Sport
10 April, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Football Round 1 Preview — Lexton vs Maryborough Giants
The Lexton Tigers host the Maryborough Giants in their opening clash of the 2026 season, with both sides keen to start the year on the right note.
It’s been a relatively quiet off-season on the recruiting front for the Giants, but they’ll welcome back a couple of important inclusions. Lachlan Bates returns after a season with Koondrook Barham, while Rhys Egan is back in Giants colours following his 2025 stint at Talbot.
The Giants are clearly backing in their future, with a strong focus on youth development. Expect to see several under 18 players given opportunities at the senior level throughout the season as the club continues to build its next wave of talent.
In contrast, Lexton has made some serious noise over the off-season with a strong recruiting campaign. The return of Tom Cullinan is a major boost after his premiership success with Skipton in 2025. A tough, hard-running midfielder, Cullinan brings leadership, experience, and elite competitiveness to a developing Tigers outfit.
Young talent is also on the rise at Lexton, with Bill Briody returning after being part of Learmonth’s under 18 premiership side. Importantly, he hasn’t come alone — Eric Wilkinson, Rory Wakefield, Will Maconachie, and Henry Marshman have also joined the Tigers, strengthening their senior stocks significantly.
Both sides struggled in 2025, with the Giants finishing 12th and Lexton just above them with four wins. That makes this contest a crucial early opportunity for both clubs to build momentum.
The Giants will take confidence from a strong pre-season performance, comfortably accounting for Wickliffe Lake Bolac in a recent practice match.
This shapes as a tight, hard-fought contest. While it’s difficult to split the two sides on paper, the home-ground advantage may just give Lexton the edge in what promises to be an intriguing round one battle.