A FOOTBALL season of no regrets is yet to take place but there is one thing this season that will take place and that is many games of a "close encounter", not of the third kind but of a kind that may say "we stuffed it up" or "how in the hell did we lose that?"
Make what you may out of the pre-season cup, won by the Eagles, but the numbers game comes into play with many future stars on the horizon of football who will make their mark.
No doubt the ups and downs of football will take place and picking the final four is akin to bring down a raging bull with a sling shot, and old Bluey ain't no David, remember the young lad who sleighed the giant, but never the less a couple of predictions are always available before the bounce to start the season.
Top two
Waybacks and Mallee Park are the two favourites, and Lincoln South are hovering above to challenge both clubs for the double chance.
Bostons should at this stage lead both Marble Range and Tasmans in the hunt for fourth spot.
One must have been out in the sun too long to leave the Rangers out of the four and plenty may say old Bluey has gone around the bend - so what's new? I've been that way since Tasmans beat Waybacks for the premiership in 1961 and '62.
Predictions are just that and add a bit of fun and spice to the competition, so taking a punt on the four at the good odds of 16 to 1, here I go: Waybacks and Mallee Park for the quinella, Lincoln South to take third spot and Bostons to finish fourth.
Mail Medal
Top six picks with one player from each club are: Andrew Jericho, Lincoln South; Matt Keatley, Waybacks; Jeremy Jackamara, Mallee Park; Matt James, Tasmans; Scott Blacker, Bostons; and a player with his boots on, Carl Semmler from the Rangers.
Masters at play
The Port Lincoln Masters football team travelled to Ceduna last weekend and played two hard games to lose the first by a couple of kicks and the second one by about three goals.
Just managing to get a team, they battled courageously according to Far West stalwart Milton Chandler.
Milton said that it was a great weekend and all who played in the games enjoyed the hospitality of the Westerners, who love good company.
The weekend began on Friday night when none other than Graham Cornes set his band up in the street to get the Masters party underway and played the appropriate music.
There were more hamstrings popping than champagne corks when they played on Saturday, and the Master of the Red Wine Sipping Club, David Stoeckel, led the way with a starring role on Saturday night.
Keith "the builder" Daniels showed great fitness and when the door fell off the change room the builder was a handy person to have around.
Lincoln Dudley was in good form until he fell at the last when chasing a rolling ball into an open goal, only to see and hear the opposing player say "don't worry Lincoln I'll get the ball, you enjoy the rest".
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It was also a sight for saw eyes when a couple of Ranger players who love the Black and White had to wear the Tasman colours ... look at the photographs of this memorable scene.
Martin Leslie showed that after 35 he is more skilful with the "air conveyance" than he is with the cricket ball or bat, and Rob Proude was exactly that, proud of his and the team's effort for their ability to party and chase the footy during the lunch and tea breaks.
All players send on their thanks to the community of Ceduna and said they will send back the crutches and walking sticks when they can resume walking normally.
One last bit of information is about Jarred Murray who at times resembled the Great Murray River; though brave, he showed his lack of depth and flow.
The final report was that all had a great time with great people and the Port Lincoln masters team looks forward to a two or three year recovery period before the next trip.
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