points against Robe.
All other games have produced big wins for the Eagles.
If the Magpies can limit the Eagles’ impact on the scoreboard, as Robe did in Round 8, they may be a chance to inflict Hatherleigh’s first loss of the season.
Add the home-ground advantage to the equation and the Eagles should stamp their authority on this one.
TANTANOOLA V GLENCOE
Another game worth checking out is the Tantanoola v Glencoe clash.
Glencoe has been on a steady fall down the ladder, typically since Kalangadoo began to win, while the Tigers have remained down towards the bottom end.
The Murphies would like their chances against the Tigers, with four wins chalked up this season.
However, last time the two sides faced off, the final result went to the Murphies, but by just 17 points.
The Tigers would be desperate for a win to shake the bottom two sides away, but it is a big call to claim that victory over Glencoe.
The Murphies would certainly have felt they would be in a better position at this stage of the season so well be keen not to let the top four escape too much.
Despite all the desires and hopes, the Murphies should claim this win, even on the road.
ROBE V KONGORONG
Back in Round 3 Robe claimed a big win over Kongorong and not much has changed since then.
The Roosters have only dropped one game this season – to the ladder-leading Hatherleigh – while the Hawks have won just one game.
Robe sits up in second spot with just the one loss recorded, while Kongorong occupies the bottom rung of the ladder at the moment.
It would take something extremely special for the Hawks to claim this one, with the Roosters set to record a big score.
NANGWARRY V MOUNT BURR
Mount Burr travel to Nangwarry to face the Saints and will return victorious.
Last time the two sides faced off the Mozzies claimed the win by 79 points.
The Saints have claimed a win this season and sit one spot off the bottom rung of the ladder.
The Mozzies also come wounded off a loss to Kalangadoo last round, so will want to return to the winner’s list in style.
That alone will go against Nangwarry, but the Saints have struggled this season so will aim to compete and see where the game takes them.
For the Mozzies, Jack Gregory could also use a bag of goals to keep Hatherleigh’s Patrick Chay in view.
Chay currently leads to standings with 44 goals, to Gregory’s 37.
