League

Ramblers 15-15 (105) d Mypolonga 10-9 (69)

Patrons Medal: Daniel Zadow (Ramblers)

Reserves

Mannum 9-9 (63) d  Imperials 7-3 (45)

Reschke Medal: Brett Klose (Mannum)

U17's

Imperials 12-10 (82) d Ramblers 9-6 (60)

Schenke Medal: Travis Prosser (Imperials)

U15's

Mannum 10-9 (69) d  Imperials 3-5 (23)

Kluske Medal: Levi Krause (Mannum)

Click Selected grade to view premiership team photo

Congratulations to Damien Dugan (Jervois) on receiving the Connolly Medal for the Best and Fairest Under 17 player. In a very close count he polled 3 votes in the final round to win by 1 vote from Ben Gibbs (Meningie) and Scott Davis (Mypolonga). Mrs Raelene Hurle (formerly Connolly) presented the medallion to Damien.

The Bryan Medal for the Best and Fairest Under 15 player was won by Ben Gogel (Ramblers) who had a 2 point win over Levi Krause (Mannum). Mr John Bryan presented the medallion to Ben.

The Australian Country Championships is over for another year and South Australia finished fourth out of five teams. South Australia only beat New South Wales, finished the minor round at fourth, then played off today (Sunday) for third or fourth place. Unfortunately, South Australia lost to Western Australia in the final 16-9 (105) to 12-19 (91). Luke Button and Ryan Morris performed solidly for the carnival, Luke getting a best player in two games and Ryan one. I believe both players enjoyed the experience and a congratulations to Tony Fielke on his coaching for the weekend.

We are over the half way mark of the season and it's time for a review to see where the Clubs are sitting. In the League the top three, are once again obvious with Ramblers, Imperials and Jervois right up there.  Mypolonga and Mannum make up the top five, and to the delight of the Tailem Bend Football Club, they are in the fight for a finals berth. Meningie, although at times being very competitive, haven't won a game and their finals campaign looks over.

Ramblers, clearly look to be the team to beat. They have the best team on the field and on paper. How do you stop everyone? As, in last weeks game against Jervois - Button (had little influence), Morris was made to work hard for every possession, Jackson was not at his best and the O'Neil brothers weren't at their scintillating best - yet - Ben Dougall popped up with 5 goals, Tyson Matthews was damaging and Ryan Viney (who had not performed well all season) was on his own and setting  Ramblers up in attack at every opportunity.

Imperials are not the team they were last season. Their new recruits haven't been outstanding, with perhaps Girdham the only one showing a bit. Luke Harrowfield is a sensational player and if you keep him goalless, you go a long way to beating Imperials. Ryan Eyre has been a stand out this season. He has always been a solid junior - but he has progressed to the next level very nicely and is a great defender. Imperials don't seem to have the personnel to match Ramblers and with Roger Puckridge (now alledged to have a serious knee injury), their match ups will decline.

Jervois - well what can you say! Those who dare write them off in June will perish! Last season they finished third and we all know they now have four in a row. This season does look a little different - there is a new coach (can he get them up) - although Ramblers looked to have a better list the last two years - this year their list does look hard for Jervois to match up on. Last Saturday proved that! Jagodnik and Ewer are not having great years by their standards, Russell Jarvis has been solid but not his outstanding best, Sam Mahony is still great - but is he fit? The plus side see's Trevor Rigney showing his class every week, Jason Bayliss just a cut above every ruckman going around, Steven Braun outstanding in the back lines  and a few of their youth showing a bit. It will be tough going, but I wont say they cant jag another Premiership.

Mypolonga- you just shake your head and start going through a very talented list - Joe, James and George Pedler, Joel Eckermann, Brad Martin, Caine Lynn, Sam Flinn, Mark Oborn etc. The trouble seems to be that when that list comes to an end, then so does their depth. When it came to light last year that Joe Pedler had signed with Mypolonga, Mypo fans rubbed their hands in glee and opposition clubs were worried. It was all assumed he would turn the club around on the field - what a burden to place on him. He's a great player, very passionate about the game, he must be frustrated. Do Mypo hate to lose? They need to show it and show it now to progress further. Good luck.

Mannum, another team that promised so much and is still to deliver. Having said that, they can and could still do just that. The injury list in the first month was horrendous and now as they are all filtering back, the results may come. Warnest, Quinn, Sarno, Wakefield and of course Harte, who is in terrific form, Boughen can play and young Jarad Woodward, along with the experienced Matthew Connolly are all good players and if they all combine and play well at once , some big wins could come. Mannum need to beat an Imperials, Jervois or Ramblers and that will consolidate their finals berth and possibly stop Tailem Bend breathing down their neck.

It's great to see Tailem Bend, back to fighting for a finals spot. They have had some tough times since 2005 and are now looking to bounce back. They still have to beat a higher placed team other than Mannum and their run in the next month is not terrific. They have Jervois twice, Imperials and Mypolonga followed by Ramblers. They need to be competitive and take it right up there. Bell, Hogarth, Gregurke, Downs all good performers who will need to show leadership skills and when coach Dent plays, they seem to lift a cog. I believe they wont make the finals, but they may help to shape it and if they could just have a few more wins, who knows.

Meningie are not helped by geographics. However, it doesnt seem to matter where they are on the Premiership table they always have a red hot go and sometimes that gets them over the line. They can hopefully win a game this year, to booster their morale, but will find the going very tough. They have some great players, but depth with them is always a problem, and if a few injuries occur, then they can't replace them. The Saddlier boys are great, Evan Smith is a good solid player, Chris Lawson is a good honest player and their kids in Smart, Biddle, Reichelt and Greenwood will dominate in the future. We need Meningie in this Association and we need them to improve, but it wont be this season.