Sport

29 December, 2022

A year in local sporting achievements — 2022

After two years of being stuck in limbo due to COVID, lockouts and many other variables, sport returned to the Maryborough district area with a bang in 2022. January The year started with Alicia Cassidy and Alisha Chadwick recognised when the...

By Michael Thompson

After two years of being stuck in limbo due to COVID, lockouts and many other variables, sport returned to the Maryborough district area with a bang in 2022.

January
The year started with Alicia Cassidy and Alisha Chadwick recognised when the A grade netball best and fairest was named in their honour at Maryborough FNC, while the Maryborough District Tennis Association suffered a blow when their Saturday competition was abandoned due to a lack of interest.

February
This month was all about the Maryborough Blazers, with the women’s team capturing their first ever title with a stirring victory over the Bendigo Braves, while the men’s defence of their 2020 title came to an end in the semi-final.
Meantime, the Maryborough Soccer Club was successful in establishing a women’s team for the first time since 2013, while Sally Pearson made an appearance at Little Athletics as part of her ambassadorial role at Coles.

Maryborough Lady Blazers celebrated their inaugural Country Basketball League title in February, with the delight on Millie Cracknell and Maggie Tranter’s faces clear to see.

March
It was a busy time as summer sports concluded. Laanecoorie Dunolly had a magnificent month, taking all three major awards, including Ben Gunn’s win in the Ken Gibbs Medal, while also taking a dominant A grade grand final victory over Clunes by nine wickets.
Carisbrook won the A reserve grand final after sneaking into the top four at the end of the home and away season.
In lawn bowls, Highland Tartan captured both the midweek and Saturday division one pennants.
There was good news for local Cam McClure, as he made his debut for Victoria, while on the football field, Maryborough confirmed they will field an under 18 team for the first time since 2016.

April
Finally, football and netball made a full return in 2022. Campbells Creek waited a little longer to get back out on the park, but they successfully came out of recess.
Kai Lohmann made his debut for Brisbane, and Newstead local Jack Ginnivan played the game of his life on ANZAC Day, winning the best on ground medal, while a pair of netballers played their 250th games, with Ashlee Lierich and Jordan MacIlwain doing so for Dunolly and Maryborough respectively.

May
In football and netball, the Eagles got in on the action when they were able to take their first senior football win since 2019.
Meantime, the Maryborough Owls were plotting their way back into the Maryborough District Cricket Association after previously pulling out of the competition, while former AFL star Alex Rance made a memorable one-off appearance for Campbells Creek, and Sharelle Martin made her 350th appearance for Natte Bealiba.

Alex Rance wowed Campbells Creek fans with an entertaining three-goal performance for the Magpies as part of his one-off appearance with the club in May.

June
It was a big month of celebration for many around the Maryborough district, with Maryborough celebrating their 150th year as a football netball club.
A book was released, showcasing the history of the club, which was penned by Leeane Postle, while a gala night was held at the Carisbrook Trotting Club.
Elsewhere, Barry Hall returned to Harcourt for a handful of cameo appearances, while Paige Scott made history as the second-ever player drafted by Essendon for their inaugural AFLW campaign at pick eight.

July
Matthew Dellavedova returned to the NBA, signing with the Sacramento Kings after a season with Melbourne United in the NBL.
Brodie Harrison competed in the Hattah Desert Race, finishing a credible 66th overall, while Aussie netball legend Madi Browne came to Carisbrook with great fanfare, taking over as A grade netball coach for a day.
A pair of 400-game milestones were celebrated at Avoca, with Colleen Soulsby and Lucy Walkley celebrating within weeks of one another, while Campbells Creek scored a breakthrough victory in senior football.

August
As senior football and A grade netball ramped up, plenty of great individual and team achievements came to the fore.
Maryborough qualified for the under 18 football finals, while their 17 and under netball team did likewise. Natte Bealiba’s Danny Brewster and Trentham’s Jake Keogh scored their 100th goals of the MCDFNL season.
Elsewhere, Dunolly made their first senior football finals appearance since 2011 courtesy of a final round victory over Avoca, while Suzie Rinaldi played her 500th game for Harcourt.
Royal Park held a special fundraiser for members Jarrod Burman and Matt Doherty, who shaved their mullets in the name of mental health charity.

September
Finals fever gripped the town and September belonged to Harcourt in senior football and Natte Bealiba in A grade netball.
The Lions saw Brayden Frost win the senior football best and fairest for the MCDFNL, before taking their first premiership since 2007 in a gripping grand final encounter against Carisbrook.
Meantime, the Swans were also celebrating, with Naomi Medlyn tied with Carisbrook’s Laura Hurse for the A grade netball MCDFNL best and fairest, before ending their 11-year premiership drought with a grand final win over Lexton. The win was made all the more special as the Swans defeated Avoca to end their 45-game winning streak the week before in the preliminary final.
There was also great success for Maryborough, who saw their under 16s win the premiership.

October
The big wet hit during October. Many sports were affected, with cricket sitting out for weeks, while the Avoca Cup was cancelled due to severe flooding around the Avoca region.
MKM had to pull out of the MDCA A grade competition due to insufficient player numbers, while the Redwood Harness Racing Festival was run and won, with Cognati winning the Redwood Classic, while Cravache Dor won the Victoria Trotters Derby.

November
As the rain eased, cricket finally got its start in.
Laanecoorie Dunolly made the biggest statement ahead of the one-day competition, with Samit Gohil arriving from Indian first-class cricket. Gohil would eventually average 140 with the bat for the one-day season.
The Mt Alexander Falcons football team for women and gender diverse people found their new home, playing in the Riddell District League in 2023.
McClure signed for the Melbourne Stars, while Rick Andrews stepped aside from his role as Maryborough FNC senior football coach, just one year into a three-year deal due to family and work commitments taking their toll.

December
The Magpies moved quickly to announce their replacement, with Coby Perry announced as their new coach.
Kathie Teasdale was announced as the MCDFNL’s first ever female football president, while the Blazers just missed out on more honours in 2022.
Jake Gavriliadis and Cassidy Miller performed very well in state athletics events, while Josh Nalder won the School Sports Victoria state golf championships in Gisborne.
To wrap up the year, Laanecoorie Dunolly won the one-day title, taking an eight wicket victory over Colts Phelans to wrap up an incredible year of sport in the Maryborough district in 2022.

Josh Nalder was a star in the month of December, taking out the School Sports Victoria state golf championships in Gisborne.

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