Advertisment

Sport

24 August, 2023

500 of the best for Bulldog Stacey Blair

It’s been a fortnight of celebrations around the Mary-borough Castlemaine District Football Netball League, with three big milestones enjoyed. Avoca’s Stacey Blair marked her 500th in the Bulldogs’ big round 15 win over Harcourt, while...

By Michael Thompson

Stacey Blair looks to get the ball rolling in the Bulldogs’ round one clash with Maryborough Rovers. Photo: 250823 16
Stacey Blair looks to get the ball rolling in the Bulldogs’ round one clash with Maryborough Rovers. Photo: 250823 16

It’s been a fortnight of celebrations around the Mary-borough Castlemaine District Football Netball League, with three big milestones enjoyed.

Avoca’s Stacey Blair marked her 500th in the Bulldogs’ big round 15 win over Harcourt, while Maryborough Rovers’ Bec Dewhirst lined up for her 400th game in their B grade clash against Maldon last week. Carisbrook’s Sherriden Byrne will also bring up her 400th game this week in their first final against Lexton.

Blair, having got through her 500th game successfully, is set to continue to play a key role as the Bulldogs look to avenge Natte Bealiba this week in the qualifying final, following the Swans’ triumph in last year’s preliminary final, which also ended a 45-game winning run for the Bulldogs.

“It’s exciting to get to the finals again. It was good to get through the 500th injury free and make it through, but now it’s all about getting as far as we possibly can,” she said.

It’s been a big year for the Bulldogs, with Colleen Drummond earlier bringing up the same milestone as she played her 500th game in C grade, all in the club’s 150th year celebrations.

Blair says there was relief that the club was able to celebrate the year properly, despite flood damage threatening to put a dampener on the plans.

“It’s an exciting year for the whole club in itself, but it was just good to get back out there after the last couple of years we’ve had,” she said.

"We also struggled to get into the club this year, but it was great when we could do it again and celebrate our 150th year.

“I think it goes right back to the committee. Bill Drummond is amazing, what he’s dealt with this year.

“We always had the courts to train on, but we just couldn’t have any functions or tea after training for either the footballers or the netballers, so it’s a credit to the club to get through the year like they have, running it back to normal again.”

Blair anticipates that any team in the top four could win it, although she is confident the Dogs are able to compete hard with their depth.

“I hope it’s a close race. We played Lexton last week and it was no easy feat to get over them,” she said.

“It’s going to be a tight tussle with Natte this week, and we’re lucky we have depth to call upon if we do have unavailability. We were still strong when we played them earlier this year, despite that, and while we got close, we weren’t quite able to get them at the end.”

And as for her future plans?

Blair anticipates she’ll be continuing on as long as the club wants her to play.

“I’ve been grateful to play as many games as I have for the club, and my body has been able to get through it,” she said.

“So I’ll just keep going as long as the club needs me and the body allows.

“I have a couple of girls coming through the ranks now and it’d be nice to have a run around with them — probably not in A grade though, I would have thought.

“But I’m feeling okay and getting through the games alright.”

Advertisment

Most Popular