The must-watch community footy games around the bush and the suburbs this weekend
Undefeated Hahndorf boasts a star-studded line-up featuring two former Crows but a top-of-the-table HFL clash presents a tricky test. Plus some big clashes in KNTFL, Adelaide Plains and Adelaide Footy League.
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Mount Barker looks to spoil reigning Hills Football League premiers Hahndorf’s unblemished record in a top of the table blockbuster, the KNFTL finals race heats up and long-time rivals are set for a crucial Adelaide Plains clash.
These are five of the best matches to get your local footy fix this Saturday.
HILLS
Mount Barker vs Hahndorf
Hanson Oval, Saturday @ 2.30pm
Hahndorf has walked the Hills Football League in 2019 on its way to a 9-0 record and it is no surprise given the firepower of the reigning premiers.
Former Adelaide Crows Matt Jaensch and Kyle Cheney have dominated while Darcy Hourigan — who kicked the most goals in country footy last season — predictably tops the charts for majors once again.
But second-placed Mount Barker (6-3-1) will welcome the Magpies to Hanson Oval eyeing the prized scalp of the ladder leaders.
No side has got within 30 points of Hahndorf this season, which has an average winning margin of 72 points.
The Magpies dispatched the Roos 15.16 (106) to 3.7 (25) at Hahndorf Oval in round three.
No doubt it is a tough ask for Mount Barker and, should the second-ranked side lose, the question must be asked: Can anyone in the HFL stop the Magpies?
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA
Border Districts vs Naracoorte
Frances, Saturday @ 2.10pm
The fascinating KNTFL series continues to give, with the race to finals still wide open after another round of eyebrow-raising results last weekend.
Chief among the big performers was Naracoorte which has now won seven on the trot after beating second-placed Mundulla by 10 points.
The Demons are now equal on points with the Penola, the Moots and Kaniva-Leeor and are just percentage away from top spot.
Border Districts are sitting in seventh but just a game behind the Demons. The Eagles also notched up an important victory last week against a Padthaway side that had been flying under the radar (particularly compared to its reserves team).
The Eagles came out all guns blazing and recorded an impressive 35-point win that sent a powerful reminder they are ready to return to finals football. A win on Saturday will go a long way to achieving that goal.
In another ladder-shaping game, third-placed Kaniva-Leeor will come up against a sixth-placed Lucindale side which upset ladder-leader Penola by 11 points last week.
ADELAIDE PLAINS
Balaklava v Mallala
At Balaklava, Saturday @ 2.45pm
Just percentage separates the long-time rivals at two and three on the ladder. And with ladder-leader Hummocks Watchman Eagles up against winless Hamley Bridge, both will be desperate to stay in touch.
Balaklava will come in full of confidence after belting fourth-placed Two Wells by 10 goals last week.
The Peckers have dropped just the one game since losing to the Magpies by 16 points in Mallala in Round 3 — a nailbiting two-point loss to the top-placed Eagles in Round 8.
The Magpies come into the contest with some up-and-down form after being worn down by United in the wet last week.
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
Division One
Port District v Prince Alfred OC
Largs Reserve, Saturday @ 2.15pm
Port District will be a team on a mission to right its wrongs when it hosts Prince Alfred Old Collegians in the top tier.
The Magpies drew with Henley last Saturday but the league overturned the result and awarded a win to the Sharks during the week.
An Adelaide Footy League rules and regulations committee found Port District player James Batty had returned to the field too early from a yellow card send-off and that the Magpies booted two goals, including one by Batty himself, while he was meant to still be on the bench.
Awarding Henley the victory could have a big effect on the top-tier competition.
The Sharks (2-8-1) were bottom after Saturday but the win moved them up to ninth with a 3-8 record — the same as eighth-placed Adelaide University and new cellar-dweller Tea Tree Gully.
Port District stayed fourth.
The Magpies now face the ladder leading Reds and should have plenty of motivation to get a win in their fight for finals.
Division Two
Sacred Heart OC v Unley Mercedes
Sacred Heart Senior School, Saturday @ 2.15pm
It is a classic first versus second encounter in division two as Unley Mercedes travels to Sacred Heart College aiming to topple yet another rival.
At 9-1-1, close encounters have been few and far between for the high-flying Jets, who are averaging a staggering 128 points per match.
SHOC has triumphed in three of its past four outings and will relish the opportunity to take on a side in a preview of a likely finals matchup.
But — with Salisbury North and Athelstone hot on its heels in third and fourth — a SHOC loss would even up an already tight race for the double chance.