Sport
22 July, 2025
Avoca add to impressive unbeaten run with 19-goal victory over Giants
Avoca has extended its astounding unbeaten streak to 46 games, commanding the Maryborough Giants in the second half to earn a 78-59 victory against a strong finals contender.
The victory also confirmed the Bulldogs will once again have a double chance in the upcoming finals series as they look to complete the final chapter of a three-peat.
While Lucy Howell returned for Avoca after missing their win over Newstead, replacing Kodie Smith and Ellie Meagher, the Giants had a new look lineup after their victory against Maldon the week prior.
Ella Hocking and Ash Egbers were brought in to try and make an impact against the reigning premiers, with Dani Cain and Laura McStravick forced to step out.
Similarly to their round one loss to the Bulldogs this season, the Giants started well on their home court, with the addition of Hocking making the lives of Alisha Hovey, Christie Chapple and Ruby Saunder much easier in getting the ball to rising star shooter Lacey Broad.
Unlike that opening round clash, it was Avoca who held an early lead, up by three goals at the opening break.
The dynamic duo of Maddy Egan and Gina Beavis were practically faultless in the first term, combining to score 17 goals from a combined 19 attempts to hand the visitors the early advantage.
The Giants’ attack remained centred around Broad, who repaid her teammates’ faith by making all 12 of her shots in the first quarter, with Saunder adding two when she had looks that were too good to pass off to Broad.
Building on their quarter-time lead, the Bulldogs began to creep away to start the second term, thanks to their offence putting an extra 20 goals on the scoreboard.
However, the Giants ensured the visitors couldn’t run away with the match, keeping the deficit to a recoverable eight goals at half time.
Avoca midcourters Faith McKenzie and Stacey Blair showed an almost telepathic connection with each other and shooters Egan and Beavis, allowing Egan to convert 13 and Beavis to score seven without a miss.
Broad tried to keep pace with Egan and Beavis in the second period, netting 14 goals with the help of the space created by Saunder, who added one.
After tinkering throughout the previous quarter, the Giants made a big change to start the second half, with the dependable Saunder moved into defence alongside Riahni Egan to mark the in-form Maddy Egan, leading to Ash Egbers switched into goal attack.
The tactical change looked to do wonders early, as the hosts went on a run to start the third quarter to cut the margin to four.
However, Avoca wrestled back control rapidly, thanks to some timely intercepts and spectacular ball saves from McKenzie and Keisha Tonzing, creating a run of their own.
Mistakes and frustration began to creep into the Giants’ game, and the Bulldogs pounced with authority, extending their lead to 15 goals at three-quarter time.
Egan and Beavis remained as potent as ever for the Bulldogs, with the former scoring 14 and the latter netting a dependable seven.
Saunder was shifted back into attack midway through the quarter, converting two while Broad did what she could with her restricted chances, scoring 12.
The Giants regrouped at the start of the fourth quarter, but Avoca had built an insurmountable lead in the third and finished strongly, showcasing why they are still the team to beat in 2025.
Egan finished with a game-high 51 goals at an astounding 92 percent conversion rate, well supported by Beavis who scored 27 goals for the match from 30 attempts.
Broad was just behind Egan, ending up with 50 goals for the match with an utter-worldly 96 percent shooting percentage, while Saunder added nine to complement a strong performance on both sides of the ball.